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thinks it is due to difficulty in scraping off the layers
of dirty sand, &c., from the top of the filter beds;
Prof. Frankland attributes it to "suspended animation
of the microbes in ice cold water, which causes
them to be helplessly carried through the interstices
of the filter; whilst at higher temperatures they
possess active vitality and cling to the sand near
the surface." Inasmuch as the efficiency of the
filter depends on the character of the green "slime,"
a bacterial product, it seems reasonable to think
that the failure is due to some check in the formation
of this slime or (and) to alterations in its
character due to the cold.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
The success or failure of the work of the Sanitary
Department is indicated by the vital statistics
of a succession of years, and it will be neither
interesting nor useful to dwell on the actual administration
to any great length. Some idea of the
amount of work got through during the year can
be obtained from Table VI. in the Appendix. Of
the routine work only a few points, in respect of
which improvements appear to be desirable, will be
touched on.
At the close of 1894, two additional Inspectors
were appointed, making five in all. With the commencement
of 1895, the Parish was divided into
five districts, one to each Inspector. These districts
were divided by means of the map and rate-books,
and made as nearly equal as possible. When the
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