THE SEWER AND THE WATER MAIN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11173, 15 March 1899, Page 2

THE SEWER AND THE WATER MAIN.

Another attempt is being made to draw off public attention from the question in dispute. A letter written by Mr Napier Bell in 1894 with respect to the introduction of the water-closet system into the town is being circulated with a view of discrediting the stand we have taken in connection with this matter. The most cursory perusal of the letter will show that it contains no reference whatever to the plan of flushing the sawers direct from the water main. That is the point we raised in the article which has caused so much discussion. It is curious to see how eager our opponents are to start all kinds of side issues, with a view, one must suppose, of throwing dust in the eyes of the public and causing them to lose sight of the original question. If anyone will point out any passage in Mr Bell's report indicating his approval of the flushing system in vogue here we shall be greatly obliged. So far we have been able to find no such passage, and we are inclined to believe that the matter was never placed before him. On the other hand, in the letter referred to, Mr Bell states that his original plans were altered in some particulars, and he had evidently made no examination of our drainage before writing, and had not even a copy of his original report before him for his guidance. Mr Bell's letter, then, is entirely beside the point. At the risk of being wearisome let us sfcato our position once more. Wo learn that the sewers are flushed from the water main by means of a crosß pipe, and that the only bar to the sewage and sewer gas finding entrance into the main is a syphon and tap. We endeavored to show that the water in the syphon would become polluted, and would then cease to be a seal at all, and we argued that the tap was not absolutely secure, because although the pressure of water at ordinary times might suffice to resist the pressure ou the sewer side, there were occasions when the water was cut off and when there would be a danger of sewage and sewer gas being suckefl into the main. We understand that a petition will be presented to-night to the Borough Council asking that an expert should be engaged to report on our drainage system. Is the circulation of this somewhat unsatisfactory letter of Mr Bell's an

indication that one section of the Council at all events has made up its mind to ignore the petition and refuse to take any stepß such aa the petitioners desire.

