NEWMARKET'S DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 113, 12 May 1908, Page 3

NEWMARKET'S DRAINAGE.

NEW PLANS APPROVED.

£5000 LOAN PROPOSED.

A special meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council was held last evening to consider plans for the continuation and completion of the drainage of the borough. The Mayor (Mr. F. Bennett) presided, there being also present: Messrs. J. McColl, R. Holmes, D. Teed, and W. Edgerley. The engineer (Mr. H. H. Metcalfe). attended the meeting and explained his proposals to the Councillors. :

Mr. Metcalfe reported that he was not in favour of the outfall depending upon the existing railway drain, whicn in certain respects was not, in his opinion, satisfactory. The bar of hard rock about King-street no doubt was the cause of the flat grade on the railway drain near the junction of the Union-street branch, and to avoid it he had proposed to lay a sewer on the course of the old creek. This sewer had been intended to drain a larger area than was now dealt with, for which a sewer pipe would suffice. This pipe could be carried straight on and to join the Hobson Bay sewer lower down. A branch across the reserve would take the surface water from near the firebell, and continue by Khyber Pass-road up Osborne-street. The Short-street and Union-street drains should be led to the new pipe, which could be done without much disturbance. The lower part of the borough might thus be entirely disconnected from the railway sewer, and if a ventilating shaft were erected on the manhole at the Captain Cook Brewery, the upper pare of the drain where the grades were steep might continue to take the drainage from Huntly-terrace, etc., without much risk. The various old drains connected with the railway sewer should be relaid. There was no possibility of improving the present pipe sewer, every connection with which was, in his opinion, a change for the worse. The. proper course would be to abandon it altogether, and to lay the large sewer which he had first proposed. However, as far <*3 Newmarket was concerned, he thought the course now proposed would be fairly effective, providing a high ventilation was established at the Brewery to prevent gas rising from the lower length, where deposit existed, to the drains in the higher parts. Drains were needed on each side of the nursery garden, etc., for Manukau-road, and the drainage about Alma-street, and on the lower side of Railway-street was indifferently provided for at present.

Several minor points connected with the scheme were explained by Mr. Metcalfe, who showed that the plans provided for the drainage of the whole borough with, the exception of the Public Hall site. This, he mentioned, was a difficult place to drain.

In reply to a question from the Mayor, Mr. Metcalfe expressed himself in fa- \ r our of the local body talcing the pipes right up to the private boundaries, the charge for half a chain or five chains being made the same, so that all residents might be treated equally. He also approved of taking drains along trie backs of properties, so as to dispense, where possible, with the system of bringing drains under each shop out into the road.

In reply to Mr. Teed, it was explained that practically every house in the. borough would be placed within reach of a drain.

Mr. Holmes then moved: "That the Council approve of the drainage plans for the completion of existing drains as submitted by Mr. Metcalfe, and that measures be taken to raise a loan of £5000 for the purpose of carrying out the work." This was carried, Mr. Edgerley refraining from voting on the ground that he was opposed to spending more than £4000. Mr. Teed remarked that even if the work cost £10,000 it would have to be spent.

On the motion of Mr. D. Teed, it was decided to apply to the Government at once with the object of securing the loan under section 66 of the Public Health Act, 1900.