WAITARA WATER SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 222, 19 March 1914, Page 6

WAITARA WATER SUPPLY.

AN ANALYSIS WANTED. HOSPITAL HOARD DISCUSSION. The question nf tlic alleged pollution of the VViiiliini water supply, as reportoil on recently liy the district health ollieer. Dr. Chesson, was again brought up at the meeting of thAXew Plymouth Hospital llouril yesterday. Mr. A. 11. llaieombe opened the ball by remarking that in his opinioni an analysis should have been made of the water before such stringent measures as had been cesorted to by the Healtii Ollieer were' taken. As a matter of fact, lie rcinarked? the conditions complained of by Or. Chesson were in existence at the time of the inauguration of tlie. water supply, and although; at that time a sample of the water was analysed, no exception was taken by the Health Department either to the nature of the- supply or to the class of water works then being installed by the Waitara Borough Council. Although the Board itself had taken no-action in the matter, still notices had l been sent to various property owners on the banks of the Waioiigona river to the effect that they must cease polluting the stream by allowing their sewerage and waste to flow into it. The Board represented the public and was responsible for the health of the district, and the question was, had the Board the right to force these people to incur expense to alter conditions which were in existence at the time the water supply was inaugurated and approved by the Health Department without an analysis of the water and a statement a* to'tfin diseases which were existent in it? Dr. Chesson had said that pollution of the stream existed, but he had not by analysis shown that this pollution was in itself a menace to the community. If that were so, then how was it that the Department did not have the matter iemedied at the time the waterworks wero built? It was the duty of the Board to send a sample of the water to the Chief Health Inspector to analyse and report upon. Mr. Mcßeynolds asked if the Board could do anything more after the water was condemned. The chairman pointed out that the Board had taken no action in the matter. Whatever had been done was done directly by Dr. Chesson, who, in the circumstances, had been perfectly justified. It was a matter entirely beyond the jurisdiction of the Board, who hai given publicity to the matter merely because the health officer had—quite within his rights—used the Board's inspector to serve the necessary notices. Concerning the analysis of the water, he stated that the conditions of the water supply as pointed out by Dr. Chesson wero substantially correct. The Board'? inspector, however, was in Waitara and would obtain samples of the water for analysis. Mr. Halcombe: That should have been done before. Mr. Hill: If the water is not impure, why are these people being treated so harshly? Mr. Halcombe repeated that all the nnisnncos complained of were in existence when the water supplv was inanguratei.

The chairman denied this. Some of the property owners themselves had been astounded when the condition of affairs was brought under their notice. Mr. J. Brown said that the conditions were originally worse. Speaking of a company of which he was a director, he said that the company .were prepared to do everything reason/ble, but pointed jout that while the nealth officer condemned the present conditions, he did (not know what to do. The I company, as a matter of fact, did not know what to do. A certain-course I of action might be pursued at considerable expense, and then the Health Department might turn round and say that that was of no use. The chairman agreed with >',- Hi-own in that respect. The health officer should, in slating his condemnation, also point out the remedy. Mr McAllnm said that Dr. Chesson had done so. He had told the people to take the sewers out of the river. Hint was plain enough. He thought Mr. Lvown was looking for trouble that might not arise. The chairman said that while there | might be a certain u.'iiount of sentinieil,. fn tli» matter, it was io the inter'est of the public to know of conditions I that were serious I Mr. rlalcomlie: Hut the chief inspector I said u, the first place that the water j itso f was all right, and lie had then I analysed a sample of the water. ! Mr. Hill pointed put that there wr ,, I no epidemics at Waitara, and the people were still drinking the water. | Mr. J. Brown asked why the Waitara water supply should be singled put The conditions which existed there were just the same as those under which the Xew Plymouth water supply was obtained. Mr. 0. W. Browne asked where were the bacon companies draining from their factories into the New Plymouth water supply? The chairman said the New Plymouth water supply was filtered, whetvas the Waitara water supply was not. Mr. Brown said if that were the only trouble, the remedy was easy—filler the water at Waitara.'