THE POLLUTION OF THE UTUHINA.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 180, 13 May 1896, Page 2

THE POLLUTION OF THE UTUHINA.

In futherance of the objections rais'ed by residents on the baiiks of the Utuhina stream to the proposed conversion of the Town Board paddock into a sewage farm, a petition has been drawn up asking tho board to reconsider their attitude in the matter and take steps to prevent tho lessee from carrying out his intention. The petitioners allege that the water of the stream will become contaminated by the impure matter deposited on the banks and thereby endanger the health and lives of the families living near the banks and who draw their supply of water from the creek. The petition has been signed by upwards of 40 Europeans and has been forwarded to the Chairman of tho Board. On Saturday morning a meeting convened by Petera Pukuatua, chief of the Arawa, took place in Taine Te Kapua. The head men of tho various hapus \Vere qresent including Te Warihi, Em Paora, Henere Amohau, Tae'<ata te Tokoilii, Eruera Pacinoe, Te Toinairangi, Patanui Poihipi, Te Awe'otuku, Wiremu Ratete, Wi Tariana Ngatara, Te Waka, Te Toa, Teuiuera and others. Petera presided and the Rev. Ratema was also present. After much discussion a petition was drawn up on the same lines as that of the Europeans and signed by over 100 natives. This petition has also been handed to Mr Malfroy. Petera lias in addition sent a (c'ogram to the Premier directing his attention to the matter and suggesting that a suitable depot for the whole of the town sewage might be found to the east of the Puareng.t stream, on the land recently acquired by the Government from the natives.

The following letters have been received in relation to the above subject:— TO THE EDITOR. SIK, — Has the " local authority "of the great town of Rotorna lost, its head, or fallen off its perch, or in plain language " gone crooked "or what ? Or havoj the census returns showing a doubly increased population so inflated the already bursting sense of its vast capacity for governing a few hundreds of long-suffering people under its - Gog and Magog like rule that all idea of right and wrong—justice and mercy malodor and fragrance l — and sickness—black and white—-'l-rtth and error—has evaporated from constant proximity to Sodom and Gomorrah that it should so deliberately sanction and support such a palpable dastardly attack on the welfare of the community as we have all witnessed this last week in regard to the Utuhina riverj The shortcomings, blunders or crimes—whichever term best describes many of the outrageous actions of this nondescript Board, which only caricatures the local governing bodies of the Colony—has culminated in the foul design of polluting tho only clear cold water stream existin" in our suburbs, and has effectively roVTsed the British lion in the hearts of every free and sensible man, woman and child in the district. Let the Board beware and look well to its footsteps in the future lest tho fate of all such flagrant offenders against the first rudiments of common sense and public decency overtakes and overwhelms it in a seething blizzard of public indignation which will sweep the present local authority —Chairman, members ond all—of? the Board into the realms of deserved ignominy and oblivion, —I am, &c., SF.XTIXEt.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir', —In, ' the general indignation aroused agiiinst the Town Board re the Hotel sewage scheme and tlie consequent danger of polluting the TTtuhina stream, it must not he forgotteft that one member at least of the misguided local hodv showed himself man enough to criticise the Board's action, and express sympathy with Mr Reid whose pleasant residence 011 the TTtuhina is threatened to be so cruelly invaded and ruined by the offscourings from three' monster hotels* The gentleman alluded to is Mr Brent to whom the thanks of the community are due. ft is also said that Mr Mueller, oii hearing of the sewage proposition at once pronounced it as an outrage on the inhabitants and should forthwith be prevented.- Fortunately for the credit of the district there are thus two members free frpm the" stigma of approving of an insanitary condition' of things in the heart of Rotorua which would in all probability, lis has been said, conVert the great health resort of the North Island into a " death-trap to tourists." It is to bo fervently prayed that the wretched' scheme, ho abandoned as far as the wefet or TTtuhina side of the township is.concerned, and the sewerage taken awav to the east side, or to the precincts of Arikikapaknpa, Puarenga or Sodom and Gpmorrali; places all naturally adapted for the reception and deodorisation of an unlimited quantity of sewage. Indeed the new township residents are singularly fo> funate in having such extensive anil effective resource,s for deodorisation atthoir very doors.—l am, Ngawha.