THE DUST NUISANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 262, 9 November 1906, Page 3

THE DUST NUISANCE.

» With reference to the dust -laying "ex- , periments in Balmain (Sydney), the' Council clerk wrote in reply to a request for information that an area of 3300 square yards of macadamised roadway was treated with residual oil, at a cost | of flO 10/, equal to four-fifths of a ' penny per square yard. The oil appeared to be an unqualified success, both as re- I gards an efficient dust preventer and as i a preservative of the surface of the road- j way. A second application would be ne- I C-ssary in a few weeks. The letter was referred to the Streets ' -Ou.mittee. ,

The city engineer, reporting on a sug- ] gestion from Council for a conference with the Tramway Company to devise means to abate the dust nuisance, reported that if the City Council will give the wat r free and pay 3/ per car mile for each sprinkling of a widtn of from 30 ' to 3j feet, with a minimum of two l sprinklings per day. and enter into a con- j tract for 20 years, the Auckland Electric i Tramways Company will provide and maintain an electric sprinkler, and re- i commending he be authorised to make ' experiments with calcium chloride solu- j lion with tar water.

The Streets Committee reported that Councillor Hutchison proposed that the Tramway Company be off red 2/ per car mile for a 15 years' contract. This was lost on the casting vote of the chairman. The Committee resolved that the watering of tlie streets with salt water be comzu need within t;ie next fortnight. Cr. Tud.hope thought the Committee had made a mistake in not following up Cr. Hutchison's proposal, for it was only a limited area that could be reac.ed by th_ salt water. The Council must have the streets watered. He proposed that the clause be referred back to tne Committee to see if no scheme could be propounded by which the nuisance could be tackled in a systematic way. Cr. Casey seconded the amendment, and said that in spite of what might bo .aid to the contrary, he thought it would be in the best interests of the ratepayers if the streets were watered by the company. He suggested that an offer should be made to the company iv terms of Cr. Hutchison's supsostion. Cr. Knight disagreed, and said that he thought it woulr! he a great mistake to hand over anything; else to the company. Their past experience should warrant their keeping tin.' matter in their own hands. Cr. Entrican thought they had a right to expect tiiat tile company should contribute to the alleviation or abolition of the nuisance, which they were largely instrumental in causing. He suggested that the Council and the company should go shares ; n the provision of a sprinkler and its runnintr.

Cr. Tudchope's amendment was nega tived on the voices.

Some further discussion followed, after which Mr. Bush explained that so many dust preventives had ben brought forward from time to time, and had afterward- proved in ffective, tbnt he would not recommend the Council to >pend a large amount of money on any particular material. lie considered that In extending the system of salt-water niaini they would be moving in the right direction. The report was adopted, with the understanding that the question . .ould be brought up at the nest meeting of the Committee.