56 Suggestions for a System of 



touch upon the application of the tubular system, and in this, 

 the engineer must, of course, to a considerable extent, be 

 guided by local circumstances. The question, in fact, is 

 purely one of locality. The second refers to the preference 

 sometimes given to two main pipes of relatively smaller size, 

 one on each side of the street, over one large one in the 

 centre. Viewed as a question of expense, there will probably 

 be little difference ; but regarded as a question of efficiency, 

 the duplex arrangement may be preferable. The distance 

 from the inlet to the main drain would be less, and the fall 

 more rapid in the duplex system, advantages not to be over- 

 looked. 



The minor points being disposed of, allow me to revert to 

 the main consideration : — the method by which the £500,000 

 required could be obtained. Any recourse to the general 

 revenue I look upon as impolitic (although, in England, the 

 general revenue is supplying the funds for London sewage), 

 because the object of expenditure is in itself so purely local 

 that it would be next to an impossibility to overcome the ob- 

 jection of the provinces to any such proceeding, but the very 

 specialty of the work points to the propriety of those imme- 

 diately benefited by it defraying its cost. The ordinary me- 

 thod of local assessment, therefore, would be just in principle 

 — fortunately, it is easy of application. The total annual 

 rental of Melbourne and the suburbs may, I believe, be taken 

 at £1,250,000. A rate of Is. in the pound would realise 

 £62,500 per annum. Now, deducting from this sum 

 £12,500 for expenses of maintenance, repairs, and other ordi- 

 nary outlay, the remainder would discharge the principal sum 

 with interest at 6 per cent, in rather less than eighteen years; 

 after which, the cost of maintenance would not involve a rate 

 of more than 2d. in the pound on the annual rental of the 

 city and suburbs. I do not think that there would be any 

 difficulty in raising the sum required on debentures, if issued 

 by a properly constituted commission, more especially as they 

 need not be placed on the market in a lump, but would pro- 

 bably occupy five or six years in the issue, such being the time 

 that would be occupied in the construction of the works. 



Thus far as to the cost of efficient drainage being beyond 

 our means, and the estimate I have given admits of very 

 considerable deductions, so far as actual outlay by the inha- 

 bitants is concerned. It is certain that cesspools when filled 

 with excreta must be emptied, and the contents removed to a 

 considerable distance. This involves expense which with 



