COX'S CREEK DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 3

COX'S CREEK DRAINAGE.

', / - r — ,• .... ~ , • '. The question of dealing with Cox's • creek drainage was considered by the ' Grey Lynn Borough Council last night, , 1 when Mr Bush -(city engineer), Dr. ! Piirdy (district health officer), and Mr H. ■ Munro Wilson were. present. ... j Mr H. Muhro Wiison (borough engineer) reported that a good sandstone f oun - da tion existed, which in most parts' was only covered by about a foot to 18in. 1 of mud, so that conditions were favour- ' able. He considered an uncovered con- ' duit should not be favoured, as there - were residences close' to the course of the sewer. Mr Wilson also suggested that the scheme should include connection . ■ with Edgar's gully drainage. Messrs Reed and Bailey, borough solici. • tors, forwarded the opinion that the . 5 necessary money could be borrowed by !" the Council without taking a poll of ; I the ratepayers, provided the work was recommended by the district health offi. i cer and approved by the Minister. The I solicitors also recommended that the adi justment of liability should be- on the i capital value basis. S Mr Bush explained that the sewers ) discharged into creek. The city • also had two large sewers running into f Cox's creek. He then explained matters 1 on the plans. \ Dr. Purdy: "How long will it be before > the main intercepting sewer reaches Cox's creek?" Mr Bush: "If we -have no serious setback, in about six years." The Mayor: "When that sewer comes ; ' along in six years' time, the sewer wo , arc talking about now would only be re- i quired for pure storm water!" [ Mr Bush: "That is so." Dr. Purdy said that they could not de- ' finitely say the outbreak of fever was ' due to that sewer. . Mr Donald asked the estimated ex- • pense. > Mr Bush said about £11,000. A teml porary expedient would cost at least • £2000. i Mr Holdsworth said they were talking 5 of a £40,000 Joan for other borough I works, and then £11,000 for this work. s The rates would go up considerably. Mr Murray urged the absolute need of . drainage, saying that expense was a sec- , ondary question to people's lives. Dr. Purdy said there was always a danger of typhoid as long as they had the present system of removing nightsoil. The question to be considered' was whether they were justified in underj going an expenditure of £ 10,000 to £ 12,----000 at present, or to wait until the main : drainage scheme reached the district. r Mr Bush said he could not guarantee ; that a very much better condition would 1 result even if this expenditure was unt dertaken. There would still be the point 3 raised by Dr. Purdy regarding the re- >. moval of the nightsoil. The Mayor moved that the matter stand deferred pending further investiga- ? tion. • s Mr Creamer asked whether Dr. Purdy would recommend this work under the 1 Public Works Act. Dr. Purdy said even if he did recommend it, a poll of the ratepayers would still have to be taken. The Mayor: "Supposing the ratepayers veto itr Dr. Purdy: "In that event I dont i think the Government will advance the - money, unless I can show that this 1 scheme would put an end to the danger i.-OXJ-yP".?'*?);and.that I could not do." , - Mr Bush said, that the Arch Hill sewei , could be started right away, while the I main scheme was being carried out. That , sewer would discharge into Meola creek, | where there were comparatively few resi-' dences, and would then discharge into . the S4l, <until 'the main sewer 'was , brought along. [ The motion was then adopted, and a , hearty vote of thanks was accorded Dr. \ Purdy, Mr Bush, and Mr Wilson. %