REQUIREMENTS OF MOUNT MAUNGANUI

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 9985, 25 January 1929, Page 3

REQUIREMENTS OF MOUNT MAUNGANUI

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. A meeting of ratepayers, convened by the County Clerk (Mr H. Lewis), was held in the Arcadia Hall at Mount Maunganui yesterday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of ratepayers, and also present were Messrs B. King (Chairman of tha Tauranga County Council], V. Lally, T. Tanner ami -J. Darragh (members of the County Council), H. L«wiß (county clerk), and R. Bambeiry (health inspector for the local bodies). Mr Howard was voted to the chair. The Chairman explained that the meeting had t>een called by the Taumnga County Council to consider the questions of water sanitation, etc. He understood that there was ft likelihood of the Taurnnga Borough Council making alterations to their water supply and it might bo pos»ible to extend the Tauranga supply to Mount Maunganui. Mr Lewis read the notice convening the meeting. Mr King stated that Mr Bamberry, the health inspector, had submitted a report to the Tauranga County Council, - dealing with water supply, drainage, etc. The County Council had also received a letter regarding the same questions from the District Health Officer, Dr Cliesson. Ho (Mr King) considered that the question of sanitation was an urgent one. He gave particulars in regard <o sanitary services as carried out by the Waitemata Oounty Council. The charges in a district in that county with six hundred houses was £1 per annum each house. The people of Mount Maunganui could,, if they desired, form a town district, or in the alternative, a special rating area. He suggested that the question he referred to a special committee to consider. He called on Mr Bamberry to address the meeting.

Mr Bamberry said the Mount was growing quickly and was a popular resort. Its popularity would increase. He was responsible for tl e carrying out of the health laws. He dwelt on the need of a' water supply and also a sanitary service. The question of water supply was likely to engage the attention of the Tauranga Borough Council and it might be possible to extend that supply to Mount Maunganui. Mr Lewis read the following letter (dated January 21) received by the County Council from Dr Ohesson. Medical Officer of Health, Auckland: “Your letter of the 18th inst, to hand from, which I note that the residents at the Mount are meeting yourself and Inspector Bamberry and the appointed Committee next Thursday. I very much regret that I shall nbt 'be able, owing to other arrangements, to visit Tauranga and bo present at this meeting. My views are, | think, fairly well expressed in my letter to you of the 3rd May, 1925. 1 enclose herewith a copy which possibly you might be disposed to read to-’ the meeting. These growing places require very careful supervision, otherwise, as pointed out in previous correspondence, insanitary conditions soon arise which it is not easy later on to rectify, but which can be so easily prevented by a little foresight at the start. The provision of an adequate water supply, either by iv public service or. if that is not practicable, by the provision of sufficient and properly constructed tanks in connection with each dwelling is essential. If dependence is to he placed on roof water collected in tanks it is necessary to see that eaves’ guttering and downpipos are kept in a cleanly condition, that the tanks are adequately covered and all openings protected by wire gauze so as to prevent dirt, dust, birds and animals from gaining access thereto, and to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. The proper design for a cover of a tank is in the shape of a cone so as to ensure that no dirt collected on the top will be washed into 1 the tank through its opening. The Health Act requires, under Section 36, the provision of an adequate water supply, suitable appliances for the disposal of refuse water in a sanitary manner, and sufficient privy * accommodation available for the inmates of the dwellng. All these matters must be provided in accordance with the regulations or by-laws m force in the district or in the absence of such regulations or by-laws then to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health. In order to secure the proper disposal of refuse water in a sanitary manner I recommend that the ; regulations under the Health Act relating to drainage and plumbing be made to apply to this area, as pointed out in my letter to you on the 17th inst. With regard to the matter of privy accommodation, I must point out to you that pit privies cannot be permitted, and I understand from Inspector Bambcrry’s reports that there are such abominations in this area. Such things are not suitable privy accommodation as provided for in the Act. and I must insist upon the provision of pan privies of « typle of which I can approve. The time has arrived for a sealed pan Sanitary service for this growing settlement, I shall be glad if J oU "fll impress these matters on the people of thA district and take. steps through jour Council to enforce the provisions of the Health Act in relation to them.’’ Another letter, dated May 3, from Dr Ghesson was read as follows: “Vour letter of the 10th March to hand. Although, as you state, the Mount is a Christmas resort, there appears to bo quite a fair permanent population and no doubt, as time gees on, the permanent population will greatly increase. It is neoes-

