THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 145, 14 November 1913, Page 1

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Council Decide to Proceed. Public Meeting to be Called Consideration of Mr Lockie Gannon's report on a drainage scheme for Pukekohe was the reason of a special meeting of the Borough Council on Monday, at which were present: The Mayor (Mr G. K. Lawric), Cra Hamilton, Patterson, Comtie and Bilkey. Mr Gannon's report, which has already been published verbatim in the "Times," was read. Cr Patterson asked if the Gcuncil had a schedule of quantities? The Mayor: NO, the plan ard report are all we have. Cr Patterson said the report was "not worth the paper it was written on" unless they had the quantities ard specifications. The Mayor pointed out that it was time enough to provide the specifications and other details when the public decided to go on with the work. Cr Patterson said the point he wished to make was if they employed any otic else tran Mr Gannon he could not go on. The Major said any engineer could work from the plan. Cr Patterson asked if the Council had power to go through any backyards with the drainage scheme. The Mayor said he believed so. NIGHT SOIL SCHEME. The following report from the waterworks engineer on a night soil scheme was read:— Cost of Plant Required. £. 400 pans at 6s each 120 200 lids for same at 6s 6d 65 1 double deck catt 100 Harness 10 Total 295 Cost of Running I J Jant per Fortnight. £. s. d. 1 man six nights . 3 0 0 Burying night soil and cleaning pans 2 0 0 Horse hire 4 16 0 Disinfectant 5 0 lotil 10 1 0 Total Cost per Annum. £. Wages, horse hire, etc. 261 Collecting dues and management 40 Upkeep of plant 12 313 Fees to be Charged. There are at present 200 houses from which night soil will have to be taken; 180 of which will require a fortnightly service and 20 a weekly service; but I would ben to point out that this number will increase as time goas on and provision will have to be made for extra plant, etc. 180 fortnightly services at 8s per quarter equals £2BB per annum. 20 weekly services at 13s per quarter equals £52 per annum. A total of £340 per annum. ■imi. mmmammm

Cr Hamilton said no provision had been made for a dumping ground. £Cr Bilkey: There will be no difficulty over that. Cr Hamilton: I'm not so ceitain of that. If a man gave you the right to laod you woulJ want it for three years ai lea*t, and you can't have it on any back load. You must have a good road to it. The Mayor: If we went on with the night soil system vou would have to have a loan or special rate.

Cr Patterson: Take it out of the general rate. The Mayor: You haven't got any general rate. Cr Hamilton: How will ycu pay it back?

Cr Patterson: Pay it back as the rates come in.

Cr Hamilton at this stage handed the following letter from the clerk to the Otahuhu Borough Council to the clerk to read:— , w "The Road Board decided in 1910 and lyll to carry out water and drainage work, the water to be available for every house in the district, and the drainage for the centre of the town only. The drainage scheme consists of a septic tank outfall emptying into one of the tidal creeks ot the Tamaki river, and about 16,000 feet of pipe sewers varying in size from 12 inches down to 6 inches ware needed to drain the area above mentioned and 6200 feet of 4 inch earthenware pipes were laid down in side drains t) the boundary of each property. About 20 manholes and 20 lamp-holes were fixed at street Intersections on the line of sewers. The septic tank was constructed without filtration beds and the consequence is we are having trouble with the effluent. The Board borrowed £15,000 tor these works and had to obtain a further £7OOO in addition to the 10 per cent, on tha first amount to complete the same, which included half-an-acre of- lard for the septic tank costirg £56, and 4J acres for the water reserve upon part of which the water tower row stands at a cost of £IOSO. The tutal cost of the waterworks amou ted to £17,456 43 lOd, ar.d for drainage £5866 19s 4d. For meter 9, tools and stock for the waterworks £176 15a lOd, making a total of £23,500, and a special rata of Id penny in the £ is l.vied over the whole ot the district tor principal and interest on the aforesaid sum.

