DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 9

DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE.

A CANDID CRITIC. ENGINEERS DIFFER. A rather important matter came before the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council last night, in which a very plain criticism was /riven in a report 'forwarded by tlie Engineer. Mr. If. Munro Wilson. At a former meeting of the Council the Engineer to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board submitted plans for certain work at Cox's Creek in connection with the sower works. The estimated coot was £450, of which Grey Lynn was asked to pay one-half. The matter was referred to the borough engineer, and last night Mr. Munro Wilson's report was read. He pointed out that the plan was for the overflow chambers at Cox's Creek in connection with the main sewer system. The main eewer put in by Mr. Bush was designed to receive the sewage from the Grey Lynn 21-inch main pipe, also from another IS-inch sewer from Ponsonby. Tlie overflow -was to be conveyed into Cox's Creek at a culvert across tlie road near Messrs. Warnock Bros.' works. Mr. Wilson considered that tlie cost ( £450) was excessive, as it looked worth about £300. Mr. Wilson added: "The system adopted by .the Board is bad" and is without precedent. The overflow should be attached to the main sewer with outfalls into the sea at places where no nuisance could be caused. Tlie system adopted of putting the local body to the expense of building most expensive overflow chambers for each connection is unfair and filthy. Unfair because the sewers should be large enough to carry at least the roof •water and domestic sewage, and filthy because, even although it may he largely diluted with water, yet the heavier particles will settle down on the surface of the ground and cause a nuisance. In a closely-settled district like Cox's Creek, the overflow should be taken right out to sea; otherwise it cannot be regarded as permanent." Mr. J. W. Tattersfield moved: "That the report be sent to the Sanitary Committee'"; and it was agreed to forward a copy to the Engineer of the Drainage Board. The Mayor (Mr. Baildon) said the estimate for the work seemed a high one to him. Mr. J. A. Warnock said he wanted the Council to do something that would stop the work to-morrow morning. It would never do to have a main intercepting sewer that was only half the size of the Grey sewer. * Mr. H. H. Metcalfe, who laid out the borough sewage scheme, knew something about drainage, and he provided for the sewage and storm water from Grey Lynn when every section was built upon. The main pipe was 21in:, and now it was proposed to turn it into a 14-inch one, which meant that half the sewage would at times go out of the overflow into Cox's Creek. The Mayor pointed out that Mr. Bush had provided six times the sewage from Grey Lrynn. Mr. Warnock said he could not do it,' either at Cox's Creek, Newmarket, or Remuera. This thing had to be stopped, even if they had to go to law over the matter. There was bound to be trouble when the nightsoil was dealt with by water service. It would still mean half the sewage going into Cox's Creek. An t addition was added to the. motion: "That the work be stopped, pending going into the matter."