THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1893, Page 4

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

ENGINE KK'S REPORT. The fourth progress report of the Drainage h ngineer was laid before the City Council last evening. Mr fllestayer stated that owing to the weather the progress made in out-door work bad not been quite so great as ho conld have wished, as, on more than ono occasion, it had bad to be suspended for two or three days consecutively. The culvert through Mr. Barry's property in Motnroa-street had been completed, and plans were being prepared for the continuation of this work to the sea. The sewer in M'Farlane - street was nearly completed, and so soon as it was done, the Buller-street sewer would be put in hand. At the last meeting of the Council he had submitted a report on the drainage of Windsor-place. It appeared that there was not quite such unanimity amongst the persons concerned as he had been led to believe existed ; however, the objections raised had been met, and the work was in hand, and would, he believed, be finished yesterday afternoon. Pinna had been prepared for the sewerage of Hall and Hanson-Btreets, and he hoped to be in a position to start thiß work so soon as the Bullcr-streot sower was completed. The machines he had designed for testing the stoneware drain - pipes were finished, and last week ho had tested the samples submitted by the various firms who tendered foi t'.e pipe contract. The samples submitted by Mr. P. Hutsun, the successful tendorer, passed the tests in a satisfactory manner. Abont a fortnight ago his attention bad been direoted to a Bill introduced into Parliament by the Hon. Mr. Seddon to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 188G, which amongst other ma' tors gave coi porations increased powers as to making by-laws in connection with drainage. He had carefully studied the Municipal Corporations Acts p»Bsed from time to time, &nd had suggested certain additions which it would iv his opinion be advisable to get inserted in the present Amending Act. These suggestions had been submitted to the Consulting Engineers, who fully endorsed his opinion. The whole sul.ject of drainage by-laws had been carefully considered by him, and tho absolute necossity of more stringent provisions than those of the p e-ent by-laws had been most forcibly illnstrated by the condition of many hou=e connections which had recently been brought under his notice. The sanitary con. dition of the city would chiefly depend npon the manner in which the connections between the dwellings and the sewers were carried out, and no pains should bo spared to ensure perfection in this portion of fhe undertaking. This could only be obtainod by having very strict regulations, and by constant snpervi«ion, and any opportunity of increasing the powers the Council possessed as to making by-laws should be promptly taken advantage of. The Mayor mentioned that Mr. Mestayer's suggestions would be laid before the Sanitation Committee.