109

EL—3l

to minimise the offensiveness of the gases from the digesters and driers. During the last year improvements have been made in this direction in some of the works. In the case of Clegg, who treats the offal from the Christchurch Abattoirs, the works were badly constructed and the whole business badly managed, and, apart from the fact that there were no special appliances for minimising the offensiveness of the gases from the digesters and drier, the trade was carried on so as to be unnecessarily offensive. The Templeton Road Board was recommended under section 74 to take action in the matter, and, after considerable delay- arising from legal technicalities, an order was obtained from the Magistrate for improvements to be effected. General Sanitation of the District. Christchurch. Water-supply. —On the 26th June a separate poll was taken in connection with the highpressure water-supply proposal in the three wards —Central, Linwood, and St. Albans —and was carried by a fair majority in each ward. The expenditure authorised is £114,900. The carrying of the poll in spite of the opposition of those who were straight-out opponents of any watersupply scheme and the more dangerous opposition of those who approved of the principle of a high-pressure water-supply but did not approve of the particular scheme, marks a great step in advance in the sanitation of Christchurch. The carrying-out of this scheme has been well pushed on, and an abundant supply of good water obtained at the site selected for sinking the wells. A complete water-carriage system of all sewage is noyv practicable in the sewerage area in the near future. Drainage. —The Christchurch Drainage Board's Engineer's report for the year ending 31st December, 1907, shows that a large amount of work in connection with the drainage system has been accomplished, and is in process of completion : At the pumping-station new buildings and plant are being-erected; at the drainage farm 45 acres have been formed for the reception of the drainage; the laying of the sewers has been completed in St. Albans Ward; and within the next year it is probable that the sewers in the sewerage area will be complete. The number of house connections has greatly increased : 922 houses were connected with the sewer, as compared with 341 in the previous year; and 448 water-closets were connected with the sewer, as compared with 353 in the previous j'ear. Until the high-pressure water-supply is available the Council are naturally not enforcing the installation of water-closets where no water-supply is available. The drainage of the suburbs outside the sewerage area, which cannot be connected by gravitation with the present scheme, is yearly becoming a more pressing problem for solution. Sanitary Conveniences. —This matter has been under the consideration of the City Council for some years. The difficulty in the way has been naturally the question of expense. In order to facilitate the carrying-out of this work the Council asked for the formal recommendation of the District Health Officer, and the approval of the Minister, under section 66, so that money could be borrowed by special order without taking a poll of the ratepayers. The recommendation of the District Health Officer and the approval of the Minister were duly given, and a contract has now been let to erect three underground sanitary conveniences at the cost of about £4,000. Woolston. The concrete channelling has been largely extended during the year, to the great benefit of the borough. The Borough Council has under consideration a proposal to treat the nightsoil by a septic tank, as it is expected that a considerable saving in the cost of nightsoil-removal will be made if this scheme can be successfully carried out, owing to the large cost of cartage to the depot at Chaney's. If a satisfactory guarantee can be obtained from the Septic Tank Company, it is probable this work will be installed during the coming year. Lyttelton. A poll in connection with the drainage scheme was carried by the large majority of 240 votes to 10. By-laws have been drafted by Inspector Kershaw for the plumbing and drainage work, and good progress should be made in laying the sewers during the year. Sumner. Owing to the action of the sea the main sewer on the beach was broken, and the sewerage was unavoidably discharged on the foreshore for some time. A. new sewer was laid as promptly as possible by the Borough Council further inland, and it is not probable that this accident will again occur. Ashburton. Owing to the failure of the wells in a dry season, and the failure of windmills in still weather, and the general expense of an individual water-supply, a proposal was put before the ratepayers for a high-pressure water-supply at the cost of about £20,000. The engineer for the scheme was Mr. Cyrus Williams. The poll, however, was lost. Another scheme has, subsequent to the period with which this report deals, been put before the ratepayers and carried. Temuka. Temuka is considering the advisability of joining the majority of towns in having a watersupply. There are two sources of. supply being considered. One is to obtain the water by gravitation from a source about six miles away; the other is to sink a well and raise the water by pumps into a tank, and thus distribute it by gravitation. Timaru. Good progress is being made with the drainage scheme in this town, and, after considerable trouble, the by-laws with regard to the drainage and plumbing work are being more rigidly enforced.

15— H. 31.