THE TARUHERU RIVER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3574, 25 February 1914, Page 5

THE TARUHERU RIVER

STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR.

SREPLY TO HARBOR ENGINEER

AND DR. COLLINS.

DR, COLLINS RETURNS TO THE ATTACK.

The Mayor (Mr J. R. Kirk) yesterday handed the following statement to the press regarding the remarks passed at the Harbor Board 1 - meeting to hi s suggestion that the Harbor Engineer should furnish a report upon the best method of sweetening the Taruhevu river:—

“I have perused the report- of the Harbor Engineer in the matter, and I first wish to say that as Mr McDonald is probably largely responsive for the present satisfactory depth of the inner harbor, I can freely forgive him for his want of courtesy in the use of the words he chose wherein he suggested insincerity on my part in writing to the Board for a report. Mr McDonald’s words were: ‘lf his Worship is really serious in wishing to do away with all nuisances.’ Now, when I make a request I should hope that it would always be taken that I am serious, and if a reflection of this kind is to be allowed by a public servant in respect to the work of the Chief Magistrate of the town when he is performing his duty conscientiously, it is hard to say where discipline will end. I look on the statement as ia piece of presumption.

“Now, much as I regret having to do so, I think I should recount what the Borough has done since the river nuisance became so pronounced. Immediately the matter was reported to me at 10 o’clock at night, the engineer and sanitary inspector were good enough to make an inspection forthwith, being out until 2 a.m.. Tliey reported a certain state of affairs to . me, and I decided that an immediate inspection of the river should be made by the chairman of the Hospital Board, Harbor Board, Coo'k County Council, and myself, together with our respective engineers and sanitary inspectors. I was engaged on this the whole of one day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. I formed an opinion of the cause of the trouble and together with the Hospital and County authorities, caused statutory notices to be served preventing the pollution of the river. The discharge at Nelson Bros.’ works was carefully inspected, and a promise given that the filter beds would be cleansed twice daily, instead of less frequently in the past. This m itself was an advance forward, ibut it seemed to me something more was necessary, and as the head of that firm, Mr W. Nelson, is an elderly man and could not very well come to Gisborne, I decided to see him in Hawke’s Bay, and left by the first outgoing boat. The result is that a pumping plant is now in course of erection, which will have the effect of keeping all refuse from Nelson Bros.’ works from going into the river. I have the undertaking of Mr Ne T son, Mr Dewing, and Mr Hodge to this effect. and they quite understand that if a nuisance is created by reason of their works, the Supreme Court will be moved for a writ of prohibition restraining them. I have heard it said that Nelson Bros, should have been prosecuted, but if what has taken place is examined, it will he found something far more beneficial and speedy than prosecution has taken place. The obnoxious material of some kind is in the river, and no prosecution whatever can get it out. We have stopped people from draining into the river, and the position now is: what can be done with the stuff in the river and with the mud flats which have been saturated through years past with the' drainage now comp 7 ained of? The only man to make any practical suggestion towards sweetening this "immediately was Dr C. F. Scott, who, with the public spirit characteristic of him, suggested the use of sulphate of copper. I told the Harbor Engineer that I thonght myself of using this, but he said that the Borough had no jurisdiction to put anything into the ■tidal waters, that that was the function of the Harbor Board. ' Upon this, and because it had been sugg r sted to me from another quarter, that I would have to bo careful, not to create a higher nuisance by poisoning all the fish in the river, I wrote, letters to the Harbor Board, and asked that it might instruct its engineer to report , on the best means of improving the existing conditions in the Taruheru river. T made sp"c ; fic reference to the mud flats, and was in hopes that some practica’ report would have been fort'■’coming, showing how those flats might ho g ; t rid of and th° condition of things ~’-et nod Instead of that I am. or the Borough is. accused of having done nothing (and this, mark you. by hue who is a member, not only j of the Harbor Board, but of the Hospital Board and Borough Council also, which bodies have had meetings recently), and the further statement is made that nothing would be done. Now I have shown what I have done, and what I have tried to do.- How was my letter met by the Harbor Board? The engineer suggested that Mr Mestayer should be invited, to make a report in regard to improving tfie existing sanitary conditions in Gisborne and district; that this report should be paid for bv the Borough Council; that it should not he handed to the Mayor in the first instance, but to the chairman of the Harbor Board. What a remarkable and wise suggestion ! The Borough is to engage and pay a sanitary engineer to report to the Harbor Board. Well, just let me say that the Borough has quite capable sanitary advisers at the present time, men well trained in the yro rik, and who are coping with the existing sanitary conditions in Gisborne very effectually. What was wanted was that something should be done to get the head waters of the Taruheru river, which are charged with nauseating material, swept out to sea, and something practicable done with the mud flats. ' This is entirely an engineering question, and as the Harbor Board has jurisdiction in the matter up to the Borough boundary, I thought its engineer should be the one to report, and I think the public will probably agree with me. The Boroughtnas no authority in the County the Health authorities having control there. But if any nuisance created in the foumy is damaging to the Borough, the latter can take action. And thus it was how, although Nelson Bros.’ works are situated in the county, I was able, with the least possible loss of time, to effect improvements there.” “I read the discussion which took place on the condition of the Taruheru river at Monday’s meeting of the Harbor Board, and noticed that one member, who, by the way, is a medical man, said that if they wanted to they could get rid of the nuisance in 60 'hours. Now, this member is, as I said a member of the Borough Council and Hospital Board, both of which bodies have lately met. Yet, with his apparent knowledge that the nuisance could have been got rid of in 60 hours, he made no suggestion of any kind at those meetings, how this could be accomplished, but instead at the Harbor Board meeting, stated that the Borough Council had done nothing and would do nothing. Or course, when the public read about dirferences of opinion between Ct Collins and myself, they will be able to judge as to the value of such criticism- But it will be a great pity if, for merely party purposes, a united pull is not made in what I consider to be a mos serious position. Personally, I have been greatly worried over .this nuisance, more so than on anything I have had to do with during my Mayoral term, formatters of this kind are

