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18
district their contents would percolate through the soil and
might contaminate adjacent wells.
These cesspools again are seldom veutilated, and the gaseous
products of decomposition are liable to find their way into
dwelling houses.
The ventilation of sewers also requires particular attention.
It is necessary that sewers should be ventilated ; otherwise,
whilst the present system of drainage exists, the gases formed
from their decomposing contents would be liable to find their
way into dwelling houses, especially when the atmosphere
within them is rarefied by heat.
But the offensive smell from these ventilating apertures is
often complained of, more especially in the higher portions of
the district, where, from tho gases being lighter than atmospheric
air, they are more likely to exude.
In such cases charcoal ventilating boxes might be, and have
in some cases been, affixed; but if this were not sufficient, ventilating
pipes, or shafts, might be placed by the sido of
buildings; but in no case should the number of apertures be
diminished.
In the case of old drains no ventilation would be likely to
exist, and it is therefore of importance to remove all drainage
of this class.
As regards the drainage of the district. I am not aware
that any register exists which would accurately detail tho
plan and method of drainage of every house in the district,
and some difficulty might arise in determining whether some
houses are efficiently drained. A ledgered list of all houses
or blocks of houses should be formed, with reference to a
numbered plan, from which it might be ascertained when, in
what manner, and into what receptacles houses are drained.
This would much facilitate the business of the Board, and
be of great advantage to its officers.
The water supply of the district, although usually of good
quality, is only given every other day and not upon Sundays,
and is stored in receptacles which in some instances are
inadequate as to size, and in many instances are of an improper
character.