xsxviii pkesidp;ntial addrkss. 



among them some of the pathogenic, or disease producing- 

 nature. In any case, water impregnated with decaying vegetable 

 matter — for in the country and smaller townships, the debris 

 of leaves form an important portion of the matter carried in 

 to the tanks from the roof and spouting — is apt to develop 

 malarial organisms, or to become favourable to their develop- 

 ment. That some system should be adopted to prevent the 

 access of impurities from the roof to the tanks goes without 

 sayng, and that the tanks should, be frequently cleaned is self 

 evident. No means so far as I can learn are adopted to 

 prevent the washings from the roofs gaining access to the 

 tanks, and I do not think that the tanks are emptied very 

 often and cleaned. A filter is sometimes supplied, but now-a- 

 days we are able to estimate the filters in common use at their 

 true value, or rather want of value, and know that they are a 

 source of danger instead of a means of safety. They should at 

 once be abolished from all schools. The water being conserved 

 in galvanized iron tanks which are usually not placed under 

 cover, but are exposed to the full rays of the sun for some parts 

 of the day, becomes very hot, and apt to cause nausea when 

 drunk. The tanks should at least be placed under cover, and 

 if suitable water bags were used, the water would soon become 

 cold enough in the hottest days to be palatable and refreshing. 

 This is a small matter, but one that would contribute very much 

 to the comfort and health of our school children. 



WATER SUPPLY. 

 Where a public water supply exists, the water should be 

 delivered as pure as possible, and in order to gain this end 

 would require in most cases to be carefully filtered before 

 distribution. This applies particularly to the water supply of 

 Brisbane, which is generally unusable by reason of the large 

 quantity of suspended matters contained in it. I need not dilate 

 on the character of this water as you are all familiar with it, 

 and no doubt remember the kind ol fluid, or I should say semi- 

 fluid, for it was thick with impurities, dealt out during the first 

 10 or 12 days of this month. The subject of the supply of pure 

 drinking water to our schools is one demanding urgent attention. 

 The children, in addition to the physical drill so admirably 



