PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION H. 685 
The sewage was turned on to the farm in August, 1887, and 
at the present time the character of the soil does not indicate any 
great change, notwithstanding the quantity of sewage which it 
has received. 
The area cultivated and irrigated with liquid sewage was little 
over two acres, the population draining into the main sewer being 
estimated at 7000, so that each acre of land was absorbing the 
sewage of about 3500 persons. 
As before stated, the question of disposal has been solved 
favourably from a sanitary point of view, and it accords with the 
opinion of sanitary engineers who have had any experience in 
the matter, that notwithstanding any prior treatment the sewage 
should, as a final measure, be disposed over and filtered through 
land. 
The question of treatment of sewage by “ electrolysis” is dealt 
with by Mr. Roberts, who is the patentee in the colonies for the 
process. In connection with this system I merely wish to state 
an opinion that the system is destined to supersede chemical treat- 
ment, but where suitable land and circumstances are favourable 
it will not hold good against land filtration. 
Government Laboratory, 
Sydney, 8th July, 1889. 
Analysis of a sample of sewage effluent received from the Medical 
Adviser, 21-6-89. Labelled No.1. Well 79 feet from tank. 
Results expressed in | 
Grains per Parts per | 
gallon. 100,000. 
Appearance in two-foot tube ... as .. | Brown peaty colour | 
Odour on heating to 100 deg. Fahr. ... oi Slight 
Chlorine as Chlorides... aa es 12°5 Lacs 
Phosphoric Acid in Phosphates set a Trace 
Nitrogen in Nitrates and Nitrites ... = — == | 
Do. equivalent in Nitric Acid ... ee _ — | 
| Do. existing as free Ammonia ... 653 934 | 
Organic Nitrogen, or Albuminoid Ammonia.. ‘070 | "100 | 
Oxygen absor bed in 15 min. at 80 deg. Fahr. — | — 
Do. do. 4 hours do. 3°29 4:70 | 
Hardness in degrees, Clark’s scale, before 
boiling kas ae i re at _ — 
Loss on ignition . ae a ee as 47 | 68 
Poisonous metals — : None | 
Total solid residue, dried at 220 deg. Fahr. 38°9 55:6 | 
} 
General observations on the character of the water: The effluent is of 
such composition as may be passed into tidal rivers without causing a 
muisance: (Signed) WILLIAM M. HAMLET, 
Government Analyst. 
