POLLUTION OF HUTT RIVER

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 74, 25 September 1917, Page 5

POLLUTION OF HUTT RIVER

A LIVELY DISCUSSION.

Owing to the Lower Hutt Borough not being fully reticulated with the sewage system an amount of nightsoil has still to be removed by means of a cart. This matter is supposed to be deposited in the eastern septic tank, but owing to being placed therein in a more or less solid mass it cannot be effectively dealt with, and it was recently reported, at a borough council meeting,, that the borough employees, instead of allowing the matter to pass through the septic tank, were tipping it into the outfall pipe, which leads dh'ect into the river. The Engineer was ordered to report upon the matter, and in his report he stated that the practice had been going on for only six months. This did not satisfy certain councillors, who contended that the practice had been in existence for three years. From what transpired at last evening's meeting of the Borough Council, it appears that the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) and Councillor Ward had since visited the locality, and had reported to a committee meeting their opinion that from the appearance of the cart-ruts the practice had not been long in existence. Last evening Councillor' Kerr stated that he desired the matter cleared up in open council. There had been a lot going on which should not go on. He had been attacked_ in a cowardly manner. "I think," he said, "your Worship has done a very wrong thing." He complained that he had not been notified of the proposed visit, and as the councillor most interested, he suggested he should have been notified. Councillor Bra-ssel (heatedly, to the Mayor): "The statement you made in committee is absolutely contrary to fact. I measured the rut-marks myself, and j they were six inches deep." He moved that all the parties concerned be brought before the council, and the matter be thrashed out. Councillor Kerr seconded the motion. Councillor Cotton supported the proposed enquiry. "First," he said, "the Engineer said he knew nothing about the matter; then he said it had been going on for six months; now we have evidence that it has been done for fifteen months, and I believe we will find it-has been done for three years." Councillor Brassel: "I _ won't attend any more committee meetings if that is the hole-and-corner methods you adopt." Councillor M'Dougall thought an enquiry should be held so that all the facts should be brought out. Councillors Hobbs, Clendon, and Ward said they regretted the attack on the Mayor, Councillor Hobbs stating that from his experience the wheel marks could be made in a fortnight, and Coun- | cillor Ward stating that it was. not the ruts or tho depth of ruts which impressed him, but the absence of ruts. The Mayor: "I don't mind the remarks passed, as my reputation is for fair dealing to all Councillor Brassel: "Question. '•' The Mayor: "Well, I say that is my reputation, and I have no objection to an enquiry. I have no desire to burk anything, and have nothing to hide. If this matter had been going on for so long, why was it not mentioned before? ; I did not make the statement alleged by Councillor Brassel regarding the wheel ruts." Councillor Brassel: "Keep to the facts," The Mayor: "I am." Councillor Brassel: "Question." "You did," and "I didn't" were then fl-ung backwards and forwards several times between Councillor Brassel and the Mayor, regarding a statement re the depth of the wheel ruts, and several of the councillors made heated interjections. Ultimately Councillor Brassel was ordered by the Mayor to resume his seat, and not interrupt. Eventually the motion to hold an enquiry was put and carried, the date of the meeting being fixed for Friday week.