LYTTELTON DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13170, 17 July 1908, Page 8

LYTTELTON DRAINAGE SCHEME.

TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Yesterday the first sod of the Lyttelton drainage scheme (one of tho most important works ever undertaken by the borough) was turned by the Mayor (Mr Colin Cook). Among those present were:—Drs. Finch (District HealMi Officer), T. W. Pairmain, and J. A. Newell, Messrs Cyrus J. R. Williams (engineer to the Harbour Board .md consulting engineer to the Bnroucn Council), H. J. Beswick (solicitor to tho Council), J. Richardson (.Mayor of Woolston), J. Glanvillo (Mayor of Ne.v Brighton), W. Radcliffe, N. C. Schumacher, J. R. Webb, C. Hollis, W. T. Foster, F. J. Page, F. W. Anderson, and M. J. Miller (members of tho Lyttelton Borough Council), G. A. Lew in (town clerk), and the other members <>f th<« Council's executive staff. The In notion took place on tho reclaimed lind at Officer* , Point, t7*e sit© of the rejin outlet of tho sewers.

Cr. M. J. Miller, chairman of the Special Drainage Committee appoints! to carry out the work of installing the new drainage system, said he Ixroed, if everything was favourable, to have the undertaking completed in eighteen months' time. Ho referred to what had been done by Mr Cyrus Williams (who had designed the scheme) and 31 r G. A. Lewin, town clerk, who between them liad put in the greatest part of the work up to the present time, .ir.d he wished to thank their late Mayor (Mr S. R. Webb) and the councillors for their efforts to further the scheme. (Applause.) Sir Miller then presented tho Mayor with a miniature silver trowel as a memento of the occasion. Taking off his coat and handling ihie shovel in a very workmanlike manner, the Mayor ;x>rformed the ceremony of turning tt c &r*t sod amid loud applause.

Mr Cook said ho felt certain rhat Uio benefits and convonienoas of tht ;rew drainage system would be fully appreciated by the people. They vere about to carry out a sewage system en trhat -was known as the separate system, one in the storm ivater iroia rhi? hills -would not be mixed: with ihe 'ctt-ap; from the dwellings. The' , system con.-usterl of jiist n bout- i'ourte* n i.-iiios of underground piprs.-ranging in

diameter from tho lin service* pipe- <o rho intercepting sower of 12in diameter. There would be 230 man-ho'os or inspection places in the various streets, and the whole system had been designed on what was regarded by sanitary engineers as a thoroughly scioudio plan. The scheme was estimiced to cost the town £20,000, and of this sum th«»y expected to have to spend some C 13.000 on the street portion of the work, k.. γ-ini? a balance of £'l)!X) to spend on connecting properties with the main sewers. Tho old existing drains would he retained merely to conduct the roof and yard rain water :nto the existing culverts, which would continue to discharge into the inner harbour, whilst- the new pipe fewer, carrying the house drainage, would bo conducted outside of tho moles. Tho Council ha<! been very fortunate in seen;' , !? the money for the scheme from tho Gorernment at the exceptionally lew cost for interest ami sinking fund of 3} per cent., and this, together -wirh tho saving to be effected on the present sanitary system, would leave tho annual cost as only a very slight ac'«htional burden upon the shoulders of tho ratepayers, while at the sam-e lime the householders would be relieved r o a very large extent- of the initial cost- *f putting -down their drains.

At this stage the Mayor's remarks were cut short by the bursting of a terrifib hail and rain storm, which caused all present to beat a hasty retreat, after threo cheers had been given for the sneaker.

An adjournment was made to the Borough Council Chambers, where +he Mayor and Mrs Cook entertained tho company at afternoon tea. A number of toasts were subsequently honoured.