Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 157, 20 November 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

[ From Our Resident Reporter. DRAINING THE TOWN. EXTENSION OF THE SCHEME. ' At the Borough Council meeting on Monday, Messrs. Robinson and Christophers submitted their report on the proposed scheme for draining that portion of the borough lying generally between Pembroke road on the north, Regan and Rosalind streets on the south, and eastwards from Broadway, but also, as was reasonable and economical, referring to possible extension to other portions of the borough. They proposed a simple gravitation scheme, the sewage ultimately having its outfall into a septic or hydrolytic tank. In all capes the sewers had boon figured and plotted at grades which would allow of free flow in the pipes without having recourse'to special flushing. The locality of the sewage outfall and tank was most important, and they had considered the matter very fully, and were emphatically of opinion that the sewage should be conducted to the borough reserve on the south bank of the Patea river, where the present tank was situated. The Patea was the only stream of sufficient dimensions in any suitable position into which the effluent from the tank and filtering chamber could be safely discharged. If the .smaller Greeks were used, or an irrigation scheme adopted, the Council would probably have to face litigation on account of prejudicing the value of adjacent properties, etc., and the cost, of the land for the irrigation would pnt this out of the question. ; It was perfectly feasible, though the--world was admittedly heavier than the average, to conduct the sewage along the entire length of the Swansea road, from Pembroke road to Patea river. By so doing a main line of sewer would be established along the whole of the lower side of the town to the Patea 'river, exclusive of the small portion east of Swansea road. The said sewer could be utilised for the area dealt with in the report, and also for lower Fenton street (from Cordelia street eastwards), and the north-western portion of the borough. Pumping would be necessary to drain east of Swansea road. The engineers had designed a tank to deal with the requirements of the town for ten years. Hie total estimate for the scheme was £4482 14s 7d.

■Cr. King drew attention to the fact that the connections from the sewer to boundaries of property had yet to -be provided for. costing probably another £ISOO or £2OOO.

Several councillors spoke on details of the scheme.

The Mayor said it was quite beyond the power of the borough at present to finance a scheme for draining the whole borough. Cr. Ward, supported by Cr. King, thought it unfair to rate people in congested areas un|ess\ they too had the benefits of the sewers. Brecon road and Orlando and Juliet streets, squth of the bridge, were cases in point. Cr. Thomson said that there 'Were portions of the north-western district, in Pembroke road, Hamlet street and Olivia street, in a similar position. He thought the £SOOO proposed was insufficient, but he could not favor, nor would the rate-, payers carry, a loan for the drainage of the whole borough. ''Try the ratepayers with it," ho said, "and they'll chuck it out."

The Mayor explained that he would not press the motion, which had been moved merely to put the matter in order. » Cr. McAllister said it was patent to him that a general drainage scheme was an absolute necessity. The localities just mentioned were certainly congested areas, but by next year there might be other areas even more congested and requiring drainage. He favored obtaining authority—(Cr. Thompson: "You won't get it.' : )—to borrow for a complete scheme for the borough, the system to be put into effect as required. The trouble was that any loan for a partial scheme blocked the way for a further loan for many years. He contended that the Council should borrow enough now to obviate the necessity for again approaching the ratepayers with a drainage loan scheme in the event of other streets becoming as closely built on, say, as Juliet street north. Each loan raised would make the next one harder to raise, for the people who had these conveniences themselves would not be anxious to add to their rates in order to allow "the other fellow" the same facilities.

In answer to Cr. Ward, the Mayor said that the Council had power to levy special drainage rates over a special drainage area. Cr. Ward went on to complain that it would be quite unfair to ask the whole of the ratepayers to foot the drainage bill, and only to drain certain picked areas. The Then how came it about that the ratepayers in the past voted for the loan and rated themselves for the drainage we have to-day? Cr. Ward: They're paying it with bad grace. The following resolution was carried: "That that portion of the borough mentioned in the overseer's report of September 10, 1912, be connected with the drainage system, with additions to include all that western portion, of the borough bounded in the north by Pembroke road, south by Opunaku road, west by HainW street'and also Cordelia street and Ariel street between Lear street ard Ce!i;' street; and that the engineers be asked Lo bring down plans and estimates for the scheme." STRAY PARAGRAPHS "This lobby is for the use of private box-holders only. Boxholders will kindly leave immediately they have received 1 their correspondence." This is a portion of the notice appearing in the private box lobby at the Stratford Po«t 'Office. It makes one. wonder why the authorities erected the automatic stamp supply machine th-n-o, does it not? Few people seem lo of its existence. A penny placed in the slot causes a penny stamp to issue. But the machine abj solutely refuses to be tempted with any small eoin. shooting them out in short ' order. Inspectors -ir '.;< r; gulatc' wheel traffic to and fs-■ ■.i. llie showgrounds on show days. The Slratf >!'' County Council's new steam road roller is being fitted up at the railway si a'.ion. The Stratford Borough Council has arranged t,o hire a stone-breaking plant from the Klthaei i''o>mty Council]. Mrs. V. M. M.. low '(nee Miss Mace, of Ornate.) w.is I '!,cn suddenly ill yesterday morii'ii!/ \ '■'' ini'Mimonia, and was admitted to' IV- SLalEord Hospital. Mr. John Bey,l.;n has returned from a trip to Auekl/ii?. Mr. J. M'a.-L ■ left for Palmcrston yesterday to attend the Methodist Synod. Tin- Vj'v. Father Treaey and Miss Hardin:: I - ft for New Plymouth yesterday for a short holiday. Both are seeking better health. The Rev. 8. Metson has received a "call" from the Primitive Methodist Church at Wanganui, but has not yet come to a decision. "Congested areas," remarked a borough councillor on Monday night, in terms of contempt or disdain. "There are no congested areas in Stratford."

The Mayor explained that the term was used in a comparative sense. Still, there are congested areas in Stratford, notably in the business portion of the town. Cricketers ir.usteH.l poorly on Monday night, and another meeting is to he held. Meanwhile practices w'.'A iu- started right. away. Stratford auctioneers will.close all day to-morrow for the people's day of the Hawera Show. The grocers' daylight-saving, or earlyclosing petition, lias been attested by the Borough Council and forwarded to Wellington. "I can't understand any body of men," said Cr. Kingdiiring Monday's discussion .of the matter at the Council table, "signing a petition and then signing one diametrically opposed to the first." . Well, a week ago the Borough Council decided, after hours of talk, that it could not lay certain water services. On Monday night, without rescinding the.previous motion, the applications were granted! And a councillor says the retailers of the town do not know their own minds for two uiinutes. BERNARD'S PICTURES. To further praise the present programme is tantamount to painting the lily. It is good. See the present grand films, and hear Mr. Syd. Bernard on that one-stringed Oriental.