brought home to those who have the care and upbringing ef families. However, as I say, no suggestion has been made by .Dr. Oollins, who may truthfully reply that He was not asked for °no. But surely it is most reprehensible on the part of any "public man, who knows- how a nuisance of this kind can be remedied within GO hours, to withhold such knowledge from the public. It is easy to shift responsibility. Nothing whatever was done at the Harbor Board meeting, Cr. Collins being apparently the last one to speak these weighty words—‘He wanted the responsibility placed on the Borough authorities without delay.’ Quite so. Is the reason not apparent ? I prefer, however, to believe that the real opinion of this gentleman was expressed a little later, where in the fm? 16 re P° I find this statement: ‘There was no action they could take unless at the expenditure of £350 or £350 to disinfect the river, and then at the risk of poisoning the people of the town. Now, how can these statements be reconciled? First, that the nuisance could he got rid of in 60 hours, and, seconefly, that there was no action that could be taken. Well, as the speaker was a medical man, and stated that by an expenditure of £350 per day there was a risk of poisoning the people of the town, I may be forgiven, I hope, by the people of the town if. I do not incur such an expenditure. I desire to protect the people, not to poison them, and this was my- reason for so quickly, and I hope effectually for the present, at any rate,. presenting a. recurrence of abominable refuse being put into the river. If something immediate is required, the best thing we can have is a flood. The Harbor Engineer says .that any attempt to disinfect the present course of septic action in the river by poisons, would be more harmful than beneficial, and should not be allowed, and if his opinion is correct, will the Harbor Board allow the use of sulphate of copper or any other disinfectant ? We are assured by medical, men that the odour from the river, while unpleasant, is not directly dangerous to health, and while it lasts I would ask all residents to counteract the smell by the use of strong disinfectants at their own homes. But do fectants at their own homes. But oo not let us forget that something must be done with the mud flats in the Taruheru and the public should not be put off by the Harbor Board Engineer declining to make such a report by asking someone else to do so. The Health authorities are looking after the sanitary conditions of the town, and they are doing; it effectively. But we want practical engineering advice as to how to get the offensive material in the river and the mud flats away. “I have considered the question of communicating with Mr Mestayer, and have no hesitation in saying that so far as I am concerned I have not the least intention of committing the Borough to any extravagance in this direction. It will be competent for any member of the Council at the next meeting to move that Mr Mestayers services be retained, but so far as I am concerned, I will certainly, vote against it.' Some practical engineering is wanted, and nothing c-lse, for if Mr Mestayer adopted Dr. Scutes s. ggestion, we wonld be in '‘he same position we are in to-day, except that our finances would probao'v be £l5O less as a result of paying Mr Mestayer’s fee. The trouble is in the river, and there is no necessity for Mr Mestayer to look anywhere else in the district.”

SANITARY COMMITTEE IGNORED

“MAYOR ACTED SINGLE-

HANDED.”

DR. COLLINS’ STRONG COM-

PLAINT.

