BURGESSES' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 1 September 1930, Page 17

BURGESSES' ASSOCIATION.

EROSION QUESTION AT SUMNER.

The monthly meeting of the Sumner Burgesses' Association was held on Saturday evening,' Mr A. J. Scott, presiding. Messrs L. J. Kincaid and A. G. Williams each gave an address, explaining the Mount Pleasant Burgesses' Association's scheme for developing the Estuary. The details were followed with close interest, and the speakers answered questions. General approval of the scheme was expressed. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson), by request, gave particulars of tho Council's attitude in regard to the erosion of the beach and to the renewal of the pipe-line conveying the effluent of the Esplanade septic tanks, which had been damaged by erosion. Speaking of tho erosion he said that the Council had a duty to the general public in the conservation of the sandhills, and to the owners of property on the Esplanade. Recently, the Prime Minister, through the newspapers, had notified a£2 for £.l subsidy on expenditure by local bodies on • .lief works, and the Council entered into negotiations with tho Government for a loan of £IOOO, a subsidy for roading purposes and " the erection of a protective wall to high-water level on the beach. The Public Works Department had approved of the roading scheme, but the protective work had been held up, pending the production of plans. It had been decided to renew the effluent pipe-line at an approximate cost of £2OO. To shift the pipe-line would cost roughly £650. Several failures had occurred in the temporary fluming and had occasioned complaints. Dr. Telford , had inspected the points in question, and had recommended the use of chloride of lime. Mr H. C. S. Jamieson criticised at some length the Mayor's statement. He said that the proposed protective wall would be a waste of public money. During his residence of twenty years at Sumner, the beach had alternately eroded and made up, and no danger need be apprehended. Some years ago the sea had encroached much further inshore than at present, and the sand had again piled up. Tho sandhills at Hardwicke street had never been as high as at present. Ho strongly condemned the renewal of the sewage offluent lino on the beach and said that the estimate of £650 for shifting the pipe to the Esplanade was very much over estimated. The Mayor left at this stage to allow of a full expression of opinion. A discussion followed. In this the alleged risk of damage by erosion was discounted and shifting tho effluent pipe line to the Esplanade was advocated. Eventually, Mr 11. W. Heslop moved:—"That in the opinion of this meeting it is undesirable to lay the septic tank effluent pipes on tho outside of the sandhills, and the meeting recommends the Borough Council to lay the pipe line alongside tho Esplanade between Euston and Head streets." This was carried by eight to. three, several of those present not voting.