correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 72, 6 December 1892, Page 2

correspondence

DBAINAGE. TO THKiEDITOR OF THIi STAR. Sib,— There seems to be a general impression that Feildrog lays jery flat, and is therefore difficult to drain, but I believe there is a greater fall than the majority of individuals are aware of. What adds to the above impression is that the water courses are serpentine, and their currents obstructed by grass, weeds, and timber. The fall is in about a southeast direction to the Oroua stream, and to judge, by sight, J..reckpn i . v ttiejs_Jß,at least 4 or 5 feet' fall from Manchester Square, or the centre of this town, to the banks of that stream, ana", where it does not overflow its banks in times of high flood, if this fall is obtainable it would be quite sufficient, I^nfald'tiiinicf Tor drainage purposes, and there would be no danger of the water being backed up upon the town- in the eyent of higfi^floods. The drainage of this ■ tbwtf* is naturally bound to find its way to the Oroua stream, and so it is much better that drainage should find its way there quickly for the health of the settlers, and also the stock. The Oroua is well adapted to carry -'-off surplus water "&cj from this town for several reasons, namely, tnere is no large town near its banks aha Ypartlj depending on it for a water supply below Eeilding. 2nd, there, is a considerable body of water running within its ' banks all the year round. 3rd. the current is rapid snowing a .considerable i fall, and therefore the power to purify quickly. Floods are/ no doubt, useful in scouting out drains and carrying off impurities where stock have been running, anfTthe great difference between a country that is well drained and one that, is not, v that the former is left in a° -moire healthy condition soon after heavy and prolonged rams, but the latter, from' impure water becoming stagnant, or by the slow process of finding an outlet by blind creeks, deposits of impure matter are left here and there, forming breeding beds for the germs of desease. Your correspondent siguirig himself •' H.T.8.," in your issue of November 12th, alluded to my former letter, and the difficulty and costliness of removing sewerage matter. This, however, will have to be done, and our Borough Councillors must just find out the most approved methods made use of in other important towns. In Wellington, for instance, where drainage has notkept pace with the increase of inhabitant!, the leading men are now taking great inter- * est in the question, and experts, I believe, are to be employed, Your scheme, touched upon in a leader some time back for obtaining a loan large enough to cover a number of necessary .;• works, including drainage, although, no doubt desirable, yet I am affraid such scheme would necessitate a greater increase in the rates than the ratepayers are. prepared for at present" but there is more danger in delay as to the drainage scheme than in any other. In obtaining an outlet for the mam drains and laying r them down (where funds will allow) "as perman. ent as. possible either with pipes or concrete, should, in my opinion, be done. No doubt the principal drainage at present is required: on the Kimbolton, road at both sides of the Square, and Manchester street, and I would here point out that at least one third of the surface water at flood times which finds its way into the Manchester street, culvert, should be turned off into some other channel |o as to get rid of a source of trouble and expense. The surface draiuage from the west, or upper side of Feildiog, must ; necessarily find its way into the Makino bed for some time to come, and the work of clearing out the stream bed of obstruc. toons and gravel deposits, is much required at the south, bridge on the Awahun road, as there is a want of room in the channel there. This work should be carried on some chains m the property on the south side of the roadj and sharp bends «ut off so as to enable the flood water to get well clear of the.sown. . i am, etc., ■.. ,■■■■ :..■■■ A Colonist.