MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 13TH OCTOBER 1880, No. 6462.
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The Royal Artillery were quartered in casemates in the fort; the rooms have a south
-east exposure, have verandahs on one side, and are ventilated chiefly by the door and window
spaces ; improvements in the ventilation were attempted during the year.
The average amount of cubic space to each man was 1,350 feet.
It is proposed to construct other barracks for the Royal Artillery next year.
The married quarters are in buildings not casemated ; they are said to be very commodious,
and to have been in good sanitary condition.
The latrines (on the dry-earth system) were well kept : the refuse was removed twice a
day, and disposed of by burying, at a distance from the fort.
Drainage.—The chief sanitary defect in the fort was caused by the reflux of sewer air (in
certain winds) through the main channel which carries the sewage of the fort into the sea.
Local circumstances probably render this defect irremediable.
Water.—Is derived from wells, the source being a sand stratum two miles off ; it is deli
-vered in the fort by gravitation ; it is of good quality, and is abundant for all legitimate wants.
Rations. —Are stated to have been varied, and sufficient ; the vegetable portion consisted
of potatoes, onions, carrots and pumpkins. The common fruits obtainable are oranges and
bananas.
Cooking. —The cook-house has a "Duff's range," but cooking was commonly done in the
native dektchies ; food was prepared according to the fancy of the individual man by this means.
Canteen.—The canteen liquors were of good quality ; the medical officer recommends the
discontinuance of the rum issue, as he considers that the practice causes the initiation of young
soldiers into drinking habits.
Duties. —These were neither unusual, nor hurtful.
Amusements. —The ordinary means, cricket, quoits, ball court. A lending library was in
operation. The men were not confined to barracks, but were allowed out freely at all hours—
the medical officer states without ill effects.
Nature of Sickness in relation to insanitary conditions. —A consideration of the illnesses
from which the men suffered does not evidence the existence of sanitary defects in their lodging,
food, clothing or duties. Intemperance and venereal diseases caused a relatively large propor
-tion of the sickness during the year.
ST. THOMAS' MOUNT.
Two batteries of Royal Artillery were stationed here during the year.
Barracks. —One battery occupied the old barracks, half of the men of it being lodged in a
single-storied house, well raised from the ground with a wide verandah surrounding the build
-ing ; the room is ventilated by the numerous doors and windows and by a space left under the
ridge of the roof. The other half of the men of this battery were quartered in a bombproof
building. The average amount of cubic space per man in each of the two buildings
was 1,300 feet.
Owing to the stoppage of Public Works, the barracks were not whitewashed during the
year.
The married quarters are very good ; a separate cottage was allotted to each family. An
objectionable feature connected with the barracks is the impediment to the breeze from the
south caused by the wall and the out-buildings on that side.
Guard Room.—This building affords 1,500 cubic feet of space for the ordinary guard ;
the cells are very contracted, measuring 1,000 cubic feet each only.
The other battery at St. Thomas' Mount was quartered in a range of recently-erected
double-storied barracks, the buildings of which are arranged in three blocks. The sleeping
rooms of the men are on the upper stories, their day rooms on the lower. The rooms are well
protected from the direct rays of the sun, are well ventilated, and they afforded an average cubic
space of 2,150 feet for each man during the year.
Drainage. —The surface drainage of the environs of the barracks was good. There are a
few deep drains ; one of them, having been broken up in the early part of the year in order to
be reconstructed, was, owing to the stoppage of Public Works, left unfinished, and remained a
ditch, whose foulness was only mitigated by constant attention.
Latrines.—The latrines attached to both sets of barracks are on the dry-earth system, the
closets discharge the earth after each use by self-acting mechanism, and (as is inevitable) the
apparatus gets out of order. The conservancy arrangements for the removal of the soil are said
also to be defective, and this condition is aggravated by the conveyance of urine along with
the excremental matter in the filth carts.
Lavatories. —The lavatories of the old barracks are conformable to them in character, in
structure and in simplicity of fitting up ; but they are sufficient for their purpose. There is a
swimming bath. The lavatories of the new barracks are spacious, well arranged, and fitted
with conveniences for the ready procurement of water.