BIRKENHEAD DRAINAGE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 193, 15 August 1902, Page 3

BIRKENHEAD DRAINAGE

DR. MAKGILL REPORTS,

A SERIOUS SITUATION.

The Birkenhead ; Borough Council last evening received the following report from Dr. Makgill, chief health officer for the district:— "I beg to draw the attention of your Council to the present unsatisfactorynature of the drainage in your borough. Most of the houses dram into the nearest water courses, which are thus fouled and rendered dangerous to those through whose property they flow. In, other in-st-ances there appears to be no proper drainage outlet whatsoever, as instance the boardinghouse, where the drainage appears to soak out on to the roadway, creating a nuisance. The gully into which the properties of Messrs Downes, Button, Johnson and Chambers drain may be given as an example of the pollution of streams. Such pollution constitutes an offence under section 61, sub-section 3, the Public Health. Act, 1900. The fact of Birkenhead. though as yet sparsely popu-< lated, being a rapidly growing district is a strong reason for taking action to check* the nuisance before the matter gets too serious. Already infectious disease is by no means unknown in the borough. So, too, the pollution of the foreshore, at the outfall of these drainage courses, is becoming a matter for consideration. The importance of keeping the shores pure needs fno emphasising, since Ihe unsatisfactory state of affairs at other places from sewerage deposits on the : 3hore is well known. It appears to me that one of the following two courses j might be adopted, namely: (1) A scheme for public drainage for the borough; (2) ■ action taken to compel each householder !to treat his sewerage in such a manner as to prevent its becoming a nuisance. The former method would be most satisfactory, and it will have to come before very long, even if the second system were adopted. fTl.fc general schem^ should include a treatment tank of some description to avoid harbour pollution at the sewer outfall. The alternative of each householder providing a septic tank, or other recognised treatment system would fall more heavily on individuals so far as expense is concerned, but would act well from a sanitary point of view. The question of a night soil service requires attention. Already some of the allotments are too small and close together for the safe disposal of the nightsoil on the premises, and this is a matter which will increase in urgency with the progress of the borough. I trust the Council may see their way to take the matter up themselves, and place the sanitation of the borouglx on a satisfactory basis." On this matter Mr H. W. Hudson (who ,is president of the local Burgesses' Association) wrote reporting the continuance or the nuisance previously complained of by himself and others, caused by sewerage finding Its way from the public drain to his property. He had reported the matter to the local Board of Health. If the owners of property close by contended, as it was understood they did, that their drains connecting with the public drain were now closed, he suggested that their outlets should be permanently stopped with cement, in order that no further suspicion should attach to them at any rate. Mr Hudson submitted to the Council in a kerosene tin a sample of sewerage draining into his property, which Dr. Makgill had drawn off from the Council's culvert drain. In view of the existence of scarlet fever in one of the houses suspected, he urged that the complaint was a very serious matter. It was only necessary for a child to cross the polluted spot with a cut foot, to be , immediately stricken with blood poisoning. On medical advice he had forbidden the members of his family to approach that part of lug property where the sewerage passed. Cr. T. Plad'ield said it was preposterous to think of going in for'tt drainage scheme at the present time, for it would only be possiblel to tinker with such a scheme. When they went in for a drainage scheme it must be an up-to-date scheme, and that was impossible now. The only thing they could do was to compel the, residents to keep their sewerage inside their own : premises in a tank or tub, which could be kept covered up. The borough had now a water scheme, gas supply, and other schemes on hand, and had not carried either of them into effect. If they added an impracticable drainage scheme to their list of unfulfilled proposals, they would soon become a laughing stock. The water supply would be more productive of health than any of the other proposals. Other boroughs had tinkered with drainage schemes, and found themselves worse off than before they began. Mr Hudson fcaid Dr. Makgill told him a septic concrete tank 3ft cube would be large enough for a family of five or six, and would cost about £20 to buiM. Cr. McKay agreed with Cr. T. Hadfield, though he regarded ■ the situation as a very, serious one. He moved Uiat the question? be referred to the Works Committee be thoroughly sifted and dealt with. Cr. T. Hadfield seconded. Cr. A. Keyes thought a drainage system must come very soon, and the ratepayers must find the money. If they did not act soon, the medical authorities would, and if it was going to cost each resident £20 for a septic tank, then a combined drainage system would be the cheaper. Cr. T. Hadfield doubted if they had sufficient income to pay interest on the money it would cost. Cr. B. J. White said it would not be necessary to carry out an extensive scheme, but only a portion of the scheme to cover part of the borough, the ■ remainder to be added as time and circumstances justified. The whole matter was referred to the Works Committee for immediate] consideration.