When Summer Comes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 8

When Summer Comes

Baths Will Be Made Available

IF the people of Auckland, at a poll on September 19, sanction the raising of £7,500 for filtration plants for the Parnell and Shelly Beach baths, there is small likelihood of the apparatus being installed for the approaching bathing season. On the other hand, it is not anticipated that any serious objection will be raised by the health authorities to the baths being used.

rriiK first breath of the northern J- spring brought with it thoughts of the bathing season and there has been much speculation among the people as to 'whether the only two open-air baths in the city would be closed on account of the edict of the Health Department issued toward the end of last summer, concerning Parnell Baths. At that time there was an outcry throughout the district because of the possible pollution of the beaches and

baths from the waters of the Waitemata Harbour, and after investigation had been made into the intake and outfall at Parnell the place was closed for the following reasons: (1) The baths were dirty. (2) The water was impure. (3) The intake was in an unsatisfactory condition. (4) the towels had been neither boiled nor washed. Shelly Beach, too, was closed by the

City Council because of the possible impurity of the water, and the unsatisfactory condition of the intake. According to the intentions of the Auckland Drainage Board, the outfall at Orakei is supposed to be released only when the tide is on the ebb, so that the refuse from the city may be carried far out to sea. The huge pressure of stormwater in the "net seasons, however, and the insufficiency of the holding accommodation there, is at times apparently too great for the plant, and more frequent release has to be undertaken —when the tide is at the flood. This in itself is highly undesirable, but it is believed that exhaustive tests which have been taken of the water in the harbour have shown that dilution in the harbour has greatly minimised the danger, but the department is of opinion that sterilisation of the baths, as is carried out in the Tepid Baths, is necessary. The City Council shortly will be faced with the problem as to whether or not the baths shall be opened for the summer, because, even if the ratepayers sanction the loan of £7,500 for filtration plants, the summer will be well advanced before the machinery will arrive in the Dominion. If the people turn down the proposal, the same situation will have to be faced. INTAKES EXTENDED The chief trouble which led to the closing of both Parnell and Shelly Beach Baths was that of intakes and outfalls. At Parnell, portion of the intake pipe had been torn up, after the formation of the railway embankment, with the result that dirty water was drawn into the baths from inside the railway embankment. Something similar was occurring at Shelly Beach, but the pipes in the respective localities have now been extended for a purer and cleaner supply. Shipping movements and small sewer outwalls always will have some effect upon in the water in the harbour, and it was a desire for precaution in preserving public health and safety which led the health authorities to the steps they adopted. The council is willing to open the baths when the summer arrives, and the department, so it is anticipated, will I'aise no objection to its so doing —provided always that reasonable measures are taken for cleanliness and purity.