LEITH BED BLOCKED

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 7

LEITH BED BLOCKED

BOULDERS BEING REMOVED PRELIMINARY RELIEF DETAILS COMPLETED Estimated at between 30,000yds and 40,000yds, the quantity of stone now lying in the bed of the Leith is a huge problem confronting tho city engineer. Between Forth street and Anzac terrace bridge, the Harbour Board alone has lifted approximately 3,oooyds, weighing about 4,500 tons. Two shifts, day and night, have been worked by the Harbour Board on its portion of tho Leith bed. Twenty men have been on the night shift and forty on the day shift. By to-night the gangs will complete the removal of the stone between Forth street and Harbour terrace, and a start will then be made to clear the bed between Harbour terrace and the Anzac _ avenue bridge. Some of the stone is being used to fill in the banks to the new level of the walls, but the remainder is being piled on the banks in the meantime, pending a decision as to its final use by the engineer. Seventy-eight men are being employed by tho City Council on tho taking out of boulders in the bed from the Forth street bridge to Patmos avenue in the Leith Valley.

The bulk of the street cleaning work by the works department has been finished.

The city’s water supply is now in a good position, but as the water from the Ross Creek reservoir is discoloured the corporation is still delivering water to the districts most affected. The last intake, with the exception of Morrison’s Creek, to be connected with Sullivan’s dam, was put in yesterday at the head waters at 4 p.m. The repairing of the Morrison’s Creek will be tho work of weeks.

“ The water at Ross Creek is slowly settling,” stated the city engineer today, “ and further investigations into the discolouration are being carried out.”

When Mr Alexander and Mr Wilkie returned to their car from an inspection of Morrison’s Creek yesterday, they found the following letter pinned on the seat: —“ Having made a lengthy examination of tho bed of the Leith and a minute calculation as to the exact rainfall, to .0000, and taking into account the moment of inertia and all other known stress and strain, we have come to the conclusion that the person with whom very grave dissatisfaction should bo expressed is—the Clerk of the Weather.—No Afore Floods No. 3.”

Tho preliminary work of organising relief is so far forward that the bureau in the Queen’s buildings is to-be closed and headquarters made in tho rooms of the St. John Ambulance Association at the cld Fire Brigade station. This was reported to a meeting of the Relief Committee this morning, when the deputy-mayor (Air J, S. Douglas) presided. The financial statement showed the fund to bo £4,OSD 19s Gd. When it was reported that the bureau was to bo closed, Airs Baker said the committee’s work was far from ended. The big work of relief could now be handled, as the preliminary details were almost completed. Tho Deputy-mayor said the report was pleasing, as it showed the splendid work curried out by the bureau workers. He knew of cases which had not come forward yet for relief. The need for small houses for housing the homeless was stated to be still pressing. . , , Tho Rev. G. Morcton said the people wore settling down now, and the noise was being made by a small faction only. A letter, signed by forty-three residents of tho Leith, Castle, and St. Andrew streets districts was received expressing appreciation of the relief given by the committee and the services of the area officci's (Alcsdamcs M‘lntyre and Barniugham). “ The very fact that the response to the appeal tor funds has been so splendid is sufficient indication that the committee has the confidence of tho public,” said Air Aloreton. “ There is no need to enter into a controversy, but the big bulk of public opinion is helping us to carry 011 to a successful issue the alleviation of distress. Some of the ladies have been a little hurt over the criticism.” _ Air Douglas was deserving of particular thanks for his wholehearted devotion, leadership, and wise counsel. Airs Baker also paid a tribute to tiie ciroits of the St. John Ambulance Association members.