144 Transactions. 
the surface drainage, instead of allowing it to become stagnant and putrid 
in the back yards of the houses, or to form offensive pools in the street 
gutters. And, by way of compensation for this expense, Christchurch has 
a magnificent and unfailing water supply in her artesian wells, the water 
being met with at from 60 to 90 feet below, and rising to a tolerably 
uniform level of 25 feet above, high watermark; the artesian water through- 
out the greater part of the town rising several feet above the surface. It 
is worth noticing, that the artesian water was tapped first in Christchurch, 
10th February, 1864. 
Tf, however, we can say but little in praise of the sanitary arrangements 
of our towns so far as drainage is concerned, there are other points on which 
satisfactory progress has been made. A fair number*of the streets in our 
towns are formed to their permanent levels, and metalled either with shingle 
or broken stone; and in Christchurch and Lyttelton the principal streets 
are provided with paved gutters, and raised footpaths paved with gas tar 
` concrete, which appears to answer well, and not to be injured by the heat of 
the sun as is the case in hotter climates. 
Near most of the towns of the province, suitable plots of ground have 
been set apart for cemeteries, so as to avoid, from the first, the evils attend- 
ant on intramural burials, and the care taken of these cemeteries is a 
pleasing circumstance connected with their management. 
Inrropuction or Gas.—It may be mentioned that the streets of Christ- 
church were first lighted with gas, 13th December, 1865. 
LrieumrHovsEs.— The lighthouse at Godley Head, at the entrance of 
Port Lyttelton, was first illuminated] 31st March, 1865. This makes the 
seventh light on the New Zealand coasts, in addition to the harbour 
lights. 
I have extended this address so much beyond my original intention, that 
I can only now glance at a few miscellaneous subjects. 
Iron Fovxprwa.—lt is worth recording, that iron-founding was com- 
menced in Christchurch, by Mr. John Anderson, in May, 1857, at his. 
establishment in Cashel Street, which has now attained considerable im- 
portanee in New Zealand, and offers great facilities for the construetion of 
almost all kinds of mill work and machinery. 
Emetorment or SrEAM Powrr.—Steam power has been employed to 
a very considerable extent for some years past, for various purposes. 
The necessities of the Western gold fields have led recently to the erec- 
tion of several powerful engines in the neighbourhood of Hokitika, which 
are employed in draining the deep sinkings, and raising water for gold 
