DRAINAGE OF TIMARU.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2816, 3 April 1882, Page 2

DRAINAGE OF TIMARU.

[TO THE EDITOB.]

Sib,' by the report of the proceedings of the Borough Council in your issue of Tuesday the Councillors seem to be in earnest in their wish to provide drainage for the borough. Messrs Dobson and Son’s scheme for scavenging by water carriage is sensible, and can be done at a low rate, considering the benefits to be derived from a complete sewage system. I also note'that in your leader of the same date you advise caution and a thorough ventilation of the scheme, before the . ratepayers are asked to authorise the expenditure. You state it is possible the sewage would be thrown on the beach and eventually become a fever bed. The suggestion is worth serious consideration'by every ratepayer in the Borough, and! trust I may be pardpned the presumption in stating that in my opinion your fears would Unquestionably be realised. If it were only for the sewage of house slops the scheme would be thorougly good, but as it is intended for solid sewage I am fully convinced there would be a large quantity of filth thrown back and gradually intermixed with the shingle by the action of the sea, the evil result pf which can not at present be calculated No drainage scheme should be attempted for combined sewage unless an outfall is provided ' that will deposit it far out from the shore, and thus prevent any possibility of the shingle becoming impregnated with the sewage. I would suggest for the;gonsideration of the Engineer and the public generally that all the.main outfalls should be connected with iron pipes run along the Breakwater, as far as the straight line goes, so that it may be emptied into the sea at low Water. I believe such a scheme, with the necessary valves for flushing, could be carried out a little over the Engineer’s estimate,. and so prevent the probability of the evils you so wisely suggest, and make Timaru what nature designed it to be—that is to say, one of the healthiest towns in the world. lam aware that the Harbor Board’s consent would be required to enable the Council to carry out the scheme. They would also have to be consulted before the scheme propounded by the engineer could be carried out, and if the reception of the request to be allowed to deposit rubbish on the beach reserve be any criterion to go upon it is very questionable whether the Board would allow the engineer’s scheme for throw ing all kinds of sewage on the beach. I think the importance of the scavenging scheme for this town is sufficient to justify mo in asking you without any apology to insert this letter.—l am, &c., Advance.