KAIKORAI VALLEY

Evening Star, Issue 19129, 22 December 1925, Page 2

KAIKORAI VALLEY

DRAINAGE SCHEME DESIRED BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S PROPOSALS. A special meeting of the Green Island Boroimh Council was hold last evening to consider Cr H. A. Christie s proposals regarding drainage ol the Kaikorai Valley. The mayor L Smcllie), Crs T. Tomkins, T. M Allan, I*. 0. Smcllie. J. G. Lindsay, C. Crimp, H. A. Christie, P. Chalmers, R. Knight, and R. Tait were present. The notice ol motion by t r t niislio, supported by Cr Chalmers, aas as under: — That the Department of'Health bo asked to eonlor with the Gieen Island Council with a view to bimging about a conlcreiice- with the local bodies and niauuiacturers to sec ii something can bo done to bring about a drainage scheme for the whole of the Kaikorai Valley. Cr Christie said Hint the question was not a new one. as years ago the Dunedin Drainage Board had had a scheme for relieving the upper parts of Kaikorai, and had been willing to co-operate with Green Island. r J he borough’s scheme differed lrom_ the hoard's, so the board got permission to carry a drain from Upper Kaikorai through the Cavorsham tunnel. The time was again opportune to bring about a scheme for the whole of the Kaikorai Valley. The councillor compared Green Island with Dunedin and suburbs, saying that the great building boom in the town had followed drainage, and Green Island borough was not so placed; there was no drain, and though there had been nuisances tlmsc had largely been overcome. Tho district could not look forward to an increase in population until it had some good drainage system. From Parliament the Dunedin Drainage Board had obtained permission to harrow a quarter of a million pounds sterling. Tf Green Island moved tho borough could work in with Dunedin, and divert the unsatisfactory drain through tho Cavorsham tunnel. If a main sewer was put in reticulation would follow, continued Mr Christie. They were paying about £I,OOO a year for 120 houses in a direct sanitary levy, and when the new valuation came in the amount would probably bo much bigger. The Id rate was probably bringing in £l2O, as aeainst £Bs.' The main sower under tlm old system cost £4OO a year on a 4d rate basis, whereas a Is rate would bring in, roughly. £1,200. The shilling rate worn! not be such a big drain as £2 10s upon a householder, for owners of all*rateable property would share the cost.

Cr Tomkins thought that all _ in Green Island agreed with the motives behind Cr Christie’s proposal. IK understood that whv Green Island had not gone into the scheme years ago was that the borough was required to pay the cost of piping the main sewer through Green Island. Hearsay had it that £25,000 might he needed to put a main sewer through Green Island lo Black Rock-, and he thought tho esiiiTmto n modest one.

Cr M‘Ahan stated that the sell erne was a big one for a scattered district, and he had been told that £50,000 would not put a main through and provide for reticulation. there would also he the cost of connecting the houses. They were going a step too far asking for a conference, lie had gathered from some who appeared to know that the sewer through Cavorsham was under review, and if they agreed to Cr Christie’s proposal they would have a, crippling burden. If they carried out a scheme of their own and amalgamation with the city came, they would simply he put to extra expense. Cr Knight: “We all know our sanitary svstom is out of date.”

Cr P. O. Smcllie said that Cr Christie was to be complimented upon bringing such an important mailer before, them; but the cost was Hie principal, thing, and they knew nothing of it. Then present system, he thought, should operate for another four nr five years out of fairness to the ratepayers, for how could they scrap one system within a rear nr two of its inception? Ii they went forward they must do so with concrete proposals. Cr Crimp: “There is no harm, T suppose, in discussing this, hut it seems to me. we arc nut of onr depth.” Cr Lindsay: “People in the borough are already complaining about the raking.” Ho believed that in tho near future the district would amalgamate with tho city; then tho ratepayers would do more growling. Ii would he good to have the scheme, hut he did not think it was possible for them yet. The Mayor (Mr IV. T. Smellie) spoke in sympathy with tho project, but advised careful consideration. He would like figures before expressing an opinion. Mr Smcllie suggested that the engineer ho asked what the approximate cost would be, and. though the district could not rro ahead without a good drainage system, he did not think it could carry out a scheme. Cr Christie, replying, pointed out that the motion was a preliminary one just to set the ball rolling. The engineer had made certain estimates, and these would ho available, when the time camo Kven if a new scheme were started at once the present one would continue for four or five years. Such a period would give the present system a fair run. “I don’t think you councillors have any backbone in the matter; you are all sympathetic, hut you want, to put it off—put. it off.” The, mayor and others protested that they did not lack backbone. Cr Christie, proceeding, said that figures wore not wanted before a preliminary conference was called. _ Surplus sewerage camo down tho Kaikorai Stream, and that was not a fair thing. Though they plainly wanted a scheme they were not prepared for even a conference.

Cr Crimp: “I think Cr Christie is a hit funny there.” Cr Crimp was then interrupted by the mayor, who put the motion. Crs Christie, Chalmers, and Knight voted for the motion and tho other councillors against it.

On the suggestion of Cr Smellie the mooting then went into committee to further discuss the matter.