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that in houses where the cisterns have been
retained, and that is so in most cases, the necessity
still holds of having these cisterns properly cleansed,
never less than twice a year, and perhaps oftener in
some cases.
Sewerage Scheme.
This matter is still in abeyance and nothing
definite has so far been settled.
A brief narrative of the facts connected with
this difficulty will be of interest to all, and an
information to most of our latest residents.
Originally, Surbiton, like Kingston and all
riparian towns, sent their crude sewerage into the
Thames, and likewise drew tlieir drinking water
therefrom. As time went by, and population increased
; and as we also came to know much more
about the sources of disease and that many of them
were water-borne, it was obvious that one at least
or both of these systems must be altered, either
that the sewage must be taken elsewhere if the river
water was to be used for dietetic purposes, or that a
new and separate supply of water must be found
for all the towns on its banks if the Thames and its
tributaries were to be used as conduits to convey
the sewage to the sea.
When public attention was first directed to
this matter, considerable stress was laid on the
great waste of fertilising organic matter that was
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