Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 78, 20 December 1892, Page 2

Correspondence

DRAINAGE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — In continuation of my previous letter on the above subject, the first step towards the initiation of a drainage system should be, the cutting of a number of open drains sufficient to carry away to the Oroua or the Makino, as the case might be, the large quantity of surface water which collects round about us, and lies in stagnant pools eyery winter. If this were done, property owners would then for the first time, have an opportunity of taking flood and surface water off their premises. At present though many owners are anxious to dram their properties, no means whatever are given them of doing so, through want of the necessary outfall channels to carry thn water away. The Borough is too young at present te require a complete sewage system as suggested by "A Colonist," but it does urgently require the drainage of surface water I have already indicated, and which would be comparatively an inexpensive work. The prevalence of such complaints as sciatica and rheumatism in Feilding, is no doubt accounted for by 'he large amount of water lying about it iv winter. Later on, if a sewage system be required, it must be quite separate and distinct from the drains carrying surface and flood water. For this statement I have the authority of such able engineers as Messrs Cuthbert and Fergusson. whose* report on the best means of draining Wellington now lies before me, and which was adopted in September last by the people of that city. The cutting of these surface water drains wouid not, then, in any way interfere with a system of sewage, when required later on. With a view, therefore, of initiating a drainage system, and in order to enable us to arrive at an approximate cost of the work of cutting these open drains, I would suggest that the Borough Council should have the levels of the more populous portions of the Borough taken forthwith, in order to ascertain the best fall obtainable, and have an estimate prepared of the cost of carrying out the work. No doubt a loan will be required, but sooner or later we must face the necessity of raising a loan both for surface drainage and a water supply. Why delay the matter any longer ? A loan sufficient to coyer the cost of the drainage (as being the most pressing want) or of both works, could be raised under iC The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act," bearing interest at five per cent, for a term of twenty six years on the security of a special rate. It is for our representatives in the Council to formulate a scheme to deal with these important questions and I trust they will take them up immediately and treat them with the great consideration they deserye. lam, etc., Burgess.