54 Discussion on Sanitation. 



He said : — In my capacity as Chairman of the Town Commis- 

 sioners of Holywood I can inform the Professor that the men 

 engaged in removing the seaweed enjoy better health when 

 working at it than at any other time. The Press casts a kind 

 of slur on Holywood generally, but if we look at its death-rate 

 we shall find it in the first rank. In fact, it can turn out more 

 old people than any other place I know of. The inhabitants 

 there live to an extraordinary age. The registration of Plumbers 

 is not only a great benefit to the trade, but a great safety to the 

 general public. We have now a branch of that organisation in 

 Belfast, of which our worthy Mayor is Chairman, and myself 

 Vice-Chairman. 



Mr. Patterson then proceeded to show the most improved 

 method of ventilating rooms, and the most modern application 

 of the Plumber's skill, in which he exhibited all the newest 

 sanitary arrangements. 



Mr. J. C. Bretland (City Surveyor) said : — The difficulties 

 connected with engineering in Belfast are of no ordinary 

 character. In Bristol, Nottingham, and other cities in England 

 they have good gradients, but here we have good and bad 

 gradients. We have a vast flat over which a large portion of 

 Belfast extends, which is only above tide level, and much of 

 which is filled in ground. A reflux tide acting on this brings 

 a sort of soakage or a permeation of the water under our very 

 feet. I only wish I could lift that flat ten feet above the tide, 

 but, as we cannot raise the level of the town, we have tried to 

 lower the level of the sewers. This is an important matter, 

 and when the low level drainage is completed I believe the 

 sanitary condition of the town will be very much improved. 

 The Corporation may, however, construct sewerage works and 

 make outlets, but unless the minor details of which we have 

 been hearing are attended to honestly, the sanitary condition of 

 the city will not be much advanced. The two should go hand 

 in hand, and if they do so, I believe much good will result. 



Mr. Conway Scott said : — I do not think the Belfast water 

 is as bad as represented. I should be sorry anyone would take 



