TWO EXPERTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 10

TWO EXPERTS.

DRAINAGE SCHEME. TECHNICAL ADVICE. BOARD MAKES APPOINTMENTS * WIDE ORDER OF REFERENCE. The Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board decided last evening to engage as technical experts, Mr. E. F. Borrie, of Melbourne, and Mr. G. A. Hart, of Wellington, to report on the proposed Auckland metropolitan drainage scheme. The experts will be paid a fee of 250 guineas each, plus expenses. Mr. E. Borrie is drainage engineer to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. He is expected to arrive at Auckland, by tho Lurline on November 10. Mr. Hart is city engineer in Wellington. Mr. Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland, presided at the meeting, and in addition to the members of the board there were present: Mr. T. J. Hughes, medical oflicer of health, Mr. D. Holderuess, engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board, representatives of the Devonport, Northcote and Birkenhead Borough Councils, the Ellerslie and Papatoetoe Town Boards, and the Mount Roskill and Mount Wellington Road Boards. Thorough Investigation. Tho order of reference for the experts will be as follows: Examine the metropolitan district for the purpose of ascertaining its configuration and topographical features; examine the existing sewerago systems and outfalls throughout the proposed metropolitan drainage district; confer with the engineer to tho board and examine the proposals and recommendations contained in his report dated December 1, 1931; confer with the engineers to the other interested local authorities, the engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board and the medical officer of health for Auckland; advise the board whether it would be possiblo and practicable at Orakei to install plant for, or to arrange a system of, treatment of the sewage in the existing area, together with the extension of the outfall so as to render the discharge at Orakei safe and nonobjectionable; satisfy themselves and report to the board whether, within practical distance of the city of Auckland, there is available any area which, in their opinion, would be suitable for the establishment of a sewage farm. Tho experts will also advise the board jig to (a) the extension of the boundaries of the present Auckland and Suburban Drainage District; (b) the advisability of transferring to Brown's Island, the sewage flow from the Orakei outfall, and whether, with the transfer, tho treatment will be adequate to ensure tho discharge of a safe and non-objec-tionable effluent; (c) whether it would be advisablo to divert to Brown's Island sewage from Westfield and the southern part of the isthmus, or to provide a separate discharge point for it in the Manukau Harbour; (d) the advisability of discharging sewage from tho whole isthmus, at a point on the West Coast. Cost of Comprehensive Scheme. Further, the experts will advise tho board generally as to the scheme of drainage which, in their opinion, would be most suitable for the district, having due regard to the existing sewerage systems, the outstanding capital liability, in respect thereof, and tho ability of the ratepayers to meet the additional cost' of a comprehensive scheme for tho whole metropolitan district; advise tho board as to the cost and tho apportionment thereof which would be incurred in constructing and maintaining the necessary works; indicate what, in their opinion, should be tho basis of representation for a metropolitan drainage board, with or without the inclusion of the North Shore boroughs; and indicate what, in their opinion, are the steps necessary to define and set up the constituent drainage area which is to attain the benefit and undertake the burden of whatever scheme is finally adopted, together with the measures necessary and preliminary to obtaining legislative authority for the constitution 'and powers of the newdrainage board. A report of a special sub-committee stated that inquiry had been made to obtain the services of Mr, J. N. McTaggart, drainage engineer to the Sydney Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, but it was found that he would not be available until the end of November. North Shore Problem. Tho chairman invited any of tho representatives of local authorities present by invitation to express an opinion. •The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, said that the question for North Shore was a different one. Mr. Watkins and Mr. Bush Ifad approved of the Motukorea scheme some years ago, but it was not suggested that it would help the Shore. It was the intention of the Mayors on the North Shore to meet and discuss the matter, and he believed that they would have to work out their own salvation. There was pollution going on, and there were many fine beaches that it would be a pity to hjjve destroyed. The Mayor of Northcote, Mr. R. Martin, asked if the experts would report on the North Shore problem. The chairman said that the inquiry would include the North Shore as well as the southern area of the proposed metropolitan drainage district, and the cost of the investigation would be borne by tho Drainage Board. He added that tho experts would start in about a month's time or six weeks. Committee Appointed. Mr. Davis moved that a special subcommittee should be set up to confer with tiie technical experts arid the secretary on any point that arose through tho investigation. Tho following were appointed to act on the sub-committee: Messrs. K. Ferner, I. J. Goldstine, T. McNab, B. Martin, A. Rosser, E. J. Phelan, J. L. Coakley. Various Schemes. Xlie approximate estimate of the annual charges which would have to be I imposed on local authorities to meet tho copt of the various schemes were r-i esented by the engineer in a report. J.liey were: J • 9 t .brown i, Island Scheme: First instalment, to provide for average dry weather flow at Orakei outfall from the existing drainage district.—Total cost, £325,000; inteiest at 5 per cent and sinking fund, £10,250; administration, operation and maintc:;:-.nre. £7300; total annual charges, £23,500.

First instalment, if subsidised. — £255,000, £12,750, £7300, £20,050. First find second instalments, to provide for total flow at Orakei outfall—£s2o,ooo, £20,000, £8750, £34,750. First and second instalments, if subsidised.— £-100,000, £20,000, £8750, £28,750. First, second and third instalments, to provide for entire southern area of enlarged district, and for Westfield trade wastes.— £020,000, £40,000, £10,000, £56,000. First, second and third instalments, if subsidised.—£74s,ooo, £37,250, £10,000, £47,250. Outlet on West Coast. West Coast Scheme: First instalment, to provide for southern area of enlarged district, together with New Lynn, and for Westfield trade wastes.— £1,450,000, £72,500, £0250, £81,750. First instalment, if subsidised.— £1,275,000, £03,750, £9250, £73,000. Mr. Watkins stated that as far as the enlarged drainages scheme was concerned the allocation had been made on the assumption that the present district and tho new district would be treated as a single rating area. The cost of pumping and treating tho Westfield trade wastes bad not been included, as it was assumed that they would be charged proportionately upon the proprietors of the industrial plants. Tho chairman said that as far as Auckland City was concerned the Drainage Board's present levy represented a rate of 2.} din the £. The four subsidised schemes detailed in the report would, on Mr. Watkins' figures, increase I the rate by lid, 2.1 d, and 5 l-8d [ respectively, making totals respectively | of 4ld, sd, 0.1 cl, and 7 7-Bd.