PAPAKURA’S MENAGE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 597, 7 January 1921, Page 2

PAPAKURA’S MENAGE.

CASEIN FACTORY DRAINAGE. ] At the last meeting of the Papakura Town Board, the question of the drainage at the New Zealand Dairy Company’s casein factory at Papakurn was again under consideration. In reply to the Board’s letter urging that 'steps be taken immediately to* 3 obviate the existing nuisance, the superintendent, Mr. W. Y. Kirkman, 1 stated that the company was investigating the matter. In company | with Mr. J. G. Ward (manager of

tho Pukekohe Butter Factory) some weeks ago, he called at Papakurn and made a personal inspection. At that i time the matter appeared to bo quite 1 in order, as an inspection at tho out--1 fall disclosed no cause for trouble

and Mi*. Pentecost,, tlic Papakura. manager, stated there had been nothing to complain of. As the posilion now was, it seemed to him that ho had better call a meeting of the suppliers at Papakura; and since they would have to finance the scheme they had a right to be hoard on the matter. Provided they approved of the scheme, and agreed to underwrite the cost of a tiled pipe dram to the tide, then the matter could be gone on with. Otherwise lie was afraid the factory would have to bo closed down, if the Board and the residents insisted on a tiled drain to the tide. While they were not anxious to have the factory closed down, it seemed to be the only solution fading the acceptance of the tiled drain proposal by suppliers. He was sorry the work done last sumniw was not, in', the judgment of the Town Board, satisfactory. The closing down of the factory would create some inconvenience and loss to the suppliers interested. As soon as they had anything further of a definite nature to place before the Board, he would again communicate with them. Mr Campbell moved, and Mr. Montgomery seconded, that as a temporary measure, the company be recommended to plough a piece of land at the side of the creamery, and bury all refuse until such times as the pipes are laid to the tide, or! other effective measures arranged. The motion was carried. In conversation with Mr. E. S. Cole on tiro subject, a “Times” reporter was informed that the menace still existed. He stated that for the last seven years, before the casein factory was erected, the efficient from the creamery was fouling this creek When the factory was completed, and casein operations commenced, the nuisance was intensely aggravated, mid now the third season of the casein production brought up improvement, but the nuisance was as bad as ever-. The Town Board all the time had promised to assist him, but in spite of all efforts, nothing of a permanent nature had been done The dairy company last year was going to do something to obviate the complaint, but so far no improvements had been made. The complaints usually began in November, and before the. company had completed its preambles, the season was over, and the matter hold in abeyance until the next November, when a recurrence of the trouble was experienced. During 1919 and 1920 the company cleaned the drains and creek and disinfected them to a certain extent. This slightly mitigated the nuisance. It had been suggested tc the company that they prepare . for piping under the railway lino before the pew railway work was comliflpettl over the ground. The ther manager, Mr. A. M. Stirling, said this was a very small matter! The suggestion was not acceded to, and now, instead of having to tunnel for a distance of about 15 feet umler i*he old line, this tunnelling,. onCHtfea count of tire formation work for n now line, with a much wider base, had increased fully 75 per cent. The District Health Officer (Dr. Hughes) called on Mr. Cole over an'yOfcv matter, and in conversation, The matter referred to above was introducedc. Dr. Hughes informed Mr. Cole that the septic tanks installed at the outfall of the facto:!/ were never any good, and it was for a similar reason that instructions were issued for the closing down of the Papatoetoe factory some time ago. Mr. Cole said he was out to have the nuisance remedied in the interests of the health of the district, and would leave no stone unturned to achieve this object. In answer to a question, Mr. Cole said there were about fifty dairymen supplying the casein factory, and that there were about 38 chains of (lie creek which required tiled piping. The cost of this was estimated at about 11250,