" Fetlock's" tips for the Hawke'e Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting to-day and other sporting matter will be found on the fourth page, also Bush newa, and reports_ of the Hawke's Bay Gun Club's meeting yesterday and of the meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education Board. Messrs Baker and Tabuteau's business announcements are inserted to-day on our fourth page. H.BX.S. Ringdove took her departure from Napier yesterday for Tauranga. The rehearing of the Hatuma compensation case will be taken in Napier in about a fortnight's time. Edward Kenny has been committed for trial at Wairoa on a charge of having on March 4th stolen .£8 from John Crozier. Captain Edwin wired at noon yesterday:—Strong south to east and northeast winds, with heavy sea on coast; high tide; glass rising and colder weather. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister for Railways, accompanied by his private secretary, arrived in Napier from "Wellington by the express, last night, and put up at the Criterion Hotel. Our "Wellington correspondent wired last night: — "Captain Russell was in "Wellington to-day. He will return home to-morrow. He proposes to address his constituents as soon as his household is convalescent." , Pollard's Opera Company, which opened to a large audience at the Princess Theatre last evening in "A Gaiety Girl," will commence a season in Napier, at the Gaiety Theatre, on Monday evening, when " In Town " will be staged. At the Magistrate's Cotfrt yesterday, before Mr Turnbull, S.M., Michael Nelson, charged with having travelled on the Flora from "Wellington to Napier without a ticket, and with the intention of evading payment, was fined £1 10s or seven days' imprisonment. The East Coast Wanderers will play a match at Napier on the Kecreation Ground to-morrow with the following local team :— Gore, Galway, Hill, Hawke, Gardiner, H. Martin, Young, Hugheß, Lnsk, Scott, Severne. Play will commence at 10.30 a.m. The following are the traffic returns on the Wellington-Napier-Taranaki section of railway during the four weeks ending February 4th :— Passengers £12,653, parcels and luggage £1946,- goods £19,191, miscellaneous £486, rents and commissions £337 12a sd; total £34,614, against £33,419 for the corresponding period last year. The Union Steamship Company's magnificent new^ steamer -will arrive from Sydney to-morrow on her way South. This will be the last opportunity for the Hawke's Bay public to inspect or travel by her, as she takes up the West Coast running. She proceeds to Melbourne via the Bluff, and her place will be taken up by the Mararoa, which left Sydney on Monday. This is a rare opportunity for passengers to Melbourne to go right through -in this luxuriously fitted addition to the company's fleet, and escape the discomfort of transhipment. A committee meeting of the Hawke's Bay Amateur Athletic Club was held at the Criterion Hotel last evening, Mr W. J. Reid in the chair. It was decided to hold the next sports meeting on Saturday, 15th April, and an interesting programme was drawn up. . Messrs "Wilßon and Skinner were elected members of the club. Mr C. L. St. Hill wrote stating that he would be able to get away for the Australasian championships in August if selected, and the secretary was therefore instructed to write to the New Zealond Amateur Athletic Association recommending Mr St. Hill's inclusion in the New Zealand team to compete at the Australasian championship meeting. The friends of .Mr and Mrs M'Donald, late of Loch Inver station, Tarawera, but now residing ;at Hedgeley, Petane, will sympathise with them at the announcement of the death of their eldest son, James. Mr James M'Donald at one time resided in Napier, and for some years afterwards he was on the staff of the post-office in Danevirke. During the last twelve months his health gave way, and he was advised to rest for a time, and seek a change of climate. He went to reside with his grandparents, Mr and Mrs C. Munro, at Biverina, Wairoa, where he -> died on Sunday last, at the age of 21 years. The late Mr James M'Donald was a very promising young man, and was liked by everyone who knew him. Plaintiffs secured judgment at the Magistrate's Court yesterday in the following civil cases:— Saunders, Gilberd and Co. y.TV. T. Taylor, £1 11s 3d, costs ss ; H. P. Cohen v. A. Gr. Morteneen, £17 11s 7d, costs 15s ; J. S. Harvey v. Thomas Leitoh,-£4 11s 9d, costs Bs. Judgment summonses : Ruston and Linehan v. H. Simpkins, £1 16s 6d, to be paid by 14th April or four days' imprisonment ; same* y. Donald Campbell, £1 19s Id, to be paid in monthly instalments of 13s or four days j same v. Robert M'Lean, £9 8s Id, • to be paid in monthly instalments of 10s ' or four days. In the case of P. Suttoa y. North German Insurance Company, which went in favor of plaintiff by default last, week, the S.M. granted a rehearing. Hr,E. H. Williams appeared for the defendants and Mr Cresswell for plaintiff. . Our Waipawa correspondent writes :— The changes in the staffs of the Bank of New Zealand includes the retirement of Mr Parry, teller at "Waipawa, who will be succeeded at the end of the month by Mr Reynolds from Auckland. It is to be hoped that Mr Parry will soon find more congenial employment, and the good wishes of all in Waipawa will go with him, — The matron of the county hospital reports as follows for the past' week : — 28 in-patients, including 10 females; six males and four females admitted and one male and one female discharged during the week ; no deaths. — The new nurses' home at the hospital is- nearly finished, and presents a very interesting appearance to the passers-by, being in the Queen Ann's style. It consists of four rooms and a bathroom, and is situated on the left side of the entrance into the grounds, nearly opposite the hospital. Mr Natusch of Napier was the architect, and Mr Maclean is the contractor. — Mrßibby* continues to improve, and passed a good night. Land settlement sohemes have caused no small amount of discussion among residents in this district lately (writes our Bush correspondent). While the ballot system is regarded as fair enough in one respect, that it gives all an equal chance, objection is taken to it on the ground that it gives the speculator as good a ohanee as the iona fide settler. How to guard against the speculator evil has engaged the attention of many of our legislators, but so far the amount of success that has attended their efforts has not been as great as might have been desired. It cannot be questioned that men who would make the best of settlers are debarred of their chance by the universality if the opportunities the present system iffords. To point out defects is generally sasy work ; but to suggest the remedy io aot always a matter of such simplicity. Discussion among farmers has evoked one suggestion whioh has a good deal to recommend it. That is that the old iseooiation plan should be reverted to. This, it is true, might give bodies of rarmers a wider chance, and would ensure, ;o a certain extent at any rate, the exclulion of the speculator. What b'ona Hde ;ettlers want is that it shall be made imlossible for speculators to jump their ilaim, and without any wish to become ettlers themselves, thus to diminish the hances of those who do. Another thing hat a number of the old hands favor, too, 3 the deferred payment system. That yokes their heartiest praise, and the umber who would vote for its reintrouotion if given a chance is very large ideed.