POLLUTION OF STREAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 3080, 2 January 1873, Page 2

POLLUTION OF STREAMS.

To the Editor. Sir, — I am glad to see that attention is again directed to the nuisance caused iu the City by the discharge, on or into the public drains, of the waste from the breweries. Some considerable time ago there was an agitation about the nuisance so caused in Pitt and Frederick streets ; and, if my memory serves me aright, Mr Strachau then uromised to pass all the refuse from his brewery through a deodorising tank before sending it down the open drains I don’t know whether or not any attempt has been made to carry this proposal into effect, but certain it is the nuisance is not abated, but continues to a very offensive degree, One day lately, I had occasion to come up Frederick street from Clyde street, in the middle of the day, when the stench from the open drain there was almost sickening. Again on a Sabbath Day lately I turned up Frederick street from Great King street, when I was instantly met by the offensive odour. I rushed to the other side of the street for relief, when I was assai’ed by the almost equally offensive stench from the manure heap of the White Horse stables. Nor is ft Mr Strachan alone who is creating a nuisance which is most offensive to the olfactories of the citizens, it not dangerous to their health. The drain in tiowe street and the Water of Leith are both polluted by its offensive discharge. Sometimes as far down as the old Botanic Reserve the Water of Leith stinks with brewery refuse. Surely, this is a matter for our Council to look to. Besides their power as City Couuci lors, our Municipality, as I understand, have now enlarged powers in these respects as the Local Board of Health. Let them recognise the responsibility which the possession of power involves, and see to it that the nuisance, so often and properly complained of, be abated. We see that many private citizens are brought up before his Worship for “allowing unclean water to pass from their premises on to the public street.” Why docs uot Inspector Kimon look aft?r those who are committing the greater nuisance, and not deal ffsh to one, aud flesh to another ? Surely a man is not to be punished for a small offence, aud allowed to go scot free for a great big one. Not long ago one of the brewers on the banks of the Leith raised an action aud obtained an interdict against a flax-worker higher up the river, because he had, it was said, polluted the river by washing his flax in it. Should not the Corporation take a leaf out of the eime book, aud get an interdict aga nst the brewers, forbidding them any longer to continue the present wholesale pollution of the river aud public sewers.— 1 am, &c,, Citizen. Dunedin, January 2.