OTAKI'S INCOMPLETE SEWERAGE

Shannon News, 2 November 1926, Page 2

OTAKI'S INCOMPLETE SEWERAGE

MUST BE PROCEEDED WITH. Drs. Boyd, and McLean, of the Health Department, and Mr. McLean, engineer to the Board of Health, were in Otaki to-day, and it is understood have notified that the Otaki drainage scheme must be carried out without in Otaki last week, and it is understood further delay. The loan raised for the work has been expended without completing it. A meeting : of the Council was to have been held"on Friday to consider the matter but lapsed for want of a quorum. The Department of Health wrote as follows:—"Dear Sir, The 'Otaki Mail' of October 15th contains a report of a resolution having been carried by the Borough , Council at its meeting held on the 14th idem postponing the testing of the drain in Te Rauparaba Street. A requisition has been served upon the Council- by the Bqard of Health for the completion of certain drainage works deemed by the Board to be minimum 'needs in order to complete portion of the drainage scheme already commenced and improve the sanitation of congested areas of the town. Previous decisions of the Council indicated that the testing of this drain was to be carried out, and the Board and Department of Health were keenly interested in the -result. I am astonished at the Council's decision to delay this important and inexpensive procedure and must ask that immediate steps be taken to rescind the Council's resolution and proceed with this test. I suggest the test should be made within fourteen days from your receipt of this memorandum and that the Council's consulting engineer and if possible its former operative engineer, Mr. Davies, be present to answer enquiries. I propose to send certain .officers of the Department of Health to represent me. They will probably be accompanied by a member of the Board of Health and will afterwards confer with, the Council. Reference to Section 143 of the Health Act, 1920, will indicate to the Council what the next step of the Board of Health may be failing the Council's compliance with its requisition. It is my earnest hope that drastic action of such a nature will not be necessary. The, Council's duty is clear. Test the drain 'immediately.—Yours faithfully, T. M. VALENTINE, Di-rector-General of Health."

The Mayor states that a mooting will bo held on Tuesday afternooi, he having given notice' of motion to rescind the deferring of the test, and that the work be proceeded with in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Health.