The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-27 00:00:00

THEATRICAL MEItS.

Qtr. Craven's new comedy for the Haymarket
bas been read, and the parts distributed. Mr.
Sothern, Mr. Kendal, Miss Robertson, and Mrs.
Frank Matthews are to sustain characters in it.

Report says that Mr. 11. J. Montague proposes
christening his new theatre the Nell Gwynne.
Mr. Soutar and Mr. H. Leigh are engaged upon
a burlesque for the Gaiety.
Mac'lle. S,2,laeider will appear at the Priuceis's
in
Mr. IYou I3oucicault, it is said, has undertaken
to Write another "6eusational" drama for Drury-
lane.

A NEW SYSTEM OF CONSERVANCY.

We understand that M. Tarjet is endeavouring
to introduce a system of conservancy into this coun-
try which he declares has successfully stood the test
of practical experience. His proposition issomewhat
difficult of explanai ion without the aid of sketches ;
but it is of this kind. Let us take the case of soldiers.
The sweepings and refuse of the barrack rooms,
the ashes from the grates, and the straw
from the barrack beds after it has been used, are
to be collected. The straw being finely chopped
up, and the other substances requiring it being
pulverised, the whole is thoroughly mixed toge-
ther. This forms the disinfectant material analo-
ions to the dry earth. The receptacle for the
animal execretious is, first of all, to have
a layer of this spread at the bottom ; a bot-
tomless frame, or mould of the shape of, but
smaller than, the receptacle, is next inserted ;
the interval left between the sides of the frame and
receptacles is then to be filled with the above ma-
terial, which is to-be tightly rammed down. When
the frame is removed, the interior of the receptacle
is, of course, lined on three of its sides with this
material, which, falling eown upon and covering the
surface of tha animal excreta as it is deposited,
renders it quite 'inoffensive. The whole is finally
removed, and utilised as manure. The inventor
is, we believe, willing to undertake the adapta-
tion iand working of hike plan of conservancy
to a military camp, l
for example, at his own cost, provided he be
allowed to reap all the pecuniary advantage
arising from the disposal of the excreta for agri-
cultural purposes. lle has likewise another
proposal for the management of the fluid ex-•
creta that is similar in kind. Au ordinary urine
tub is to be filled with the mixed sweepings, ashes,
and chopped straw, and a funnel-shaped top, with a
pipe leading down the centre of this mixture to nearly
the bottom of the receptacle, is to be adapted to the
tub. This allows all the fluid to collect in the ves-
sel, gradually filling it from below upwards.
The fluid, intimately mixing with the contained
material, converts it into a substance of muddy
consistence, with a superficial layer of that which
is dry.
It is assertod that the result is quite satisfactory,
so far as the removal of all offensiveness is con-
cerned. It also alleged that both these plans have-
been tried in the French army and elsewhere,
with successful results. As we have no practical
experience of the matter, we cannot venture to
offer an opinion on its merits ; but it appears to us
a feasible plan, and one which we should like to see
tried. As the inventor has been to Aldershot, and
considers, we understand, that it could be tested
there, with a trifling expense in adapting existing
arrangements to his plan, we hopelthe authorities
may afford him the opportunity.—Lancet.