ALLEGED RIVER POLLUTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 9

ALLEGED RIVER POLLUTION

INQUIRY BY LOWER HUTT COUNCIL

EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYEES

The Mayor (Mr. TV. Baldwin) presided over the special meetinir of the Lower Hutt .Borough Council 'held last ovening. There wero nlso present:' Councillors J. M'Dougall, W. G. Meldrum, H. Carver, J. Brasell, S. G. Clondon.'W. Cotton, W. Kerr,' H. A. Ward, and A. Hobbs. , . . Tho Mayor explained that the meeting waa specially called ■ because. Councillor Kerr had practically made iv charge against some of the council's . etaif, charging them -with allowing 'nighfcoil io be deposited in the river. Ho desired to have some understanding as to procedure. Councillor Kerr was practically the plaintiff and the Borough Engineer, who is affected by the charge, was practically the defendant. ■ There was a long discussion, in' which moat of the councillors took part on the question of procedure and the issues to too inquire! into, and finally it was decided that tho engineer and Mr. Cometti should be present and that Councillor Kerr should call his witnssses first. Tho first witness called was James Itoaie, who stated that he had been in the council's employ for two years ana lad been out of it since about a year and a half ago. Hβ first noticed the trap to tho river about a month after he was in tho council's employ. That "was about 3j years ago. . Hβ was ordered to use the .trap by Mr. Cometti. The trap was not useiK continuously, but about once in six weeks. Hβ was told by Mr. Cometti that the septic tank 'was too full. He could not say how often he used the trap-; perhaps it was nbout a dozen times'; it certainly was oiot more.' Answering questions he said .it was about two years and nine months ago that ho was put on the nightsoil ■work, and it was three months afterwards that he first used the trap. The records showed • that he began on the .sanitary work during the first week in March, 19U, and finished up in the first ivcek in February, 191 G., Daniel Nyhan, a horse trainer, who resides not far from the septic. tank, said that about .three years ago he first saw the nightsoil' placed in- ' the trap. He , thought it was _ done once a week and sometimes oftener. .Hosie recalled said.that when, lie was ■working , for.-the council lie started at 5 p.m. and'got to the septic tank about .1.30 aim. It took'him about ft quarter of an'hour to unload. He never, drove' Hny but a grey horse in tho night soil cart.- ■ ■ '.. ■..--■ ... .. ; Mr. Boacho, the borough engineer," said 'that the sefilic tank had been working lor six years. It had been necessary to a night soil cart. for. about four .years'in connection with the septic tank. .Four men had been employed by the council twrting night soil. 'Me explained the construction of the septic tank, jfnd ]iow the night soil was deposited in i chamber and pumped up: This was .found to lie unsatisfactory, and the night soil ■n-as placed direct into the tank. The tank became choked, and it was th*m -lie understood that Mr. Cometti instructed Hosie to deposit the night soil in the trap. Ho was closely questioned .1 by several councillors us to the working of the septio tank, and a? to liis various ■reports on the remedial measures he proposed. ';/■ ' ■ William Adams, at present engaged in carting night.soil, said he had been doing tile work for the past twenty months ; the night soil was'collected once a week and dumped into the trap. He was told ,to do that by Hosie, who did the night soil collecting before liim. . . Mr. Cometti, the foreman,'said he gave tho instructions for the trap to lie used because the tanks were full. He , never <*mnlai!!ed to. the engineer about this. He lin<? received no eomplr.inls. although fine councillor was in tho habit-of fislijn* the river, in the neighbourhood., '. This concluded .thoi evidence, which. Tvill now be 'consiuarcd by the council. - . • . ;. \ .•■ , ■ --.