DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE OF THE CITY.

Evening Star, Issue 2814, 24 February 1872, Page 2

DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE OF THE CITY.

To the Editor. Si u, —Agitations in connection with the gas and water supply of this City have been carried on with success, especially in the question of gas, which has terminated with benelicial results to the citizens in general. Jut there is one question which apparently has bc.u overlooked—namely, the drainage and sewerage of this City. A City built in the position of Dunedin has many natural capacities for surface draining, which, with the aid of science, might be converted into a very complete and efficient method of underground drainage and sewerage, The present system—if I may so call it—of drainage is very meagre and incomplete, and the result is to drain one part of the town—City, I mean—at the expense of the other, At the intersections of Cumberland and St. Andrew streets, the result of the present drainage may bo seen after rain has fallen. Nearly the whole of the property at this intersection and along Cumberland street is more or less inundated, and in one case, a short time since, the result, I believe, was to threaten the Corporation with an action for damages for the result of the drainage. Evidence of this very incomplete drainage may be seen anywhere in ihe lower parts of the City, especially at the terminations of St. Andrew and Frederick streets, and not forgetting that great eyesore and nuisance at low water, the Rattray street sewer, where the stench which arises is most abominable,

This system of drainage, together with th open cesspools which are in vogue, render what might otherwise be a very healthy City a rather dangerous place of abode. My remarks apply chi fly to the lower parts of the City ; but the nuisance which will arise if something is not done to remedy the existing evil, will be anything but beneficial to the health of the residents in the higher parts of the City, Should any epidemic unfortunately arise, the result of the drainage as it now exists would be to engender it, and the consequences arising might prove terrible.

Might not our Civic authorities consult some civil engineer of whose ability there is no doubt, as to the propriety of carrying out a scheme for draining the City properly. Pecuniary difficulties exist, I have no doubt; hut, at the same time, the Corporation might adopt a system, and carry it out by degrees until the whole might be completed. That something should be done regarding the drainage of the City there can be no doubt; and I hope some one with more ability will not allow the matter to lapse. I am, &e., Impress. Dunedin, February 23.