VICTORIA LAKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 10, 15 December 1915, Page 7

VICTORIA LAKE.

WATER, MUD AND SMELLS. THE LEVEL OF THE WATER. Mr G. N. 'Curtis, chairman of the Domain Board, waited upon the] Borough Council at its meeting on, Monday night in regard to the lake in Victoria Park. His Worship the Mayor said that in connection with the level to which the -water should be risen, he and Cr. Thompson, as members of the Reserves Committee were not in agreement, and it was considered advisable to refer the matter to the Council.

Mr Curtis explained that it was the wish of the Board to have the water in the lake at its former let el. He pointed out that about £2OO had been spent in the old days to clear out the site, fell the bush, and make j the lake, and it would be a pity toi lose that for the sake of about £lO, which would bo the cost of strength-j cuing the outlet. This would militate; 1 against the interests of Stratford, as j | the Board was doing all it could to (make the park a beauty spot. 1 The Mayor said that some residents ] complained about the smell arising i from the lake. He favored restoring ' the water to its former height. He i looked upon a sheet of w ater in the borough as an asset. Children have to be sent to the seaside to see any water. The one thing those people who came from the seaside missed here was water. He believed in it more even than planting trees. H the level were lowered about sft it would take away the largo spread of the water, which was ' an essential from a scenic point of view. Also, he considered it would not be a very expensive job to fill in any washout; £lO would cover the damage. Me moved that the overflow be put m so as to allow the water to remain at its old level. ' Cv. Mills seconded the motion. Ho too, said it would be a great pity to lower the level. They had all the makings of lovely gardens, \vitb, P CI haps, water shoots, boats on,the lake, etc To lower it would be an injustice to the town. If the Board could see their way to build a good ornamental gate and have a picturesque bridge thrown across the lake the Park would be a feature of the town and would afford visitors great pleasure. . . The Overseer said he was of opinion the Council could not afford to take the risk of a washout -occurring. There was no guaranteeing how long the filling would stand. It would take possibly 2000 yards Uv the biting. The water would be about a foot below the road level, but a ‘Tresh would put it level with the road. His experience of these works made him very careful in trusting to earth fallings. One “dam” he had had to repair three times. Cr. Hunter supported the motion. Or! Thompson said he thought the water should be reduced by sft, which would leave it at a fft level. "no estimate of the repairs was far too small. He had heard of a boy being in the mud the 'other day, but it was a good job for him it was not water instead. , Cr. Thompson stated that all sorts of refuse lodged there. 1 the water was at the lower level, it would only mean a mouth or two until the grass grew on the new ground, and they could plant a few trees and the Park would be much better than at oresent. .If the Domain Board could build a bridge, it would be just as attractive across a small amount of water and would not be so expensive tu build as with a larger span. He as much as anyone thought of the interests of the town in these! matters, but there was the financial aspect to lie considered more particularly. Cr - . Lawson agreed with the idea to have the former level, and suggested emptying the lake every two or three months so that it might he scoured out. Cr. Hancock said the Board should foot the bill for the cost of repairing any damage that may occur through

overflowing or breaking away of tie

I’oad.

During the discussion some speakers referred to the complaints by residents in the vicinity about the obje - tionable smell arising from the lake whether it was full or empty. Seven 1 amusing statements, some hypothe c and others founded on fact, we: i made as to the state of the lake t various stages. The Overseer said that if the hill- g washed out the Council would be i queer 'street owing to the drama/ J and water works at the point m question. ... The Mayor said it appeared to hi i they were anticipating damage, whn i would occur, perhaps, 100 yea s hence. The motion to have the water . c the former level was then put to t: o meeting and declared carried. “SMITH’S SMELLFUL DOG.” Speaking at the Hospital Board i meeting yesterday, and while cc:, r i sidering the Health Inspectors rei port, Mr J. Smith said the officers I attention should be called to the sta' e 1 of Victoria Lake, which at present ! was nothing but a cesspool. Toe j speaker, to show how vile the lake i was. said that twelve months ago 1 e ' I took a young collie to the’ lake o ; learn it to swim, and when it came ' out of the water the smell which arose from it was something awfi... ’ Ho had to hold his breath while ,l e chained the dog up. ( Phew I aI , laughter). , Mr Sole moved that the Health k< - partment be asked to send an inspe. - ■ tor,to inspect the back yards of the premises in the Stratford Boiough. ■ Seconded by Mr Smith. i Mr Sole said while considering tae report ho would like to mention tin t ’ there were blocked creeks in the Be - ’ OUK h. When the creeks banked up ’ they were nothing else but receptacles T f o r dead animals. Nothing create 3 an epidemic quicker than cesspits. Mr Morisou said the trouble at tks j hike was a faulty outlet, but when | reconstructed it would be up-to-dace , and quite sanitary. 1 # ' Mr Smith said he had not visited the region of the lake Mr twelv > ’ mouths and he marvelled how thi | people who frequented the tennij courts could stand it. He advised ' parents to keep their children tfWay , from Victoria Lake. Mr Sole’s motion was carried.