Cxxil 
water, originally impure, appears to have been from time to time added 
to store tanks or barrels which were never cleaned out—a filthy mixture, 
dangerous at all times, and especially so with disease in the vicinity, 
being the result. 
Sample 7, It is to be regretted that the water from the Lake River 
should have been influentially defended in the Press in a letter from 
which the two following extracts are taken :—‘“‘ A friend of mine from 
Queensland . . . laughs at the idea ofit being unfit to drink after 
seeing the stagnant water of that colony ;”’ the river being just previously 
described as ‘“‘. . . flowing through a large grazing as well as a 
marshy country which carries a large quantity of stock, the excrement 
of which is washed into the streams.” 
Evandale. 
Samples 2 and 3, taken from Nile Creek. The results obtained show 
a perceptibly greater amount of impurity in No. 2 thanin No. 1. The 
creek was fuller than usual when the samples were taken, and this pro- 
bably rendered the results more favourable. 
Sample 4, from well near graveyard, has probably received both 
sewage and the drainage frcm the graveyard. Its immediate closing was 
strongly recommended. 
Very great care is necessary in making deductions from the results 
obtained, and no single standard for comparison has been or can be 
adopted, the general characters of the water of the particular districts” 
when obtainable being the best guide. 
A. This ‘‘ standard” was proposed some years ago as showing the 
greatest allowable amounts of various impurities in drinking 
water, and itis of course desirable that they should fall as much 
below this as possible. 
B. C. That portion of the London water supply which is taken from 
the Thames is usually considered to be more impure than is de- 
sirable, and various proposals have been made to replace it at 
enormous expense by water brought from places hundreds of 
“miles distant. The river at London Bridge is proverbially impure. 
D. Effluent sewage after removal of all solid matters by filtration. 
HE. Ihis sample of Hobart water was coloured brown with vegetable 
matter, and was taken from an ordinary house-tap the day after 
a long-continued drought bad been succeeded by heavy rain. 
The loss of residue on ignition amounted to 4°2 grains per 
gallon, which may iz this case be considered to fairly represent 
the total organic matter, chiefly of vegetable origin, present in 
the water. 
F. This water contained only a small quantity of vegetable matter in 
suspension, and the analysis was made on the unfiltered water. 
The total mineral matter amounted to 2'9 grains per gallon. 
G. Total solids and chlorine in considerable quantity ; two-thirds of 
the former consisting of chloride of sodium (common salt) and 
chloride of potassium, the remainder chiefly of lime and magnesia 
salts ; very small amounts of ammonia and nitric acid, not 
accurately determined. 
H. Chloride of magnesium and other salts of lime and magnesia pre- 
sent in sufficient quantity to produce medicinal effects. 
I. The water of this well had evidently been polluted by surface 
drainage. 
K. Contained various living organisms and their ova; mineral matter 
2°8 grains per gallon. 
Comparative experiments made in cultivating the minute forms of life 
in the Hobart and Evandale waters showed them to be most numerous 
in the first-ndmed and the South Esk waters, and least so in the well 
water. No conclusions can, however, be drawn from these or similar 
