A. FABAM.j

267

H.—l9b

183. Were you present and heard the message?— No. Sister Manna was in charge, but she told me there were no more patients coming into the hospital, and we were asked to attend to the things afterwards—the laundry, and so forth —to see that everything was sent back clean and disinfected. 184. Who asked you that?—We were asked from the Defence Stores to see that everything was sent back there except anything that had been in the wards. They thought that, if such things were sent back they- would carry- infection. 185. Mr. Ferguson] When were the last patients received there —when did the last new lot, come in ? —Some came from Kaiwarra, 1 think, some days before. I am not, sure about that. They usually stayed eighteen days. All those patients had been in eighteen days. PioitOY GATBB MORfIAS recalled and further examined on former oath. (No. 76.) 1. The Chairman] You have presented us now with a report?— Yes, sir. 2. Which you depose to as containing your opinion upon the matter?— Yes. 3. Did you consider the question where the drainage got away to? —Yes. The drainage goes through the gravels and ultimately reaches the Hutt River and Wellington Harbour. Much of it would ultimately reach the Hutt River about the gorge. 4. Mr. Ferguson,] The springs which come out of the bank over the Heretaunga links are presumably drainage from that gravel area? —1 shall need to look at the map to see where the links are. [Witness does so.J 5. Immediately over the links there is a steep cliff—a terrace on which the golf-house and a large number of houses are built, and from that cliff there are, I believe, springs?— The camp drainage would not go there —it will all go towards the south-west, down the valley.and towards the gorge. The golf-links are north-west from the camp. (i. The Chairman] Is the subsoil there of such a character that solids from drainage and so on would tend to prevent percolation in time? I think it wars suggested by Mr. Robb, who was here this morning, that that would be the result. I do not know whether I have caught exactly the expression that he used, but I think that was his idea. Mr. Ferguwn; His idea, I think, was that the solid materials would gradually close these gravels and prevent drainage, and the result would be that the air would come up again and pollute the camp. I did not follow his argument. Witness: I suppose the organic material from the drainage would accumulate in the subsoil aud tend to choke it. 7. Mr. Ferguson] Is there not enough aeration in that subsoil to aerate the organic matters and cause the necessary chemical changes ? —There is a considerable degree of aeration which would tend to destroy' those organic matters, but, 1 do not know at, what rate—probably not so fast as they would accumulate. 8. The Chairman.] Would the evil of accumulation of organic matter be overcome by a drainage system? —1 cannot speak, with expert knowiedge on this point; but, of course, a good drainage system would tend to overcome the evil. 9. Would prevent the effusion of the organic matter?— Yes. 10. Mr. Ferguson .] You have seen the soak-pits, and you know the present system of dealing with the matter —allowing as little solid to get in as possible : do you not think that for all practical purposes it is a sanitary arrangement, or have you any objection to it? —I think that for a permanent camp it is objectionable, but not for a temporary camp. 11. The Chairman] By a " permanent camp " do you mean one that, would be always there, or one that, would last about a year?—lf the camp were to last a year I think it would be better to have some other system. If it were to last only six months I should say it would not be objectionable. 12. Mr. Aston is making some tests, is he not?— Yes; he is making soil and subsoil analyses now, I understand. They will take him a few days. 13. Do you know the Waimarino Plains? —Only from passing over by train. 1 have never been on the plains. 14. Have you examined the Canterbury showground at all. geologically?—l do not think I have been on it. 15. Mr. Ferguson] Do you know of-a site, within a reasonable distance of Wellington, that is more suitable geologically than the Trentham site, having all conditions in view?—A few days ago 1 inspected a site near Featherston, where I would say the surface drainage is better than at Trentham. At the same time, so far as I could see, the surface and subsoil drainage at Trentham is good. I have no doubt there are still better spots. 16. The Chairman] It must not be allowed to go on, if it, is to be in any way a permanent camp, without some drainage provision being made, so as to prevent effusion?— Certainly not. I am sure that the soil and subsoil in the course of years would become contaminated. 17. Mr. Gray] Are you able to say whether anything but fluids go into the soil?—No; I did not inspect the drainage system closely. I suppose a certain amount of solid matter from the kitchen drainage goes in. 18. If only fluids went in. would there be any harm resulting from the present method of draining?—l am not sure, but T think it would be a long time before harm could result to the camp. 19. It is stated there is a danger of infecting the soil and the water-supply to dairyfarmers?- —It would depend upon the amount of drainage, I think, as to how far that would take place. With a small amount of drainage there would be no danger.