THE BOROUGH BY-LAWS IGNORED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8061, 17 March 1906, Page 3

THE BOROUGH BY-LAWS IGNORED.

THE FIRE BRIGADE STATION'S ' DRAINAGE. A CONDEMNATORY REPORT. Municipal matters have been interesting of late, and the articles appearing in this journal have aroused such interest that when the Borough Council , commenced its adjourned sitting on Friday night, there were nearly forty residents and ratepayers in attendance. Every member of the Council was present. The mcctiug was to enquire into the complaint made by the Fire Brigade that, the drainage work recently carried out by the engineer at the Central Fire Brigade station was insanitary, unhealthy, and not in accordance with the borough by-laws. A report was read from Dr. R. D. Makgill, M.D., D.F.H., Government Bacteriologist and District Health Officer, enumerating the various defects in the system adopted and noting the breaches of the by-laws, concluding, " I fm at a loss to understand how work «o contrary to the spirit of the by-latgp #uA to modern' sanitary usage should have been permitted to be laid down in it municipal building." Mr E. Harroy-Gibbon delivered a lengthy report, at the request of the Cdwcii First, he referred to " the abominable insanitary conditions existing for a long period prior to the construction of the present drainage works," and "to the trade jealousies which have given rise, undoubtedly, to the present trouble." The work was fully described, and it was stated that it was absolutely impossible for any sewer gas to escape from the sumps or pipes. The report of Dr. Home, Borough Health Officer, was replied to. Mr Gibbon stated that the trap in the centre ot the washhouse concrete Hoor was good practice. Dr Home had " been misinformed on many points," and had ''based his opinion on inaccurate information." The report concluded, » To sum the matter up shortly, a stiff mnoke test proyed the seals from end to end perfect; not the slightest escape of sewer gas can be detected two inches away from any pipe or open end; the building is not connected with the drain in any way, except at tW trapped bath room waste pipe; on the 13th and lttli instants, the following persons, personally tested the pipe and end referred to, and admitted tliat nothing could be siuelled : Borough foreman ami laborer, my office assistant, Councillors Browne, Brooking and Collis, the Borough engineer, and two resident members of ttic Fire Brigade. I have had special experience in drainage and sanitary work, and I consider I am more competent than any one in New Plymouth to judge as to the sufficiency of the drainage of the premises." Jhc engineer went on, verbally, to state that in planning the work lie had had the best interests of the ratepayers at heart, and had endeavoured to do the work as efficiently, and cheaply as possible. He had been quite aware that he was contravening some miror clauses of the by-laws, but did this to save the Council's funds.

In answer to Cr. Stolir, tlio engineer said trade jealousies undoubtedly existed amougst local plumbers. He was perfectly satisfied with tlie manner in which Slcssrs Smart Bros, liad carried out their wort.

Cr. Collis considered economy and convenience must take second place to the public health, lie did not pretend

to understand the technicalities of the by-laws, hut it was a fact that these had been contravened.

Jo Mr Collis, the engineer stated the plan* had been altered, as was usual, lmt the contractors got no benefit from t)ia L .

To Cr, Ewir g: The work was thoroughly and ciiicicntly .lone, lullilJing all requirements. Cr. Browne said that if this style of work was effective, they might as well close down the by-laws. But, according k> ill' Makgill, the highest authority iu the colony, the work was insanitary and he would be iu favor of " ripping it up to put it down according to by-laws." Cr. Hulcheu moved that a copy of th-j engineer's report be forwarded to pr. Makgill and Dr. Home,

Cr. Stolir seconded. Mr Gibbon corrected Cr. Browne. Dr. Makgill had only reported tlie bylaws had been contravened. He maintained that, with all deference to Drs. Makgill and Home, he had had as great and extensive experience in the drainage of buildings as either of litem, and was as eonpetent to judge. Cr. Wilson agreed with the motion. He would move later " that the Council regrets that the engineer, in drawing up specifications for the drainage at the fire brigade station, departed from the by-laws laid down in such eases, without the express consent of the Council, and that the necessary steps be taken o<hav<. the omissions supplied."' The Mayor followed. There had been an undoubted breach of the bv-laws---by-laws that had been compiled from the most up-to-date cities. He agreed with Cr. Wilson's proposal, and expressed the opinion that the engineer stated at a previous mcctiug the work was dene in accordance with lite bylaws.

Mr Gibbon's denial of this was borne out by Cr Stohr.

Cr Hutchen's motion was carried, after wtiieh Cr Wilson moved as above

Cr Hutchen could not support the motion. The engineer had been wrong in neglecting to inform the Council that his scheme did not carry out the by-laws. Had he done so the onus | would have been thrown on the Council. Cr Wilson's.motion was carried.