DAY'S BAY NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2941, 29 November 1916, Page 3

DAY'S BAY NEEDS

WATER AND DRAINAGE PROBLEM

AN EXTENDED SCHEME

SUGGESTED

The-matter of providing Dayis Bay with water and drainage lias been ''in the'air" for the years, but thero aro indications now that the pushful spirits behind the movement will see that their cheery persistence is rewarded. Matters were advanced another stage yesterday afternoon, when a deputation, consisting of Messrs J. .AVakeham, chairman of the Hutt County Council (in whoso area the Bay lies), M. W. Welch (late chairman of the same body), and' D. M. Findlay (chairman of tho Day's Bay Ratepayers' Association), waited upon the Finance Committee of the City Council at the- invitation of the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), to further weigh the pros and cons of what is rather a difficult problem. The difficulty lies in the fact that the Hutt County Council hardly conies llndcr the designation of a "contiguous borough," which limits tlio city's power to act directly as it would perhaps like to'do. Further, and this developed yesterday, it might be inimical to the interests of the whole of, the residents of. the' eastern side of tho harbour—from Lowry Bay north to Eastbourne south—to have a little scheme that would deal with Day's Buy only. Mr. M. W. Welch, who was the firstspeaker, said that this matter had now been under consideration for two years, and it was time that something was dono in tho matter. Soveral meetings of the ratepayers of the Bay had been held, and at those meetings they had pledged themselves to a special rating area to pay the interest on 'iho loan. It would have to bo done sooner or later by either tho City Council or the Hutt County Council, and he. would much prefer that it was done under tlio supervision of the City Council. The Mayor said he would enlighten him, and related that it was the general desire of the members of the council to' see the work carried out, and it had, as tho result of a former meeting, instructed Mr. Morton to prepare a scheme and give an estimate of its cost. That had been placed before the council. It had meant £3000 for drainage and £5500 for water—£Bss9 in all. The matter of finance was the difficulty, seeing that the Hutt City Council was not a borough contiguous to the city. .Ho had been informed by the City Solicitor- that they had no power to raise money for works within . the area and jurisdiction of the Hutt County Council, where- the City Council was not the controlling authority. At tho same time, if the question of finance could be arranged, and Mr. Morton could get enough skilled men and the necessary material at reasonable rates, he would do anything in his power to further the scheme. The total amount to be raised was £8559, which could be got at 5} per cent. —perhaps Mr. Findlay could getit cheaper, with tho addition of 1 per cent, sinking fund. Above that there would bo tho cost of maintenance. Tapping tha Wainui Main. In tho matter of the water, he did not- know w'hether it would not be advisable to.tap tho Wainui main at the foot of the hill in the Hutt, aud bring a lead along the main road for three or four miles, so as to ensure Day's Bay, and perhaps Eastbourne, an ample supply (jf water for all time. Councillor Geo. Frost said that ho was fully seized of the necessity of providing Day's Bay with water and drainage, and thought that . the work would be carried out much better by the City Council, under Mr. Norton's guidance, than by tho Hutt County Council. Eastbourne had approached the City Council, through its Mayor, so it was possible that the. Wainui water might be'supplied to both dis- : tricts. Tho council had extensive interests, at Day's Bay, which was a very popular resort, but if water and drainage wore not supplied soon it might not be popular for .long. York and Lowry Bays? Councillor W. H. P. Barber said'that if Day's Bay was going to be provided for, what was going to be done in tho case of York Bay and Lowry Bay? A lot of land over thero was being put on the market at the same time, and there was somo lovely land at Lowry Bay. It appeared to him that the whole of that area from the Pctone (or Lower Hutt) boundary to Eastbourne should ho considered in the scheme. Ho was rather surprised to see where they were getting, and thought that there 'should be a-special meeting of the council to discuss the whole thing. Mr. Wakeham said that the City Council was their only source of information for what they required. With reference to tho proposal to tap the Wainui main to take the lead round the road instead of building two little dams, he favoured the former'idea, and questioned whether, in the course of a dry summer, thero would not be a difficulty .in getting water for the dams to hold. He understood that the ratepayers of tho Bay were willing to rate themselves for the interest on the. cost of the work, and something ought to be done. Septic tanks were not a success, and in the hot weather there might bo an epidemic. Ho gave the assurance that the Hutt County Council would do all it could to work in with-the City Council to that ,end. Councillor L. M'Kenzie said that it would be best to give tho Hutt county councillors time to consider the proposals before them. Now thero was the proposal of Eastbourne coming into the scheme, and there were the two.' different controlling bodies in connection with tho upkeep of the system. That would necessitate the - engineer's department giving them further information. Ho thought that, as, the City Council was to supply tho water under the bigger scheme, and had the staff, it should have control. Ho suggested further deliberation and another meeting later on, when the Mayor of Eastbourne could come in, as he would want all'tho information to place before his ratepayers. Do Something—But Hurry Up! Mr. D. -M. Findlay said that one point had arisen to which he would like permission to.refer briefly. That was tho suggestion of Councillor Barber's about taking in the other bays. If that were done it would entail great delay. The idea of bringing the Wainui water along tho'main road was a very attractive ono on which they would like to havo tho engineer's opinion. As to tho other bays, and other areas within the Hutt County Council, ho wished to point out that Day's Bay was tho most congested, which made water and drainage moro Necessitous than in other localities in tho Hutt County. When tho water supply aud drainage question was last before Eastbourne, it was turned down —a sum of £30,000 was about the estimate. They, in Day's Bay, wero willing to pay anything in the way of rates to the body that would cpmo to their assistance. Such hardly came within tho scope of a county council, and tho City Council, with its engineer and staff, was> moro competent to do tho work than any 'other body. They wore ■ prepared to support any schemo that would bring about the, desired result as soon as possible. If a joint suiieme were decided upon, it should bo decided upon at once. They wero proparod to go to 'tho length of moving to become a town board, and carry out the scheme themselves if tho delay wero likely to be serious.