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A. Yes it is caused by the hills at the back forming springs at these places owing to the nature of the ground.
861. Would you have separate sewers for sub-soil drainage and for storm water?
A.-No, certainly not.
862.-Why?
A. You would be obliged to put one system at a lower level than the other.
863. Is that not possible?
A.-Take the narrow streets you have here. You could not put the sewers side by side, and you would be 10 or 12 feet down in the road before you get to the lower drain.
864. There is some such a plan of sub-soil drainage.
A. Yes, but I think a good shaped sewer will answer the purpose of both admirably because in the event of little water, which means a large proportion of sewage, will pass down the V and directly we have a larger quantity of rain the upper portion will come into play. I have been in the main sewers. They are perfectly clean after heavy rain, and not only that but in some cases the granite has been perfectly smoothed by the friction of sand.
865.-If we have these places drained immediately without waiting for the general plan of sub-soil drainage, for we cannot expect the Government will launch out immediately to drain all, would it not be a great expense?
A. No, because the marshy districts are all close in the neighbourhood of existing
sewers.
866. So that could be done at little expense?
A.--Yes.
867.-And run into the present sewers?
A. Yes.
868.
Are they big enough to accommodate it?
A. Yes.
869.Is the water sufficient to burst the sewers?
A. No it is nothing to the rain water they have to carry.
870.--But we have sewage and storm water, and now you turn sub-soil drainage
into them.
A.-This water all finds its way into them somewhere now.
871.-You think it finds its way into the drains?
A.-Most of it does.
872. Have you proved that as a fact?
A.-I can show you many places where it docs so. Under No. 1 Tank it flows over the kerbstone and into the gully, except in the morning when the coolies have fetched away so much that it does not flow over.
873.-So you think sub-soil drainage could be done without great expense or waiting for new drains?