70 The Drainage of Melbourne. 



owing to the cellars being too low, would have to be pumped 

 up ? (4) As regards flood water, is the 80,000 cubic feet* 

 mentioned in the essay, the whole or only half of the flood 

 water provided for ? From what area is this to be collected ? 

 Is the discharge calculated at 15 cubic feet per acre per 

 minute, which the essay says would flow off in very heavy 

 rainfall ? This would give only a quarter of an inch of rain 

 per hour — not much to allow for a heavy thunderstorm. 



25. The following summary will show at a glance the 

 chief points alluded to in this paper : — 



1) No provision made for pumping subsoil water from 



places too low for it to flow into the river. 

 '2) Pumping-power for sewage deficient by about 25 



per cent. 

 '3) Absence of the means of regulating the admission 



of street drainage to the sewers. 

 (4) No provision made against the clanger of sewers in 



places overflowing in long-continued wet weather. 

 '5) Importance of frequently flushing the sewers not 



recognised. 

 '6) Yan Yean water to be used occasionally for flush- 

 ing, while water from baths, which is most suitable 



for the purpose, is not to be used. 

 '7) Inadequate provision made in dealing with certain 



flat areas in the suburbs. 

 [8) Filtration area too small, considering the population 



and the quantity of sewage to be dealt with. 

 '9) The case of Merthyr Tydvil fails to support the 



recommendations of the essay. 

 10) Level of land selected appears to be too low for 



the effluent water to flow off freely. 

 '11) Estimated cost of preparing the land appears 



extremely low. 

 12) Probability of both the first cost of the whole 



scheme and of the subsequent annual charges 



exceeding considerably the amounts stated in the 



essay. 



26. Although so many defects have been brought to 

 notice above, I do not wish it to be understood that I think 

 there is a want of merit in the prize essay. I heartily 

 approve of several of its recommendations, and only regret 

 that time will not allow of its favourable, as well as 



* See paragraph 25 of the essay. 



