URGENT NEEDS OF DAY'S BAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2915, 30 October 1916, Page 7

URGENT NEEDS OF DAY'S BAY

. 9 WATER AND DRAINAGE MEETING OF RESIDENTS AND RATEPAYERS A I'cpresonLatiro and influential meeting of ratepayers and residents of Day's Bay was held at Croydon School on Saturday evening for■the purpose of discussing tho important and urgent questions of drainage and water supply. Mr. D. M. Findlay presided; and in opening tho proceedings expressed regret that a sudden indisposition had mado it impossible for tbo chairman of tho Hutt Council (Mri M. W. Welch) to attend tho meeting, as bad been, intended. Tho meeting had been called to consider, and pass an opinion upon, the drainage and water schemes which had been prepared by Mr. AV. H. Morton, tho Wellington City Engineer, together with his estimates of cost. It was extremely.desirable, that the residents and ratepayers of Day's Bay should unite in pressing for tho Bisnt of what was rapidly becoming a very grave question. Until these- important matters—water and drainage —for the one was the complement of' the other—were accomplished factß, they_ could not hope to advance very far in tho direction of becoming an influential community, and so tho better able in tho futnro to insist upon the performance of other matters incidental to their convenionco and general n-ell-boing. Also, tbo healthy reputation of Day's Bay would certainly suffer if tho drainage question were not taken in hand. 'Tho absenco of an adequate system of drainage was a bar to progress and a menace to'tho health of tho community. Continuing, Mr. Findlay said that tho City Engineer's department had completed the surveys and estimates for suggested water and drainago systems, arid ho had with him, for tho inspection of any of those who desired it, complete plans showing the reticulation of the district for water supply and sanitation. Quoting from Mr. Morton's report, ho said that it was proposed to utilise both watersheds—m the sorth and south indentations of tho bay, as the present reservoir was at too low a level, and its storage capaoity inadequate for the present scheme. An ample supply was assured, but for the houses above the 150 ft. sea-level storage tanks would have to be provided, those being filled at night when' the ordinary calls wero not being mado upon tho pressure. These storage tanks, being filled nightly, were practically equivalent to a normal flow from the mains. All properties, Mr. Morton- had suggested, should be metered, and similar arrangements made for dealing with extraordinary supplies, as were in vogue in the city. The water supply would be provided in proportion to the value of the water-rate, estimated at Is. per 1000 gallons, and supplies in excess of this should be paid tor at a fixed price, say, Is. por 1000 gallons. Tho estimated cost of _ the water 'system, based on current prices, was £3069, which total inoluded the net cost of £2608, a 10 per cent, additional, £261, and £200 for tapping mains and connections.

The Drainage Scheme

With regard to the drainage, tho City Engineer bad set out his scheme on tho basis of 235 sections—lss in tho north bay and SO in tho south. Having regard both to the question of economy and tbat of efficiency, ho had suggested that tho septic-tank system of disposing of tho sewage as at present in operation for Wadestown would moot tho requirements of tho case. Two disposal tanks would bo required, discharging the effluent five feet below low-wator level. Each tank would have two chambers, ,to permit of cleansing alternately without interrupting tho system. "I am assured by Mr. Morton," said tho speaker, "{hat the effluent, as experience- of Wadestown has demonstrated, will bo perfectly innocuous and entirely unobjectionable in any way." Proceeding, Mr. Findlay, referring again to tho Engineer's report, pointed out that , woro it desired to have the effluent discharged at a furthor distance, pump-ing-stations would bo required, and this would add hoavily to tho cxpeuso. Tho Harbour Board's consent to tho dischargo of tho effluent would, of course, bo necessary, but this, ho explained, would bo a formal matter. Tho total cost of tho schomo was estimated at £5500, which included an item of £250 for survey plans—on a 5 per cent, basis—and £180, for contingencies. Thus, concluded Mr. Findlay, for an outlay of something like £8500, tho Bay would have its own drainage and water supply, at a cost to tho ratepayers of abottt 2d. in tho £, estimating tho valuo of tho distriot at £75,000. This compared moro than favourably with what tho ratepayers wero saddled with in neighbouring boroughs. Ho strongly rccommonded tho scheme to tho fayoorablo consideration of those prcscht. An informal discussion, in tho naturo of requests for further explanations with regard to co'rtain points in tlio schemo, followed, and a number of those present inspected tho plans, after which, Mr. A. W. Blair moved to tho effect that tho meeting endorse tho pr&posJis, and- heartily thank Mr. W. , H. Morton, the City Engineer, for his work in connection with tho proposals. , Tho motion was ■ seconded and carried unanimously without further dis- ' oussion. , '

A Deputation to the Mayor. Tlio chairman said that it would now 1)6 necessary to proceed in tho regular way_to "flavo tho district created a special raffing area. The decision 1 of the present meeting did not in any way commit tho district. All those who were entitled to do bo would havo an opportunity of rocoi-diog their approval or disapproval in tho usual way. Tho proceedings then terminated with a voto of thanks to tha chair and to Miss Somraervillo, Principal of Croytfon School, for the uso of the hall and light. At a mooting of tho oomuiittco of tho Day's Bay .Ratepayers' Association it was decided to interview tho Mayor of Wollingtou (Mr. -J. P. Luke) on Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock, when it is hoped to advanco matters a further stage.