A QUESTION OF DRAINAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 23 April 1917, Page 4

A QUESTION OF DRAINAGE.

At the meeting of the Borough Council on Friday night, th# r following letter was received from Mg. p. Swindells, Health Inspector;

17th April, 1917

The Town Clerk, Taihape.. Dear Sir., —Herewith Is enclosed ai copy of letter received from theWfistrict Health Olficor, received by him. through the Minister of Public. Health from certain residents of Taihape and relating to certain matters connected with drainage from their properties, and to which T have replied to the District Health Officer. I j may say that complaint has been | made to me with regard to the mat- | ters, which I hav e tried to have remedied by sewers installed, and to which matter the Council have also directed their attention by having connections left in th e sewer proposed to be laid by the Railway Department, so that these properties could be connected up. I have on several occasions pointed out to Mr Dunbar the exact position, stating that a sewer would be available at the earliest possible moment. Such information, however, does not appear to be sufficient for the complainants, and they desire something drastic; but both they and Mr Smith hav e obtained any information regarding the matter, had they desired, from the Town Clerk or myself without going to Wellington. I have refra ned from taking action against these neople, who are themselves respcrv’hle for the nuisance so caused by draining on to the street, and will he pleased for a direction from the Council—(Signed) F. Swindells, Health Inspector. The following i s th e letter referred to by Mr Swindells as having been sent by the complainants named to the Minister of Health;

Taihape, 20/3/17.

To the Minister of Public Health, — We, the undersigned, desire to appeal to you through the member for the district (Mr. R. W. Smith), asking you as Minister of Health to remove from us what has been and still.

is, a very serious matter, that is, an

open drain running in front of the properties occupied by. us. This drain receives all the drainage from about five: houses, and lodges in front of the properties w e -occupy,-and the stench is unbearable, especially in hot weather. As there arc young - about who cannot: always;.: be ‘watched, the matter needs attention, as if such is not done . there-is a probability or typhoid' fever breaking out, whichkis not uncommon in Taihape. We lifeve

appealed to the Borough Council, the. local health officer, and the District Health Officer, but each denies any responsibility, and we can' get no satisfaction. Therefore, sir, w e beg you to give the matter your earliest consideration and assist -us by getting the authorities to work, as all whonx we approach deny any responsibility in the matter.—yours, etc!, '(signed) S. Dunbar, C. B'ebb, and John Murray.

Cr. ■ Joblin inquired if the statements made by the complainants

were in accordance with facts

The Mayor said they were most decidedly not in accordance with facts. The drainage of this particular locality had been the subject of negotiation between the Council and the Railway Department for some time. A project had been put forward, and came before the Council, which had authorised the necessary expenditure.

was now in shape to be gon e on with, and would be put in hand as soon as possible. Tc show that the statements contained in the letter of Messrs Dunbar, Begg, and Murray were contrary to fact, he read the following correspondence whiciT had passed between them and the Council;—

January 19, 1946. Th e Town Clerk,— the houses where Murray, Begg, and Dunbar live, in the next block south from Mr. Bennett’s house, there is an open drain between the roadway and the footpath, from which in dry weather there comes a very strong stench, especially about dark, which I am afraid will be the cause of bringing some sort of fever to one or more .of us. If you could put a stop to this stench polluting the air we would be very glad lours most respectfully,. John Murray, and S. Dunbar.

In reply to this letter from Messrs. Murray and Dunbar the following

communication was sent!—

“Mr John Murray—Dear Sir—l

have the honour, by direction of the Taihape Borough Council, to acknowledge receipt of the letter signed by yourself and Mr Dunbar, of the 19t-h iust., re open drain on the road in. front of the houses occupied by Messrs. Begg, Dunbar, and yourself. In reply thereto I have to inform you that arrangements have been made between my Council and the Railway Department to lay a 6in drain along this road, connecting at the corner of the road leading to the hospital steps, and terminating opposite the Rail-vaty house ocupied by Mr. Smith. Wmn

t>ie work is finished the open drain referred to will be done away with— Yours, etc., Town Clerk.

- .aihe Mavor said tae complainants iexnselves were the authors of the nuisance for -permitting their drainage to escape cu the road, and it was in

the power of the Council to prosecute

them for pc-xmitting a nuisance. He “That a reply be sent to the Health Inspector stating that the Council has already authorised a drain to be laid along this road, and that the work is to bo proceeded with immediately; that no actfbn be Taken against the writers in the meantime. The Council regret the misleading

statements contained in the complain-

ants’ letter to the Minister.” Seconded by Cr. Wrightson, and

carried unanimously.