"SMELLS."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 8

"SMELLS."

SCHEME FOR ABOLITION. DRAINS IN SPREYDON. Weird smells have been arising from the ground in Spreydon in the vicinity of the Drainage Board's No. 1 and No. 2 drains. The matter has been a source of great annoyance to many of the residents of the district, and there have been numerous complaints. About 50 persons were present at a meeting of Spreydon ratepayers held last evening in the Somerfield Street Hall. The Mayor (Mr G. R. Whiting) was in the chair, and introduced Cr W. H. Winsor, who submitted a scheme designed to solve the difficulties and unpleasantness being experienced by dwellers in Tennyson Street and other localities in the neighbourhood of Nos. 1 and 2 sewers due to spreading of flood waters and the bad odours.

The Mayor said that complaints had been numerous with regard to the offensive smells emanating from No. 2 drain near Tennyson Street. Things could not go on as they were at present, and a change would have to be made shortly. This was. one of the drains which was entirely under the control of the Drainage Board. The council in 1912 had asked the board's permission to change the drain by deepening it and placing a concrete lining inside. Permission, however, was refused, and very lengthy correspondence ensued, without result. Last time a representative of the Drainage Board made an inspection of the drains that had been recently flushed and cleaned. Cr W. H. Winsor explained that he spoke more as a ratepayer than as a councillor, for the reason that there was a councillor representing the borough on the Drainage Board. Shortly, his proposals were that both No. 1 and No. 2 drains should be taken up. No. 1 drain, 190 chains in length, should be deepened to Milton Street for a length of 54 chains. From there to Lineoln Road, 130 chains, it should be deepened from three feet at the Milton Street end to nothing at the other end. Besides deepening it, he proposed that an '' invert,'' partly 4ft by 4ft, and partly 3ft by 3ft, should be installed. The cost of the work would be £5145 according to his estimate. With regard to No. 2 drain, it was proposed that 13 chains of barrel lining should be put in. It should also be slightly deepened, and this would allow of a greater carrying capacity. This, with surveys, sundries, office expenses, and easements, would be £2203. This was arrived at on the same measurements and data as had been applied in the first. The speaker was sure that tire Drainage Board experts were out in their calculations when they said these estimates were so erroneous. They might not be exact, but they certainly were not 100 per cent, out, as they had been told by the Drainage Board. The Drainage Board's scheme would not serve the area needed;.* People between Barrington Street and Lincoln Road would not benefit, nor would the houses in the vicinity of the > Nos. 1 and 2 drains. The total cost of the speaker's proposed schemes he estimated at about £7500. v : -

Mr J. Down, who represents the council on the Drainage Board, said he was not in love with the scheme put forward by Cr Winsor. In his opinion some of the estimates were ridiculously low. Their scheme would land them in trouble from quicksands.

Mr John Hadfield moved that: — "Seeing that the Christchurch Drainage Board adopted the scheme advocated by the Spreydon Borough Council for improving the No. 2 drain, thus obviating the difficulties that exist to-day with regard to the flood water and its present unsatisfactory state, this meeting of ratepayers respectfully urge the Drainage Board to approve of the scheme advocated by the Borough Council for the No. 1 drain, as this drain, in our opinion, is equally as bad and offensive to the residents, and just as great a menace to public health, as No. 2." -

Mr Butterfield seconded this. Mr F. C. Lane moved an amendment to the effect that no scheme that had not the approval of the Drainage Board should be entertained by the council. When put to the meeting the amendment was lost, and the original motion carried on the voices.