547.-It lies there altogether?
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A.No, what does not soak into the ground runs into the main sewer. There is a connection but there is really no drain. The other day I found the coolies had lifted up a large slab of granite and there I found this stinking black mud.
By Dr. Manson.
548.--Have you had any
diarrhea in the house?
A.--No.
549.-Dysentery?
A.-One case.
550.-Diphtheria?
A.-No.
551.-Sore throat ?
A.-No, I have had no complaints from the boys or my people?
552.-You signed the petition did you not?
A. Yes.
553.-There is one clause in the petition which says that with the extension of the drainage system there has been an extension of the fever. You signed that did you Mr. BATEMAN?
A.-I should like to see that.
By Dr. Cantlie..
554.--You have not been long in that neighbourhood?
A.-I have a very strong impression myself we are suffering from a closing up of that gully at the other side of "Fairlea." [Dr. CANTLIE-Well, that is what is meant.] [Witness reads clause of petition]. In signing the petition I was alluding to the closing of that gully between "Fairlea" and Mr. AITKIN's house.
By Dr. Manson.
555.-It says "some of us have noticed." Are you one?
A. By signing the petition, of course, I made myself one.
556.—No, you would infer from that that some had a particular knowledge of this and others not.
Dr. CANTLIE.-Your belief is that such is the case?
A. Yes, my belief is that.
By Dr. Manson.
557.-You say as a matter of fact?
A.—But I did not draw up the petition.
558. But you signed it and thus made yourself responsible.
A. Of course the closing up of the gully was long before my time. I could not have observed the fever going step by step with the closing up of the gully because I was not there.