THE DUST NUISANCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 257, 17 October 1911, Page 4

THE DUST NUISANCE.

With the coming of hot, dry weather the thoughts of dwellers in towns are turning towards the inevitable return of the dust nuisance. Portions of both Napier and Hastings suffer a great deal of annoyance, and inconvenience all through the summer months from this cause. Indeed it is not only annoyance and inconvenience which are experienced but considerable monetary loss to many persons, especially the tradesmen, from articles destroyed. In these days, too, of rigid regard for sanitary conditions we may take it that the whirling dust which blows in our eyes, dirties clothes, houses and furniture, permeates the air we breathe and covers the food we eat is by no means compatible with a thoroughly hygienic condition. Without exaggeration, however, it can be proved that dust is a real menace to the health of a community and every municipality is thoroughly justified in using its best endeavours to cope with the nuisance. Two roads which serve forcibly to illustrate the necessity for action are Havelock road in Hastings, and Shakespeare Hill and P.ort road in Napier. Whaghorne street at the Port is narrow and carries a great deal of traffic anil the dust there is positively unbearable in the summer and one has only to see the clouds rolling off Havelock to appreciate the need for action in that quarter. The towns of this district are by no means singular in their dust troubles. It is a worldwide affliction under which most people of the earth labour and many are the experiments tried to effect a remedy. So far “no actual cure has been found, but some very fair palliatives have been brought into use. One of the most popular of these is calcium chloride. The chemical is broken up and placed in the ordinary water cart. When a propel- state of dissolution has arrived the streets are watered with the preparation in the usual way. In Britain the cost works out at something like 4 G per WO yards of street, but the cost would probably be somewhat higher in this country. When treated with the solution the surface of the road remains damp for a considerable time* The chemical contains neither grease nor tar and is not objectionable in any way. It simply possesses the quality’ of attracting moisture and thus keeping the road surface damp. It is calculated that a monthly’ dressing of a mile of road costs about £4O per annum, but there would doubtless be considerable variation from density of traffic and other causes. The Napier Borough Engineer recommended a trial of this treatment in a report to his council some time ago and it would be well if the council tried its effect upon a section of road during the summer. The knowledge gained by this means would be of considerable value to both Hastings and Napier and do much to improve existing conditions.