SUB-SOIL DRAINAGE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19115, 26 September 1927, Page 7

SUB-SOIL DRAINAGE.

ADDRESS BY MR H. HOLLAND. v

At the meeting of the Sumner Burgesses on Saturday evening, Mr H. Holland was present to give an address on "Sub-Soil DrainageY' Mr Holland said that he wished to explain the resolution which he moved at the fast meeting of the United Burgesses Association to this effect, "That all necessary storm and sub-soil water drains be installed in the streets or roads before tho sewer connexions to the road line boundaries are made." He said that Christohurch was situated on top of a swamp, and needed treatment accordingly. Dr. Telford, he said, had stated the question of water 'rising to the surface would have to be considered 80oner or later, as at the present time pneumonia is so easily contracted from wet feet. His resolution concerned the streets of Christchurch, and he was convinced that provision for draining the under soil would have to be made. At the present time, the Citv Council was bringing down a roading scheme, and this with the fact that sewer connexions are being- made continually, should be sufficient to cause the carrying out of an efficient scheme of 6ub-soil drainage. In reply to a question, Mr Holland said that in some places it would be necessary to pump the water out; in others it :ou!d be drained into natural creeks, but every portion would have to be treated according to conditions. i

In-reply _ to a further question as to whether this scheme would have the effect of making the ground subside, with the attendant risk of buildings collapsing, Mr Holland said that this would occur only in the case of peaty ground. The scheme was

important, as regards public health, irrespective of road, maintenance. He said that the whole thing should be a Drainage Board matter, for since roading schemes are now in hand, good roads cannot be made until drainage is put in. He stressed the point that as a matter of economy, a scheme should be put into force before putting in sewer connexions. x

Mr Holland was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.