COX'S CREEK DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 37, 12 February 1910, Page 10

COX'S CREEK DRAINAGE.

(To the Kdltor.) Sir, —In referring again to the abofre question, I must first of all thank you most heartily lor the able manner in winch you championed the cause, so sadly needing it, in your sab-leader of January 31st, and for kindly allowing mc space for my fast letter. I am sorry that, owing to the unfavourable reception of the proposal of the Grey Lynn Council to have a conference with the City Council, the necessity should arise for my asking a further favour of you, to Insert this present letter. The utter futility of again referring this vexed question to tire Works Committee must surely be apparent to every member of the City Council. This committee having on two former occasions received deputations from the Grey Lynn Council, and on each occasion reported unfavourably, the only inference that can be drawn is that by delay the question vvul be ultimately shelved. When reporting on the last deputation the report stated that the engineer had been instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the extension of the two sewers (Jervois and Vermont-street). You will note, not one word about the creek area, which was the question on which the deputation approached them, and evidently wasted much pleading eloquence. That these sewers need extending is only part of the scheme, and will have to be done in any case to join with the drainage scheme when the time comes. The incongruity of the Mayor's reasoning is almost a subject for laughter—were the subject not so serious, lie says, "Mr. Parr was evidently not aware of the full facts of the position," and in the same breath, "Three sewera ran from Grey Lynn into Cox's Creek, and two from the city." This statement, Sir, ds absolutely contrary to fact. I here repeat a sentence from my former letter, "The sewer outfalls, eight in number, three from Grey Lynn and five from the city," so in order that his Worship may be better informed when this matter again comes before hhn —and 1 venture to say that will be very soon—l will locate them for 'him. No. 1, Vermont-street sewer, ends below the Marist Bros.' College and about IOOOft from the salt water. 2. Jervois sewer, just clear of Ardmoreroad, say, 800 feet from salt water. 3. Bottom of Bayfield-strect'. 4. Bottom, of Richmond-street and Wharf-road. 5. Just on the boundary of Messrs. Cashmore's and Thode's property. AU these in the city. On .the Grey Lynn side there are three —No. 1 at the point where the Vermont sewer ought to meet the tide; (2) at the point 6f Mr. A. Donald's property, and (3) at Edgar's Creek. Further, all these flow directly into the creek. I have tried, and I challenge disproval, to stick to facts, and I trust those who are opposed to the carrying on of this work will do so along similar lines. I should just like to make a few remarks on the part Mr. Mennie took in the discussion on Thursday night. He says:, 'If people bought land in such a locality, knowing what to expect, what right had they to suggest the spending of much money by the City Council in making it valuable ?" Now, Sir, I have a personal acquaintance with each and every property-owner whose land ia,con-

tiguous to Cox's Creek—on the Grey Lynn side—and I tell Mr. Mennie that these gentlemen are every bit as publicspirited as even he, and that at least six of the nine whose land-value might possibly be enhanced, have records in service of which any aspirant to municipal honours might well be proud. None of these gentlemen, to my knowledge, have directly or indirectly moved in the matter of the drainage of the creek. I submit. Sir, that the use of such illogical, ill-advised, puerile argument in opposition to a matter of such grave import is, to say the least of it, unworthy of a gentleman holding the honourable position of a City Councillor. Had Mr. Mennie confined himself to the fact that the City Council have not the money, one could have been more regardful of his utterances. However, I may tell him that this work has to be done, so the sooner the City Council as a whole settle down, recognising their liability and duty—which they will better find out by consulting the city solicitor rather than the city engineer—the better and that the money will be forthcoming from some source I venture to predict — I am, etc., JAS. J. WARNOCK, Councillor Grey Lynn.