THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 857, 23 March 1877, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

The following reply of the Drainage Board to the resolutions passed at the late public meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall, has been handed to us for publication “Christchurch, March 20st, 1877. “ To his Worship the “Mayor of Christchurch. “Sir,—The resolutions which were passed at the public meeting held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on the 15th February last, and to which we have now the honor to reply, were evidently passed in entire misconception of the proposals of the Drainage Board. “1. It has never been proposed by the Board—nor is it now their intention—to discharge solid sewage matter either into the Rivers Avon and Heathcote, or into the estuary. , , , “2. When adopting Mr Carruthers plans, the Board were careful to ascertain from that gentleman that the cost would be well within the limit of the amount which they are authorised to raise, and before accepting tenders for any portion of the works, they have been supplied by the engineer with an accurate estimate of the total cost, which will be about one hundred and sixty seven thousand pounds (£167,000). A period of at least three years would be required for the expenditure of the above amount; and this outlay might be reduced to about one hundred thousand pounds by omitting many of the branch sewers, where from paucity of population or from an abundant supply of water in the side channels, the immediate construction of the sewers might be delayed without detriment to public health. “3. While the Board are fully alive to the merits of the dry system, under proper supervision, and in its most perfect form, it is obvious that some other provision must be made for carrying away the house slops. In many parts of the district this cannot be accomplished by ordinary surface drainage, and the Board are of opinion that the adoption of sewers in such cases is indispen- “ 4. The Board have no desire to hurry on the completion of the works in advance ©f the ascertained necessities of the various localities ; and had public opinion not been so strongly expressed against the pollution of the rivers, they would have been prepared to have dispensed with the pumping stations for six or seven years, and have allowed the ordinary house sewage, to be discharged into the rivers as at present. “ I have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your obedient servant, “ R. J. S. Haeman, “ For the Chairman,”