CHRISTCHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3492, 15 September 1882, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

September 15

The formal opening of the great pumping station of the drainage system took place yesterday. The system of sewers laid down concentrates the sewerage of the district at this station, whence it is pumped to the sand hills between Gbristcburch and the sea, there to be used in reclaiming the sand. At present little else than water has passed through the sewers, owing to the unwillingness of a few obstructionists to give the Drainage Board power to compel the connection of houses with the pipes ; but arrangements are in progress to allow those who want to make use of them to ilo so, as a large quantity of sewerage will soon find its way to the pumping station. The pumps are built with a view to doing the work of a population of 50,000 people and are not likely therefore to be put to any strain for many years. A record has been kept during the last eight weeks of the amount of water pumped out of the sewers, which is found to be forty-two million gallons, and the actual time taken to clear this amount was 243 hours, the cost being about £12 10s a week.

Three cottages in Sydenham were destroyed by fire last night. One of them was a two-storey building, occupied by a laborer named O'Donnell, in wbose house tbe fire broke out. He was uninsured, and loses everything but a sewing machine ; unfortunately he has nine children. The buildings were insured in the Victoria office for £300, and a small amount ip another office unknown.