RECLAMATION OF THE LAGOON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 491, 24 November 1877, Page 2

RECLAMATION OF THE LAGOON.

The following extract from Mr. M'Laod's report to the Municipal Council with reference to tlie best mans of abating the nuisance at the lagoon, fully oxplains his proposals in the matter. We may state that we believe the cost of rhe proposed works would be about LIO,OOO or L 12,000. After speaking of the neees sity for getting rid of the vital nuisance which is daily increasing, and of the former proposal to convert the lagoon into a wet dock for shipping purposes, to which Mr. M'Leod urges some objections, he goes on to say : Assuming, therefore, that my ideas on the point at issue are corrtct, I presume it would be now the wisest policy in the Harbor Board to abandon the idea of ever making a dock in the Oamaru Creek lagoon, and to turn their attention to utilising their property in some other way productive of revenue to the Trust, and conducive to the public good. And lure I may at once say that seeing the increasing demand there is for suitable sites for stores, warehous. s, and miiis contiguous to the railway station, and accessible by sidings, it would pay the Board handsomely to i\claim the lagoon, or rather to fill it up, so that the ground .eight be leased to advantage. Jn dealing with the reclamation of the lagoon, a suitable waterway would have to be left for tie ere, k. This waterway should not be less than 35 feet wide. Tlie sides of it ought to be brought up in concrete or masonry from Tnames-street bridge to tiie railway bridge, and thence with pih d and concrete work to low-water level. And the. bottom of this waterway should be on ail even incline from the floor of the Tnames-street bridge to about v\ufoot below ordinary high-water le\cl, whilst probably a couple of sets of sluice gates would be required, one to work in chanicaily, the o< her self-acting. I need not, say that tlie iev. 1 of the recl.:ni ition should be such as t > suit t..e level of the rails at the rail.vay station, and that the retaining walls s n>uld be of sufticient strength to carry warehouses, archings, or any otntr contemplated wot ks.

It is true that the whole cost of such a sellune would be considerable, but I submit, with confidence, that it would pay, and all desirable results would be obtained.

Moreover, in such a scheme as I have just indicated, the Council might with much advantage bear part of the cost, inasmuch as, from a municipal point of view, it is highly desirable that the lower part of Huniber-street should be raised and a bridge be constructed to connect it with Tyne-street. Whilst it would be equally desirable to discharge the main outfall drainage sewer into the sea at or about the mouth of the Lagoon, 1 may add that within 18 mont' s hence a large quantity of waste water from our waterworks will be discharged into the Oamaru Creik, and if reclamation or improvements of any kind are to be made in the present creek course within the town, and more especially below Thames-street, these improvements should be carried out before the extra supply of water is brought in. So much, however, depends upon the view the Harbour Board may take of the best way of utilising their property, and their definite line of action w.ito reference thereto, that it would be presumptuous on my part to treat the subject further than 1 have done, until they have been fully consulted on the matter. And I can only urge upon the Council the immediate necessity there is of meeting the Board, and arranging as to the steps to be taken in the circumstances.