sary, in regard to these places which commence as summer resorts to recognise that mpre and more people oorae to reside in them. A number of places on the Coast near Auckland have commenced in the same way and have now 'become places of considerable size. We must not, therefore, allow conditions to crop up, which are not compatible with a growing town, and steps should be taken at once to prevent the building of more than one house on a quarter acre section. I note that the by-laws regarding buildings provide that no dwelling shall be erected on a section ot less than a quarter acre, and this should be strictly enforced. A quarter acre section is quite small enough in a place like this. Referring to the matter of water supple, the provision of tanks is no doubt the only practical means at present, but U will be necessary to see that each house is provided with tanks of aulh cient capacity. Provision should be made for a minimum capacity ol 1,000 gallons for an ordinary house intended for, say, four or five people. For larger premises, a larger minimum capacity should be required. Regarding the matter of a sanitary service, which I am pleased to note will be considered at the nest meeting of your Council it will be necessary to provide two pans, and one lid for each house, in order that a clean pan shall be substituted at every service for the full pan which shall be taken away, and on which the lid will be placed and clamped. A lorry or dray will need to bo provided for the collecting services, and a suitable depot secured where the contents of the pans can be emptied and buried in trenches, and the pans washed and coated with tar. The depot will, therefore, need to bo provided with a shed, having a concrete floor and trough for this purpose, together with a boiler of some description for heating water and provision for the heating of tar. A place with some form of water supply will be required, but I take it that there would not be great difficulty in finding water by sinking a bore. The water required for this purpose need not, of course. : bo of any high degree of purity, and even if brackish water were found, it would be quite suitable. The service could either be carried out by an employee of the Council or ycu might get somebody to contract for your service. There should be no difficulty in securing a site for your depot and dump, as land properly treated with nightsoil becomes greatly increased in value for agrioultuial purposes although, of course, rendered absolutely unsuitable for the erection of dwellings until it has been < upped for some years and thus purified. This sealed pan system of nightsoil collection and disposal is in operation in many places and is the only form of nightsoil removal service which can be approved. The Waitemat a County Council has such a scheme in operation in similar settlements along the Bast Coast, North of Takapuna, and I know that the Engineer of that County will give you any information in regard to the running of this service.’’ Mr Lally said he was a ratepayer at Mount Maunganui. The time wag not opportune for a water supply, as the cost would ho very heavy. Later they might be able to get a sifbsidy towards a water supply as granted in. other localities. The Council could institute a sanitary service and make a charge on the houses. Sanitation could not be delayed for long. They could establish a town district, and he detailed the steps to be taken for the formation of such a district. Mr T. Tanner said the matter might be referred to a committee, who could report to the County Council. The Chairman said the Mount was a holiday resort and had only a limited permanent population. The Public Works Department had a number of employees, and might contribute towards the cost of a water supply. If a local committee were appointed it could go into the pros and cons of the various questions. Mr Bain pointed out that the sanitary service in Waitemata mentioned by Mr King worked out at £ll per week. There were only thirty-two resident ratepayers at the Mount and they could not carry the burden of a service which would cost about £8 per week. The estimated - cost of bringing water to the Mount was £16,000, and he did not think any scheme to procure water from Tauranga Borough would commend itself to Mount ratepayers. They had already erected conveniences in the vicinity of the beach. A water supply for the boarding houses oould be obtained from wells.

Mr King thought it was a matter for the consideration of a local committee. He recognised that the Mount was only a small community, the County Council was being pushed by the Health Department, and the latter could be acquainted with what the residents were prepared to do. It a committee were appointed the people could discuss the question and report] to the Council. Mr Bain said the sanitary question had been considered by the Mount? Maungnnui Progressive League, but had not arrived at any solution. The institution of a sanitary pan system would be very costly. Mr H. Armstrong, on behalf of Mrs Armstrong and himself, submitted the questions » n writing in regard' to the proposed drainage and water supply; Will this district be subject to a special rate for the purpose? Last year, I believe, the rates totalled somewhere ahput £230. This year, under the new valuation. they should be over £7OO. Is it a fact that Mount Maunganui is debited with £2-50 for clerical expenses? I certainly favour a local Town Board, and I am sure more than one would provide an office and do the clerical work for, say, £IW a year. Mr King, in replying, said charge was made on the Mount for clerical work. It was quite obvious that if a sanitary service were required a special rate would be levied.

