MOSQUITOES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1930, Page 15

MOSQUITOES

; IN AWAMUTU CREEK

KEROSENE AS/ A REMED.Y

Residents of Awamutu street, Moora, acting through the'Moera Community Sports and Ratepayers' League, have complained to the Health Department of the state of the Awamutu Creek, which runs through the back of somo of their sections. They state .that it is a breeding ground for. mosquitoes, that crude sewage is sometimes deposited ou its banks, and that tho stench at times is very bad. They asked for an immediato investigation.

This complaint was brought under tho notice.of the Hutt Power Board last night in a letter from the Medical Officer of Health. He said he had visited, the locality and noted the general conditions. Ho wjis not in a position to appreciate all the- engineering- difficulties, but it appeared that the clearance of weeds from the creek throughout its course would be beneficial. There was always likoly to. be trouble with mosquitoes until the ercelc was prevented from backing up in the swampy areas, where possibly the application of kerosene * would be beneficial.

The clerk of the board (Mr. A-. J. Gearing) said he had replied to the •letter stating that the clearing of the growth in the stream was now being attended to by the board's staff. Mr.- G. A. Chapman said he had visited the locality recently - and had sot' noticed..any stench, although : the creek and drains leading into it were teeming with mosquitoes. He moved that the stagnant areas be sprayed -with kerosene. Two hundred gallons should be enough. ' : V. The clerk said that the cost Would be £6 per hundred gallons. ;

; Was it the Eiver Board's function to do this? asked the engineer (Mr. H. Sladden), to which Mr. Chapman xeplied that if no: ono took the responsi-' bility there would bo nothing done. It would not cost the ..board much.

: The chairman (Mr. F. S. Hewer) thought that the matter should be roferred to the Lower Hutt Borough Council, and the board decided to do this, drawing particular attention to the urgency of the question of spraying.

It was stated by the engineer that the stream had now been practically cleared of weeds. Eubbish was. frequently thrown into it, and on one occasion he had found a tin bath almost blocking ono of tho culverts.