DAY’S BAY DRAINAGE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 6

DAY’S BAY DRAINAGE

A problem of some difficulty is exercising various interests in regard to the drainage of Day’s Bay. The drainage admittedly leaves a good deal to be desired. There have been complaints, and the Healta Department has drawn attention to the need for an improvement. The difficulty arises from the fact that two municipal authorities, the Wellington City Council and the Hutt County Council, have interests in Day’s Bay. There is also a sizable area of church and school property, and when this is added to the City Council’s reserve and grounds the total is about 90 per cent, of the bay. These facts were pointed out at a meeting of lhe County Council yesterday in emphasis of the difficulty of loading some 300 ratepayers with the burden of a special rate for a drainage undertaking involving considerable cost. As the County Council as rate collector can only draw upon 10 per cent, of the area it is a fair question whether some responsibility should not be placed on the property-owners in the exempted area. They must come into the drainage scheme in any case, and since they stand to benefit a measure of responsibility should be accepted. A public meeting of the ratepayers is to be convened to discuss the question, but it seems also necessary that there should be a consultation between the two interested local authorities. The matter should not be allowed to drift any longer in the way it has been doing. Action is necessary, for there is always danger of an epidemic of sickness, especially in this hot weather. Day’s Bay hitherto has been regarded as one of the healthiest of Wellington's suburbs, enjoying a maximum of sunshine and shelter, but if the drainage continues to be unsatisfactory, trouble may be piling up for Ilk future.