THE MECHANICS' BAY RUBBISH HEAP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 6

THE MECHANICS' BAY RUBBISH HEAP.

THE ATTITUDE OF THE DISTMCT HEALTH OFFICER. The attitude of the District Health Officer (Dr. Frengley) to tKe question of the city rubbish tip at Mechanics' Bay was not very clearly represented in the discussion that took place on the subject at Thursday's Council meeting; indeed, it would almost look as if Dr. Frengley was in agreement with the view of some councillors that no considerable nuisance existed. That this is far from being the case a letter from the District Health Officer, under date of November 1, is sufficient indication. Dr. Frengley wrote on that date to the Town Clerk as under:— "Sir, —I have been in direct communication with the City Engineer in urging certain procedure in order to prevent the very offensive smell lately arising from the sewage which unfortunately is being squeezed out of the sewage polluted mud of Mechanics' Bay by the mere weight of the tip, and also from 'tb? putrescible constituents of the tip itself. The odour is characteristically that of the sewage gas given off by sewage polluted, or 'Thames' mud. The trouble has arisen, I believe, by want of adequate drainage of such matters as above, mentioned from the tip, and this the City Engineer is dealing -with as I desired. I have hopra that the provision of drainage will remove the offensive conditions, for there is no odour from the surface of the tip- If the methods carried out do not ensure to the surrounding inhabitants freedom -from the stench, then there is no other procedure left but to discontinue the use of the tip. In permitting this rubbish tip, I have mainly been actuated by the principle that of two evils one must eho-ose the least. Any and all rubbish tips, wherever situated, are an evil, but there is a greater evil, that is, the conversion of back yards throughout Auckland into miniature rubbish tips through want of regular removal of refuse. That nonremoval of refuse would be the greater of the two evils is well shown by the fact that at present it is necessary to remove about 50 cubic yards (about 30 tons) of refuse per day in order to keen back Thirds empty. What is to become of this ms»;erial if the use of the lesser evil—the present tip —be stopped'/ One way out of the difficulty, if not the only one, is to take the refuse out to deep sea, and dump it there. Any procedure which your Council may be 'called , upon now to adopt will be costly, but the citizens of Auckland must be prepared to pay the penalty of not having shown a sufficiently progressive spirit in the providing of a destructor before this late date. Advised by my department as far back as 1.901, I learn that it is not likely to be in working order before yet a twelvemonth, 1905.— (Signed) Jos. p Frongley, District Health Officer." The reply to the above communication was as follows :— "Sir,—l hare the honour .to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist inst.. stating yotrr requirements for teh sanitary improvement of.Mechanics s Bay, which was laid before the Streets Committee of the Council, and in reply to mf arm you that the Council at its last meeting adopted the recommendation, of that eommittse that the letter be received.—(Signed) Henry W. Wilson, Town .Clerk." • , v* ■ ,