THE BOROUGH DUMP.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5087, 11 February 1927, Page 2

THE BOROUGH DUMP.

STRICTER SUPERVISION NEEDED.

COMMITTEE TO TAKE ACTION.

Frequently complaints have been made with reference to the. unsatisfactory state of the borough dump at Nahum Street. The site of the dump is a deep gully running through an area of land recently acquired by the Paeroa District High School Committee from the Borough Council. In order that the gully, may be filled in, the committee has agreed that it should continue to be used as a dump, so long as it is kept under proper control by the council and the bottom of the gully is piped before being filled with debris.

The area has been fenced, but there is a wide part of the gully running right on to the roadside ,and it is in this locality that the difficulty of control exists. Carters and others have been in the habit of tipping rubbish indiscriminately, with the result that an unsightly conglomeration of articles of all descriptions has piled up. Another unsavoury feature has been that no proper check has been kept, on the class of rubbish dumped, and much debris of an inflammable nature has been included which, either by accident or design, is set alight. The result has been that the houses of residents in the vicinity have not infrequently been filled with acrid smoke and an abominable stench.

At last night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council the matter was referred to by the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), who said that the time had arrived when a definite stand would have to be taken. After consultation with the School Committee a suggestion had been made that now the road portion of the gully had been filled tip, an area inside the paddock should be fenced off and only one definite place left open for the depositing of rubbish. About 20ft could be used at a time and instructions given .that the ! rubbish was to be completely covered at least once a tortnight. IT those steps were followed many objectionable features at present, existing would be done away with. •

Cr. de Castro agreed that at present there were certainly grounds for complaint, but the council could hardly be held responsible for the lighting of the fires;

After some, discussion it was resolved that the matter be referred to the health committee, with power to act, and that the foreman be? instructed to see that the area was properly covered at regular intervals. (On the suggestion of Cr. Edwards it was decided to lay rat poison round the dump.