CO885-(16-18) — Page 447

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference →

C.O-885

17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

6

16. In the case of house drainage, special care should be taken by the sanitary inspector that all gullies and closet pans are kept in good and clean condition by the various householders; and with a view to this every premises throughout the whole town should be visited at least once in each month. Covers of all inspection chambers in connection with house drainage should be opened monthly by the scavengere under the supervision of the Drainage Authority. A pernicious habit seems to prevail amongst certain householders of throwing bunches of withered flowers, scouring cloths, old knives and forks, and even stones into the closet-pans and gullies which sometimes cause a block in the house sewer or in the street maine. The sanitary inspector, the Drainage Authority, and the scavengers should, between them, endeavour to detect a party doing these mischievous acts, so that they might be prosecuted under the Drainage Ordinance.

I quite recognize the difficulty that exists in being able to bring the wrong home to the guilty parties, but if a case wore detected and the offender smartly punished it would go a very long way towards remedying this evil: In the event of a stoppage occurring in any part of the house drainage system, a reference to the phans will enable the rodding-eyes or inspection caps in the vicinity to be easily and quickly located, and the most convenient should be opened to remove the stoppage. No attempt should be made to expose a rodding-eye or an inspection-cap without first locating its position from the plans. The greatest care should then be exercised in the work of uncovering the pipes to ensure that no damage is done in the operation by a pick or other tool, and in all cases work of this nature should be done under the personal supervision of the Drainage Authority.

"17. In connection with the water system, attention should be given to the springs, which ought to be inspected each month and cleaned out if necessary. The storage tanks at the top of the town should be cleansed at least twice each year, and all other smaller tanks once every other two or three months. The water mains will occasionally require scouring at the different "scour outs," and all sluice valves, hydrants. and other fittings should be examined periodically to ensure of their continuing in thorough working order.

18. The fittings of house services should also receive a good deal of attention and be kept in a watertight condition and a visit of inspection to each property in town made every month. Householders, too, should be urged upon at once to acquaint the Government plumber when any fittings on their promises are observed to leak. There is nothing more wasteful of water than leaky service fittings; and although the supply of Jamestown is an abundant one yet the precautions against unnecessary waste should be none the loss on that account.

"19. Mr. W. H. Croydon, who was sent out from England in April of 1903 as working foreman in connection with the drainage and waterworks schemes, returned home in April of this year on the completion of his two years' engagement; and since Mr. Croydon's departure the duties performed by him have been satisfactorily undertaken by F. Peters, who for some time previous had been employed as a journeyman plumber on these works.

"20. Peters has now been appointed permanent Government plumber to take charge of the newly completed schemes of drainage and waterworks. I have instructed him very fully as regards the maintenance of these works on the lines of my suggestions contained in paragraphs 15, 16, and 17 of this report, and I believe that he has now a good grasp of his future duties and that under his charge the works will receive proper care and attention.

"21. I desire in this report to record, and to bring to the notice of the Colonial Government the invaluable services rendered by Mr. W. A. Pegge since the clerical work of this department was taken over by him on the 1st August, 1903, the date on which the scheme of house drainage was begun. Mr. Pegge's duties have been of a most important nature, full of detail and difficulty, especially in connection with house drainage and house services,

-

7

where numerous fittings and materials of all kinds used on the various properties, as well as workmen's time, have had to be carefully noted each day; and it says much for the thorough manner in which householders' accounts have been prepared that none of the large total delivered have, so far, been disputed, and that, too, in spite of the fact that many property owners had taken daily notes of time and material during the progress of works on their premises. Altogether Mr. Pogge bas discharged his duties in a manner which I have seldom seen equalled.

"22. I would also record my appreciation of the assistance given by the Public Works Department throughout the whole course of these works. In lending workmen tools, and other materials at all times when required, the clerk of works has done much to expedite the carrying out of these schemes.

"23. In conclusion, I do not think it is too much to say that a more complete system of drainage, nor a better supply of spring water, than that which Jamestown enjoys, could well be found in any other town of its size in the world."

The above report, together with the remarks under this head in the Annual Reports of the Colony for 1902, 1903, and 1904,* comprise a detailed history of the progress made in the works referred to from start to finish.

• Colonial Reports-Annual, Nos. 892, 420, and 448.

L