WATER & DRAINAGE. EASTBOURNE PROPOSALS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24, 30 January 1911, Page 3

WATER & DRAINAGE. EASTBOURNE PROPOSALS.

A LIVELY DISCUSSION. VIEWS OF RATEPAYERS. About seventy ratepayers of the Eastbourne borough assempled at the Eastbourne Hall, Rona Bay, on Saturday night, to consider proposals to borrow £17,500 for water and drainage schemes for the district. Mr. H. W. Shortt, Mayor of Eastbourne, presided, and there were also present a number of borough councillors. A synopsis of the schemes, as recommended by the engineer, Mr. R. L. Mestayer, is as follows : — • ! WATER SUPPLY. £ Headworks, 10-inch steel main, and tunnel 3925 Reticulation, mains, valves, etc. 3344 Legal expenses,' supervision, and contingencies, 10 per cent. ... 727 1 Engineering, 5 per cent '. 364 Land and first year charges ... 640 SEWAGE. SS ' Provision is made in Mr. Mestayer's 1 scheme to divide the district into three sewerage areas. The whole sewerage will collect at one central station, and hydraulic sewage lifts will take it to a septic tank, to be situated at the southern extremity of the borough. The cost will be: — Septic tank and outfall sewer ... 450 Stoneware pipe sewers, 6in., Bin., 9in. , ... 4igs Hydraulic lifts and rising main ... 2380 Legal expenses, supervision and contingencies, 10 per cent. ... 700 Engineering, 5 per cent 250 Expenses, first year ... ,„ 435 £8500 WHAT WATER MIGHT DO. The chairman stated that ever since Eastbourne had been a borough the main object of the Mayor and councillors had been to provide water for the district. The scheme had been initiated during the mayoralty of Mr. Bolton, and at that time Gollan's Valley was not favoured. Ultimately tho proposal was abandoned during .Mr. Barr's term of olnce, but the council was now nearly unanimous that it had the only scheme that would adequately supply" the district. Water supply was of the utmost importance to the borough. They could not expect finer ferry boats unless the borough were ' prepared to spend money for the district. The progress of the district depended almost wholly on water and drainage, and the ferry company should be encouraged to provide a better service. The speaker read a lengthy report by the borough engineer, giving details of the proposed schemes. He stated that they had also received 'a report from Mr. Rounthwaite, and both engineers agreed that the tunnel would cost £712 16s, at 12s per foot in. He formally moved : — "That in the opinion of this meeting, drainage and water supply systems are necessary for the borough, and that this meeting approves the proposals of the council." (Applause.) This was seconded by Councillor Frank Wills, who also expatiated upon the advantages of the schemes. In reply to a ratepayer, the Mayor said the cost of maintenance of the. septic tank would be very small ; as for the water-supply, they could not, of course, say whether there would be. a break, and that was the only possible source of expense. "DOUBLE OR TREBLE RATES." Mr. W. Hobbs expressed the opinion that no matter how good a ferry service they might have, the succesb of tho district depended upon good weather, and that was obtained chiefly in the suinmei. The scheme meant putting their hands into theu pockets. Ratepayers would have to pay double cr treble rates. In twenty years' time perhaps the district would be ready for the scheme ; in the meantime a good reservoir, and, say, a 6-inch pipe, would amply satisfy requirements. There was abundance of water going to waste even new, and he believed that a good supply could bs obtained from Day's Bay, an offer in this direction having been made. The speaker instanced some alleged discrepancies in mayoral estimates of the cost. About £400 had been spent in boring, and they were no nearer to a water-scheme whatever. The time was not ripe to spend so much money. The cost would be five times as much per section as watersupply cost the Hutt Borough, in proportion oi rateable value. An engineer's scheme was not always a ratepayer's scheme. Their borough was not in an unhealthy state, and with good inspec tion they could continue as ~ab present for another five years. (Applause). "PESSIMISTIC AND PARADOXICAL." Councillor Russell characterised the opinions of the previous speaker as pessimistic and paradoxical. They had to face this water scheme without "reference to Day's Bay at all; they had a magnificent seaside resort, and people interested should do something to push the borough ahead. They niust have the water— there was no escape from that— and drainage as well. He had specimens of water drawn from private sources, and a glance at it would make amyono prefer the tanks. These private supplies were a positive source of danger. Fcilding was embarking upon a water scheme which would cost 5s 6d in the £; surely they could afford a scheme to cost only fd in the £. A "WILD SCHEME." Mr. D. Robertson said he always opposed this "wild scheme." They had plenty of rain. Now Eastbourne was a favourite spot, but if they loaded the rates, they would ruin the place. The tunnel was to cost more than 12s a foot — he himself "had in hand a tunnel to cost £2 a foot. There was no provision in the engineer's scheme to line the tunnel, or to make it safe for foot passengers. He had" no objections to the scheme, but they were not by any means ready to tackle it in the manner proposed. Already they had a loan of £5000. and an overdraft of about £500. The speaker urged caution ; they should wait till the population was twice or thrice what it was. The scheme would put a millstone round their necks which would sink them.. An engineer and water expert would be required ; also connections to houses that had not been provided for. The scheme was far too big, and in the end they would not even be able to let their houses and bring in the rates. (Applause.) It was shown that if the scheme were carried, each ratepayer would have to pay for the connecting pipes, both for drainage and for water. NEGATIVE MOTION PROPOSED. Councillor (Dr.) Alackenzie quoted some interesting statistics relative to deaths from zymotic or drain diseases, tending to prove that the number of such deaths had increased in recent years. The ash or earth system of sanitation had been proved to be the most successful for

small communities ; how many of these zymotic diseases had been reported from Eastbourne? He urged that the sewage should not be put away from sunlight and air, which wero the enemies of fever-bearing germs. The scheme was going to cost another £7000 — possibly more. They should co-operate with Day'B Bay in tho borough s undertakings, but he wanted the ratepayers in the meantime to put the scheme off until they could amalgamate with other bays. If carried in its proposed form, the scheme would induce disease. He moved, and Councillor Robertson seconded : That we defer this scheme for a period of years. "I regret that I cannot -accept that motion," said the Mayor j "it is a direct negative to the original motion." Councillor Foley commented plainly upon the action of Mr. Hobbs and Councillors Robertson and Mackenzie in criticising such competent engineers as Messrs. Mestayer and Routhwaile. On behalf ol the Ferry Company, Mr. E. G. F. Zohrab expressed the opinion that the district, rightly guided, had a good future ; it did not become him to express any views upon the proposed benome. Councillor Ross declared that the Golian's Valley proposals were "the beet and only '* scheme that would meet requirements. There had been an absolute shortage of water in Rona Bay — (hear, hear). Councillors Organ and Sanson also supported the motion. THE MAYOR IN REPLY. Replying to various statements, the j chairman scouted the suggestion that the engineers had been influenced by himself or councillors ; tho estimate of 12s per foot had been obtained from information given him by John- M'Lean and Son; the only additional watershed required would be 420 acres, which was valued ay 12s 6d an aero; the water in the valley streams was absolutely pure. Th© Mayor urged ratepayers to use their own judgment. On the motion being pm,, it was declared carried, on the voices, amidst applause.