In course of a talk with a “Times’ reporter last evening on the Mayor s statements, Cr. Collins said he had read the report of an interview in which the Mayor had been gracious enough to grant an expression of opinion on the Taruheru River question, selecting Mr McDonald. Harbor Board Engineer, and Cr. Collins himself, for spe iaf castigation for the indiv:dual remarks they were adjudged as having mad? at the Inst meeting of the Harbor Board. “ h irstlv, ’ raid Dr. Collins, 1 the law is emphatic regarding the question cf responsibility with regard to nuisances outside the Borough limits, and, shortly, is as follows: ‘lf any nuisance is created in the Comity whiih, in itself, is considered a -menace to the Borough, tb? latter shill take action.’ the public health authority being the body under the Act to take the necessary steps to abate such nuisance “Air Kirk, in Ins oannc.ty as a lawyer must have been cognisant ot tne fact that the Borough, under the circumstances, was the proper body to act in such an emergency, and the authority to whom application should have been invade the Health Department, and the correct representatives to advise the Mayor in suc-h case the Sanitary Committee of the Council, which, by the way is composed of the Mayor, Crs. Bright,- Collins, Hill, Shferratt, Wade, and Wildish, whose collective wisdom I fancy is worthy of some consideration, or else probably they would not be there. Yet how did Mr*'Kirk, in his wisdom act lhe Sanitary Inspector and Borough Ennineer acting under his instructions, made ’an inspection, being out until 2 am- They reported to the Mayor, who m turn, decided that an inspection of the river be made by himself and the Chairmen of the Hospi ai fesrs's?.jsSS E 3Sf M " kS” s e >v "t hv the way, is not a member of the entirely fore, consultation Sd« himself to decide such a pmnt. A ticket \vas «“d in f^ o *gh*lhe Towf “s,^Authorisation, .or consent r£3ftto g “his, a the Council on the qu th€ a report from h little or no vasame subject 1 expression of opinion lue, but aet.no I Council or was asked either from we K . rk w Sanitary Committee. Couneil or acted independent V o instan ce of their advice suffice. Cr. i^ e P£ urn \r TCirk proceeds, and “Further, Mr■ g arbor Board writes a to “ d witbo ut the on his own initiative a ci j cstjng vanou Engineers who. accomelSr nrocess to have Mr ivirK s , ftv thrust either on himself or in® Harbor Board, or to open bmiself to St criticism Of a body under whose

jurisdiction he is not paid to act, marvels at Mr Kirk’s simplicity and does not take him seriously. Can Mr Kirk wonder at it? Had the Mayor the forethought to act in the. best interests of the Borough, he would have in the first instance after the report had been brought under his notice called' his Sanitary Committee together and they in turn should have been asked to visit the source of nuisance with him . Full information and details would have been collected, the Public Health Officer’s presence immediately requested, and the necessary data presented oil liis arrival to act if circumstances required action. Mr Nelson could have been politely communicated with by wire and some finality reached, thus saving an unnecessary trip to Napier, many newspaper paragraphs on Mr Kirk’s achievements, iand the members of the Borough Council being blamed for an apathy, for which, through Mr Kirk’s fault, they were in no way responsible.

“Regarding Mr Kirk’s criticisms of myself, it is true that I made a statement at the Harbor Board that the nuisance could be coped with in 60 hours, and if Mr Kirk had acted on behalf of the Council and the Borough as suggested above instead of on his own account finality would probably have been reached ere this. Likewise, he rightly says I held my opinion until the meeting of the Harbor Board, whereas I could have expressed it at the intervening meetings. —lt is true, but unfortunately I was at Tatapouri when the meeting of the Hospital Board took place, and at the Borough meeting Mr Kirk had acted already as he thought best without either consent or authority on the lines as I have stated, and did not ask or require any further advice from members of that body, lienee my silence.

“Mr Kirk will certainly always act —the members of tlie Council are not permitted to while a shred of glory is left capable of attaching itself to the Mayoral chair. < “May I in turn ask the necessity of visiting Mr Nelson. There is a telephone and a telegraph and a mail.

-“-Who, pray, shows the most presumption—Mr McDonald, who refuses to. take Mr Kirk seriously, or Mr Kirk, who in a crisis of such a nature ignores the representatives of the citizens allied to his administration and acts entirely on his own responsibility and without their authority, consent, or advice. If, as Mr Kirk says, ‘The Borough has quite capable sanitary advisers at the present time coping with the existing sanitary' conditions in Gisborne,’ why then request further advice from the Harbor Board Engineer and open himself and members of his Council to the retort courteous lie so very richly deserved and which none can give bgtter than Mr McDonald.

“I think, in justice to the Council and the ratepayers, it should be dis tinctly understood that the members ,of the Council have had no hand oi part in adding their willing help to abate this nuisance in the past, whatever opportunity may he offered in the future, for hitherto they have been politely ignored, and the first opportunity’afforded me to express an opinion was through the courtesy of Mr Townley at the Harbor Board meeting. I would further emphasise the fact that had th e opportunity been afforded members of the Council, to offer advice prioj- to Mr Kirk acting in the matter, knowing them as I do time and money would have . been saved, and ere this a definite line of action taken, and this axiom I would go further and apply to a 1 Borough matters since Mr Kirk’s meteoric advent.”

DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICER

ARRIVES TO-DAY.

WILL CONFER WITH HOSPITAL

BOARD

Dr Chesson, District Health Officer, will arrive from Wellington by this morning’s steamer, and will attend a meeting of the Hospital Board to-day, when the best method of dealing with the unsatisfactory state of the Taruheru river will be fully gone into.