MANY DIFFICULTIES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 302, 15 September 1921, Page 9

MANY DIFFICULTIES

f DRAINAGE AT MIRAMAR THE GOVERNMENT-BUILT WORKERS’ DWELLINGS / In view of the protests that are Blade by the tenants of the Governmentbuilt workers' dwellings at Miramar owing to their non-connection with the drainage system, enlightenment on the position was sought yesterday from the city engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton)/ He stated that if the people concerned were aware of the difficulties attendant upon the work they might not bo so ready to air .their views. .The City Council had only been in control of.the district for a few months. .Ho understood that some delay had ’occurred over the raising of the money for the work from the Government, which had delayed the start of operations for some twelve months. That was unfortunate, but was not the fault of the Miramar Borough Council, which could not very well embark on a work involving so much expense without having the money. Mr. Morton went on to explain that orders had been given long ago for the work to bo pushed on with as fast as possible, and three gangs were now engaged bn it. The trouble in doing drainage work at Miramar was that the land consisted .almost of pure sand. The whole of it was on the flat there was next to no fall. There were areas where the fall was only 1 m 200, which entailed 1 delicate work in adjusting levels. Every trench had to bo close-boarded the whole way, owing to the sand'running freely, and always they had to contend against water. Ihe system was planned by the late Mr. Mestayer. Owing to the low-lying nature of the flat, the drainage had to be led to ejectors, and from’them pumped into

the sewer. / Some people imagined, because the main city sewer traversed the Miramar golf links, and' was handy to the new houses along Broadway, that the work wftsl a simple one, that 1 could be done quickly. That was not the case. When ■it was realised that the upper part of that main sewer was above the level of the surrounding country, f the difficulty should be apparent, taken in conjunction with the other disabilities.. It was practically work for experts, and had to bo done carefully .and well to be effective. Such being the case, the work could only lie carried ou at a certain, pace. As showing the problems that had to bq overcome, Mr. Morton • exhibited a' drainage plan of thd locality. , which showed that one section of the new 'houses fronting Broadway—the section nearest the golf house—could not be drained to the street, and owing to the fall the sewer would have to run along the back of tho premises. The work was now proceeding in three places, and would, he 'hoped, be completed before tho end of the year.

A YOUTHFUL FORGER - / < ■ A ■ OPERATES ON GRANDFATHER'S ACCOUNT. Henry Stuart M'Dougall appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to making a, false document, to wit, a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal slip,' purporting to be signed by John East, knowing it to be false, with intent that it should be acted upon as genuine. .Chief Detective Ward appeared for the police. ' John 'William'East, an employee of the Harbour Board, said he had a shed in •Waterloo ’ Quay. On September 2 lie locked up this shed, leaving his* Post Office Savings Bank book inside. On the following morning he found that somebody had broken the lock. Ho did not then miss anything, but two days later he looked for his bank book In the shed arid' could not find it., He Admitted that ho could neither road nor write, and said that he ga.ve no one permission to withdraw money from his account ft the bank. The accused was his grandson.. Kenneth M. Pavitt, clerk- in the. Post Office Savings Bank, said that on September 3 he was on the counter werk, and the withdrawal slip and banK book produced, were handed, to him. The slip was for .£l5. Detective Tricklebank said that after making inquiries ho interviewed the accused, who made a statement. In this he said that ho had been out of work for two months, and admitted going to the shed, opening it and taking the bank book. He also admitted having forged the withdrawal slip: Tao sum of .£5 4s- 6d. was recovered. The accused pleaded guilty rnd was committed to ' tho Supreme Court for sentence. " The accused was then charged with stealing the Savings Bank book, and to this he also pleaded guilty. He was convicted and discharged. \