A portion of the rates went to tiio hospital authorities. The cost of administration was shared by the whole county. The Mount Maunganui Road had been declared a highway and it was hoped to improve it. There was an impression that local rates should be spent locally, but the Oounty Council had to administer the County as a whole, and distributed its expediture as equitably as possible over the county. The Main Highways Board was now paying a subsidy of £2 for £1 on main highways, Mr Armstrong said he believed the rates this year would increase to over £7OO. Could not the sanitary service bo met out of the rates? Mr Lally replied that the valuation of his property at the Mount had not been increased. | Mr Lewis, in reply to a question, i said ns near as he could ascertain the rateable value of the Mount din- J trict was £33,103. Mr Lally suggested that the Mount people could form a town district. Until the population totalled 500 'the county could levy half the general rate on the town area. Rev. A. B. Chappell said they should get down to facts. He had read the full text of Mr Bamherry’s report, which was useful from many points of view. He combatted the statement that the Mount was dependent for water supply on a spring above the bowling green and on water tanks. The spring on Mount Maunganui could be multiplied many times round the base of the Mount. There was also a splendid supply of water at Mount Drury. In addition there was a good water supply at the old “reservoir,” from which steamers used to draw their supplies. Mr Armstrong stated that wells could be sunk almost anywhere and water obtained. The Chairman thought a committee should be appointed to go into the question and report to the County Council.

Mr C. B. Miller moved —That the questions of water supply, drainage and sanitation, as reported upon by Mr Bamberry, be referred to the Mount Maunganui Progressive League to consider and confer with Messrs Stevens (county engineer) and Bamberry (health inspector) and report to the County Council. " Mr London asked if the Progressive League were a representative body. Mr Barney replied that the League had about forty-two members. j Mr Bain stated they had information to the effect that there was an , ample supply of water at Mount i Drury. The questions that had been discussed that day had all concerned the Progressive League, which was a representative body. Rev. Chappell spoke of the good work accomplished by the Progressive League and strongly advocated co-op-eration between the County Council and the League in advancing the interests of the Mount. Mr King said the question was largely in the hands of the Health Department. He thought the right, course was to appoint a committee to consider the question. Mr Bain said they were anxious to do something, and required the advice of a practical man such ns the county engineer. Mr King indicated that if a coni, mittee were appointed, Mr Bamberry (health inspector) and Mr Stevens (county engineer) would confer with the committee. Mr J. London said he was opposed to a sanitary pan system being in stituted. It was not satisfactory. Rev. Chappell seconded Mr Miller's motion, which was put and carried unanimously. Mr Armstrong asked if there were any chance of improving the road to the Mount. ■ Mr King replied that the County Council was doing its best to give a square deal all round and was anxious to spend the money at its disposal to the best advantage. Mr King thanked the Mount people for their attendance and assured them that Messrs Tanner and Lally and he himself would only be too pleased to again confer with the Mount Maunganui people on matters affecting their interests. Mr Tanner explained that the Tauranga County Council had taken the initial steps which resulted in the declaration of the Mount Maunganui Road as a highway. They had also i asked that the Rocky Outting-Otai-matua Station Road be declared a highway. During the last eighteen months the Council had spent £3OO in formation and metal on the road from Williams’s crossing to the Mount, £SO for formation on the Rocky Cutting-Otaimatua Road, and £SO for maintenance on the road from Papamoa ©each Road to Te Maunga. Rev. A. B. Chappell moved—'That

a hearty vote of thanks })c accorded Messrs King, Lally, Tanner, Darragb, Lewis and Banf (jerry for their presence at the meeting. The motion was carried by heart} acclamation. Mr King acknowledged the vote in appropriate terms.