OLD NAGARURORO RIVER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 78, 15 March 1935, Page 4

OLD NAGARURORO RIVER

Condition at Havelock North INSPECTOR’S GOOD REPORT Some months ago representation.; . were made to the Havelock North. Town Board that the old Ngaruroro river at Havelock North was in an unhealthy condition and was a menace ts public health. It was contended that the water in the river in that locality was practically in a stagnant state, and some people were of the opinion that much of the scarlet fever which was prevalent in the district toward the middle of last year was due to the sup posed unhealty state of the river. It. was also stated that the septic tanks were harmful. As a result of the representations, the Town Board had the river inspected last August, when the inspector declined that the river was in no way injurious to health. However, it was decided to inspect the river again whe.i the water was at a lower level. Therefore, Mr F. 8. Maclean, medical officer of health, made an inspection of the river last month, together with representatives of the Hawke's Ba, Rivers Board. Again on this occasion the inspector was able to give a most satisfactory report on the condition oi th« river, and was of the opinion that in no way is it a menace to health. The report of Mr Maclean was sent to the Havelock North Town Board, and a copy of it is given below. Mr Maclean states:— “I would refer you to a letter dated July 23, 1934 to the Minister concern ing the old Ngaruroro river, from the Hawke’s Bay County Council, the Hawke’s Bay. Rivers Board and the Havelock North Town Board, and Io my report on the subject dated September 10. “As suggested in the last paragraph of my report. 1 made a further inspection on February 20 last, to observe the river under summer conditions, and J was accompanied by the chairman rd the Rivers Board, Mr Lassen, as well a.< the board’s overseer. The river wa. l considerably lower than in August lart, but was still flowing with a considerable current, and was not merely ”a series of stagnant pools’’ ;i< describoa in the letter of July 23. The outfall.’ from all three septic tanks in Haveloc I .’ North discharge well un lor ater, an I dilution of the effluent appears to b<: rapid and satisfar torv; there ivas n, polluted thereby. “'ln one place, where an islnn- 1 I divides the stream. Mr Lassen suj gested the building of a suit! :| grov:e : io confine the water to one haiit: , This is to be done and -bottld ■■■ • .e I the flovv, “I am still of the opinion that the) stream is in no wav a danger to the health of Havelock North, nn<| that no other n'-tion is iiPecssnrx, Mr J.ass'.) agreed with m® in this,” - - I