WAITARA WATER SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 198, 19 February 1914, Page 7

WAITARA WATER SUPPLY.

. FOR AXI) AOAINST. HOSPITAL BOARD'S VIEWS. The Xow Plymouth Hospital Hoard yesterday occupied some time in discussing the recent statements that the Waitara Borough water supply was insanitary, and a menace to the health of the community. The Health Department advised that notices had been sent to the owners of a factory and several pi;,' and cattle yards whose premises were being drained into the Waiongoim river and its tributaries, to the effect that such pollution must cease, and the buildings must be removed. Mr. J. Brown stated that he was glad the matter had been, brought up, as there were unpleasant rumors afloat concerning it. Mo expressed the opinion that there were other people besides those notified, who should be dealt with by the ITealth Department. All these people, however, and the institutions which they owned, had been established along the river bank long before the Wiiitarn Borough Council made its intake, which had. in his opinion, been made in the wrong place. As long as it remained whore it was, the water would ho. impure. There were numerous creeks feeding the W'ainngona whose waters were polluted In the same nianI nor as was indicated in the notices.

The chairman stated that Dr. Chossou's report had simply dealt, with the contamination of the Water, not with the position of the intake.

Mr. McAllum: He is oulv doing his dutv.

The chairman remarked that it was a pity some people had taken tile matter so badly. The report bad been made simply in the interests of public health, lie had accompanied Dr. Clu'sson on his visit to the source of Ihe water supply, anil was of opinion that the present condition of things was a menace to the public of AVaitara. Mr. Halcombe pointed out that the intake was made with the consent of the Health Department, who should then have known of any defects which existed. It was hard if people were to be told to remove their promises simply because the AVaitara Borough Council had come in after I hem and-was draining its water supply from the river.

Mr. Tate expressed a similar opinion. Moreover, he said, the llcallh Oflii-er should have looked nearer home. There were places in the [own of Waiiara which were polluting the river. The chairman pointed out dial these places were below the source of (he supply. It was only light thai Ihe public, should know the fads of the case. The discussion then dropped.