COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 113, 12 May 1908, Page 5

COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE.

AMALGAMATION OF LOCAE BODIES. SUPPORTED BY HON; McGOwAN , ,"" ■■!*""" ... Reference was made to"'4&« projected comprehensive drainage scheme for Auckland this morning, Svhen a, deputaiioi* from the City Council was t>eing received by the Hon. Jas. McGowan. Mr Myers said that It was 'unnecessary . for. him to say that iihis drainage aehehie ' 1 was of the utmost importance. For many' years it had been talked.about, >bui now. the-Council had received the,.advice b£ the highest authority in the Empire oa the subject—-that of ftir. Mdgley Tayor. At the present time valuable live . were being' destroyed through an. imperfect drainage system/ and the serviced of others were lost through their fceiig - laid up from time to time with lever. It would be' criminal if the Council did not do something to better this of afiairs.. The Council, therefore, wSsfcied for the assistance of the Government in. ensuring that the bill which would be, before Parliament next session would be passed without delay.- If it were put iback, the result would fee the delay of the drainage scheme, and the matter2waa now practically in the position when the necessary Government authority was the only detail lacking. Mr McSwan said, that he was, not ignorant of the efforts made by the Cotacil to grapple with this difficulty, and he thought it was highly .commendable.. Ho 1-cped the various local .bodies would bo melted into one, when thejr would be in, a better position to deal with thfese questions of public importance. Mr-MeGc-wan went on to refer,to the possibilities : presented by the Orakei Basin for the construction of a boat harbour. He had been much impressed, with the beauty of the surroundings, and thought that they might well be Utilised.. As far. as the drainage scheme .was concerned, he was sure that the Government would be* willing "to give all the assistance in its poiwef, 'provided that no injustice was done to a%y section of the community. Personally he woulft heartily support the measure if iheie . was nothing in it to;which' he objected. tThe Mayor said, that the matter ■of the: Orakei Basin had. been .considerect, and its importance was fecogiti&ecL' Tfc ■ was part Of the stheme,,kid they hopped to do , something towards Maying the fouhdatioii of the :j proposed esplanade right along the foreshore of the harbour. Mr ■ McGpWan—There is an arek ia Hobson Bay which, if would ihake a splendid'recreation ground for .the city. • '~ '.: ." .■ ■. . .. IMr Hutohison said tha-t at the rate 'at which, the city : was extending, that . place wmild" be required for snipping fa* cilities in SO or 30 years' tffiae. l? Mr. McGowan— Thihk 'so. . Hope so.