SEWERAGE FOR SHANNON

Shannon News, 26 November 1926, Page 3

SEWERAGE FOR SHANNON

COMMITTEE SET UP TO BEING DOWN REPORT. The question of sewerage for Shannon is one that has come before past •, o»ucils'on different occasions, but each time the matter has ben dropped without any finality being arrived,at. On the present Council, Cr. Thwaites is a strong advocate. Some time ago, he revived the question, but it was held over for three-months. On Tuesday evening it came up for discussion. Cr. Thwaites s!dd that last time he had brought the sewerage question forward it was held over for three months, but at the expiration of that time it had not been gone on with, owing to several - members resigning their seats. He said, he thought all would admit that the time was now ripe for something to be done. In the near future we would have the Horowhenua County Council's plant tearing up the surface of the roads preparing for the main highway. This was a material point to consider, as when the roads were put down permanently they did not want to have to break them up to put down the sewerage. From a health point of view it needed no\ enlarging upon. The pan system was unsatisfactory and tended to spread disease: The finan-' eial side did not appear to be difficult, as the present system was now costing 6d per week while by capitalising the cost, another 6d would cover the Avhole borough with a proper sewerage system. He "said they had an estimate before them from the Montgomerie-N. ilsen Co. for £13,000 and he felt satisfied the system could be put in for that amount. Against this system the question of floods had been raised, but tl.is could be overcome by having a holding chamber. When the floods subsided the chamber could be,opened and the matter disposed of. He said l he realised the argument to folloAv Avould be from the point of finance., He ridiculed some of the estimates feat had been quoted. They were only wild guesses. When the question was being considered, they j had to also consider the hundreds of children to whom they owed an obligation. "We give them protection against everything, bar disease, and that we are placing in their way. After we have had sewerage for one month we would never go back to the pari system," said the speaker. The Mayor: The Montgomerie-Neil-sen system of sewerage is not puitable for Shaimon, as it is necessary to be sluiced out every three months. It is not a success at while Eastbourne refused to put in the system on of the sluicing which "meant depositing the matter in the sea along-' side the 3uburb.

Cr. Thwaites said the case of Pieton was a sore point with him. Pieton's system was not the Montgomerie-Neil-sen, but a combined system. He asked if a serious effort had ever been made to enquire fully into the matter, to ascertain if some system could be found suitable for this borough. Cr. Hyde asked the Town Clerk if he could tell them, if, in the event of sewerage being put clown in the Borough, there was anything in the Act to compel property owners to connect. The Town Clerk, said he could not say-off-hand, but he would look the matter up. In the- interests of, health the Health Officer could compel a property owner to conneet up with a water supply where one is installed, so probably he could do so in the case of sewerage.

In reply to Cr. Hyde as to whether the Council could make a speeial rating area, excluding isolated places, the Town Clerk replied in the affirmative. To carry the sewer tc isolated places thecost would be too heavy .

Cr. Thwaites said he would suggest special dispensation in such eases. Cr. Hyde said a question to be considered was, "Can we dispense entirely with the sanitary contractor's vices." If they still had to employ him and have the cost of the. sewfii&ge over the whole borough on top of his salary, it-was no good. - ; Cr. Downes: On top of the extra rate, the cost of connecting up is going to be a hurdle for the working man.

Cr. Thwaites said apart from the loan for installing, he would advocate raising a short dated loan repayable in say five to six years, to finance such people. The Mayor said he would not approve of a loan being raised if only a portion of the borough was to be served.

Cr. Downes was strongly in favour of a sewerage system, but he could not see how it was going to pay, unless the whole borough was reticulated and the sanitary contractor's services dispens-. ed with. If the whole borough could be done for £14,000 he would say go

onCr. Richardson pointed out that it he had to pay for the services on a rate, it would mean an increase of rates on his property of £ls per year. He could not see how Cr. Thwaites arrived at bis Is or Is 6d per week. If a system could be put in that would only cost him Is 6d a week he would vote

for jt. In reply to Cr. Thwaites the Town Clerk said that under the pan system the receipts and expenditure balanced. Cr. Thwaites said he arrived at his figures by capitalising the cost at 7 per cent, which on a £15,000 loan would work out at Is 6d per week. The question was then raised as to whether a weekly charge could be made, or if it had to be paid as a rate. The Town Clerk said he would look into the matter.

The Mayor said it was essential to

obtain some estimate" then the Council would know how to work. The Town Cerk said two estimates Lad been received from the late engineer, Mr Edwards. ' One was for £1636 which provided fcr a portion of Plim : mer Terrace down to Graham Street. The other was for £6860 for a system which would provide for the congested area of the Borough. MontgomerieNeilsen's had estimated a sum not to exceed £12,900 for the whole borough. y Cr. Thwaites said he would like to see a committee sot up to go into the matter fully and bring down a report to the Council. He moved in this direction. Cr. Hyde said he could not see that a committee could bring down anything fresh, as they all knew the position. An amendment by C*. Richardson that the time was not opportune to go in for a sewerage system, failed to find a seconder. , The motion w r as carried, Crs. Thwaites, Downes, Hyde and Hook voting for, and Crs Richardson and Richards against. The Mayor and Crs. Thwaites, Hyde . and Hook were appointed a committee to bring down a report.