THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 81, 3 April 1908, Page 6

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

SUPPORTED BY GREY LYNN.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

A meeting of ratepayers and residents of Grey Lynn was held in St. George's Hall last evening for the purpose of considering the proposed drainage scheme in so far as it affected the borough. Mr Geo. Sayers, mayor, presided, and the councillors present included Messrs Smith, Garland, Creamer, Muldoon, Dimery, Schofield, and Hold-worth.

l The Chairman stated that the meeting ! had been called for the purpose of giving the residents of the borough an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the details of the scheme, .for the drainage of Auckland and its suburbs. He pointed j out that the system of the borough had been admirably designed, so that if Grey. Lynn decided to connect with the city sewer it could be done with very little] cost. The proportion of cost to Grey; Lynn would be £53,674, this being based upon an ultimate population of 22,500 at the rate of 25 to the acre. Their proportion of cost of the main outfall sewer was £26.847, and of other sewers £5827. Of the £22,000 required for reticulating sewers, £15,000 had already been spent so that £7000 had yet to 'be provided for that purpose. Thus, the total required for the whole - scheme by Grey Lynn was £39,674. Irrespective of cost Grey Lynn had to face the question, and with the growth of population the majority would have to rule the minority in the matter. If this scheme were not .adopted, then they would have to formulate some other on equally sound lines. He wished to be quite frank with them, and therefore informed them that an increase in the rates would be necessary, probably of Id in the £ on the unimproved value. They could not, in his opinion spend such a rate to .better advantage. He stated that the Greater Auckland question was not yet ripe for discussion at a public meeting, but when sufficient data was available the matter -would be discussed.

The City Engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush) then described the details of the system as it affected the borough, and stated that the engineering difficulties, which mainly consisted of tunnelling, could be overcome, provided that the local authorities concerned could overcome the administrative difficulties. The expense would bejrepaid by the comfort, convenience, and improved health of the people. Mr. Bush answered a number of questions relative to the - scheme, stating that the present proposal was to construct the main sewers of cement concrete. The sewtr at Cox's Creek , would be 14ft above high water mark, and perhaps one or two houses would have to be drained by pumping. He estimated that sewage flowing in at Cox's Creek would reach the outfall in five hours, travelling at the rate of 3ft a second.

Messrs. Creamer and Garland strongly supported the scheme in brief speeches, and the Chairman then moved:—"That this meeting of electors of the borough of Grey Lynn is of the opinion that the time has arrived for a thorough drainage scheme, and are further of opinion that the scheme as proposed by Mr. Midgley Taylor, with its outfall at Okahu Pointy is. the. .best scheme for the drainage of Auckland and the suburbs." He stated that this in no way committed them to a Greater Auckland scheme. Mr. G. H. Davenport seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted. Votes of thanks were passed to the Mayor and Mr. Bush. THE OUTFALL QUESTION-. The City Council met in committee yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering the preliminary resolutions of the Drainage Scheme Committee. The resolutions of the Harbour Board with respect to the outfall were considered, and a deputation was appointed to laj before the Board the Council's objections, to the Board's conditions. A special meeting of the Board was asked for for the purpose.