BETTER DRAINAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1922, Page 5

BETTER DRAINAGE.

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME. SYSTEM TO BE MODERNISED. EXPERT ADVICE SOUGHT. The New Plymouth drainage system was brought before the Borough Council last night, when a copy of the following letter, written by the Mayor to the Director-General of Health, was tabled:— “For some time past it has been realised that New Plymouth must make very large extensions to its drainage system. This will involve a very large expenditure, and it was desired that any extensions made should be part of a large and comprehensive scheme embracing the whole borough. The area of the borough in 1912 was approximately 875 acres, but this was subsequently extended to 446 acres. No plans of the levels of this extended area had ever been prepared, and jt would have been impossible for any drainage engineer to have submitted a satisfactory report for a comprehensive scheme of drainage for the whole borough. The council took the matter in hand some two years ago, and after making provision to meet the expense of the survey and report a firm of surveyors were engaged to take the levels of every street in the borough. “Sufficient plans have now been submitted to enable a drainage engineer to make a start in compiling his data for a report upon a comprehensive scheme, and the balance of the plans will be available when required. The construction work will cost an enormous amount of money, and the council is very anxious that when the work is completed it will have a drainage scheme based upon sound principles and modern and up-to-date in every way. To attain this end the preliminary report should be submitted by a drainage engineer of the widest experience, and for this reason the council is prepared to pay such remuneration as may ensure for it the (best expert advice obtainable. The great difficulty which has now tb be faced is the selection of an engineer with the necessary qualifications and experience. It is in this direction we should like your advice and assistance. Could you suggest a man, bearing in view the council’s desires previously mentioned? Is such a man available in New Zealand ?

“We realise that it would be beyond our means to bring an engineer out from the Old Country for our scheme alone. On the other hand, if several boroughs contemplating drainage extensions were to bear the cost proportionately, something in this direction might be attempted. If you think such an arrangement can be made would you kindly submit the names of boroughs likely to join in, and also submit the names of leading drainage engineers in the Old Country or in Australia, who you could with confidence recommend.”