"The drainage serves 160 houses and we have 300 houses outside the drainage area, receiving a night soil service once every two weeks at a cost of £1 par annum each, which is levied with their rates, and the property owners find the pans at a cost of 63 6d each. The Council have the option of a weekly servics in the terms of the contractors' agreement at £1 6s per annum. The late Road Board and the present Council expeii.nce a great amount of difficulty in connection with the night eoil removal contract, and numerous complaints are always reaching tha office in regard to the manner in which the work is performed. A great objection is taken to a night soil disposal depot in any district, and many of our ratepayers, who are obliged to have this aervice, are in favour of the water carried system if it was available. Sioce the water and drainage has been installed the district has been healthier and made more rapid progress than hitherto, and the majority of those connected to the drainage realise the benefits in spite of the heavy taxation.

the interests of public health I would not recommend a longer period than one week for night soil removal. Reverting to the construction of our sewers I omitted to mention that fully half were laid without concrete, which, in my opinion, was a serious mistake." Cr Hamilton said the difference between the drainage scheme and the night soil method was, roughly speaking, £IBO, and the night soil system did not provide for the disposal of soap-suds and other drainage. Further, as the place grew so would the cost of the night soil, whereas with the drainage provision was made for the growth of the population. The Mayor considered the best tbing to do was to place the whole question before a public meeting. The drainage fcheme would cost, approximately, Id in the £ and the night soil Jd in the £. Cr Biikey: Then the drainage is the best value.

Cr Hamilton then explained at length how his estimate of valuation was anived tt. His estimate totalled £120,G00.

RATEPAYERS JO DECIDE. Cr Comiie: It's time we had a resolution. I'll muve, "That a public meeting tc called, t v at the two schemes be laid before the ratepayers anH that the Ceurcil strongly recommend the drainage scheme." Speaking to the motion he said I here was no comparison between the two schemes. The night soil syst-rm only did half the work, ard he was not sure the worst half was nut left. The drainage Hcherne might cost a thousand or two more, but what was that if they were going to save a life or two?

Cr Biikey seconded. At first he was in favour of the pan systern'for the reason of expense, but as there was so little difference in the cost he would support the drainage scheme. But bigger places than Pukekohe had the night soil system.

The Mayor pointed out that the soil was different here and the disposal of the soap-suds was a serious problem. Cr Hamilton agreed that Cr t'omrie had struck the keynote when he pointed out (hat the night soil system enly dealt with half the trouble. A resident living in the lower end of the town had told him that the insanitary state of the town was responsible for the illhealth ol his children.

The Mayor supported the proposal of drainage. In years to come the people would thank the Council for what they had done.

Cr Patterson did not consider Id a fair estimate.

The Mayor: Why not?

Cr Patterson said because they were not taking inio corsideration the coat of water, depreciation, and upkeep. That would be another Id.

Cr Hamilton: No, no. The Mayor said that Mr Gannon had told him the cost of upkeep should not exceed £5 or £lO a year. Cr Pattcison said they must include depreciation and the cost of water.

In answer to the last issue it waa pointed out that there were very many people who were not using the minimum quantity, and that 1000 gallons would provide over 300 flushes. Cr Hamiltun suggested that the minimum, if the scheme were carried, might be extended.

Cr Patterson asked bad the engimer taken into consideration the laying %i water-mains in street* where they were not laid at present, but which would come within the drainage ar«a? The Mayor said the report was only for drainage. People paying water rates were entitled to the extension of the mains whether there was drainage or not. The resolution was carried unanimously. -"'-

Cr Hamilton: When are you going to call the public meeting? The Mayor: That's a question. I think we had better wait until this upheaval of laDour is over. It's not much good calling a public meeting now,

It was decided to leave the fixing of the date for the public meeting until after the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

The Mayor moved, That the Council write to the Valuation Department asking them to make an adjustment of the values in the proposed drainage area.

Cr Hamilton seconded the resolution, which was carried.