THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE TOWN.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 182, 27 May 1896, Page 2

THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE TOWN.

IjirOIITANT Resoxutions. At Thursday's nieeeting of the Town Board sanitary matters occupied considerable attention. Various letters and telegrams which had passed between the Board and Messrs Percy Smith and Mueller in reference to the conversion of the Boards paddock into a sewage farm by the lessees were read and commented on. It appeared from these that the holders of the lease were willing to surrender it on condition that other lane! was granted. Two petitions ■were also read, signed by European and Maori residents, respectively, asking that the Board should intervene to prevent the work from going on. In reference to the Maori petition Mr Dansey stated that consequent on a conversation with the chief, Petera Puliuatua, there was every reason to suppose that the petitioners had been misinformed as to the intentions of the lessees. Petera had distinctly told him that the natives had been led to believe that it was the intention of the manager of the Grand Hotel to lay a pipe from the hotel to the banks of the creek and pour out all the refuse matter into the stream. He (Mr Dansey) told Petera that the lessee would lay the refuse on the ground and cover it up. Petera went away perfectly satisfied, saying that if it was to be used simply for manure it would not harm the creek. Mr Mueller stated that Mr Rein's brother had come to him in Auckland slating, that the waters of the creek were about to bo polluted by the action of the Grand Hotel people, and if it was allowed to go on his brother would be driven from his section. He told him that lie would ma'<o enquiries and wired accordingly to Mr Malfroy. He subsequently saw Mr Reid again when the latter undertook to sco Messrs Nathan and Co. and get them to surrender the lease. He would suggest that they now leave it to the Messrs Nathans' option whether they proceeded with the lease or not, but stating that there were strong objections to their going on with their project, and also that the Board would set apart a piece of land where all the Sewage of the town would be convoyed and dealt with. Mr Brent; said there was a clause in the conditions against the keeping of pigs. Now, they all knew there was a strong objection to that. Mr Dansoy stated that tho Board of Health regulations defined the limits within which pig.", should not bo kept. Tho ground in question was outside these limits. If they objected to the keeping

lof pigs on these rural sections it would interfere unwarrantably with every settler I in the place.

Mr Malfroy thought it would be foolish for the lessees to fly in the face of the petition. If they decided to deposit the sewage tli ere it would cause endless trouble as it would have to be carried out on the best and most approved system. Mr Dansey thought it was not for the Board to ask them to give up the lease, it was for the lessees to offer to surrender. Dr Grinders stated that something must be done and that speedily with the sowage of these large hotels. He had inspected the cess-pit of the Palace Hotel that day. It was in a. positively dangerous condition with a green scum over the surface, and discharging a highly noxious gas. It was in a state of fermentation. Mr Mueller: Ami to understand that the Board has given any special concession in this lease ? Mr Malfroy: Certainly not. Mr Mueller : Very well ; give the lessees notice that the Board has decided not to allow the ground to be used for sewage. After some further discussion in regard to the letter from Mr Boulton, read at a previous meeting, it was decided to inform the lessees that the Board cannot guarantee non-interference with the intention of turning i]\a paddock into ft sewage farm; that the Beard could only lease to them under the same restrictions as set forth in the original lease, and in every respect they would be subject to the Board of Health regulations : in face of the opposition raised they viewed the project with disfavor and would point out that a site had been selected for the deposit of sewage matter which eveiy householder in the town would be eventually compelled to use. M'r Mueller stated that n peremptory telegram should be at once sent in reference to the gazetting of the Board of Health bye-laws. At a later stage in the proceedings Mr Mueller stated that he had gone into the question of drainage and sewage with Mr Malfroy and they had arrived at the conelusion that a deep system ot sewers was out of the question. The ground was too low, and, besides, it could uot be effected without poisoning the Late. The whole business would have to be taken in hand some day as had been done in Christ.church but what they bad to arrive at now was how to deal with it here for the next few years, It would be best to divide the problem into two parts : (1) How to deal with the slop and surface water ; (2) how to dispose of the night soil. In regard to the first he would suggest that concrete channels should be constructed of a V shape and as smooth as possible, so that they could bo periodically flushed out with the plentiful supply of water they had at their command. He considered that flushing at short intervals better than a constant stream trickling down at the same level. Periodical flushing could bo effected by cisterns at. the head of the channels emptying themselves automatically as the water flowing in reached a certain level. One channel should be made on the western side of Tutanekai-st reaching from Eruera-st, to Arawa-st and another in Fenton-st between the same points r. then down Ai - awa-st to Hinemaru-st and thence to the lake. This would be away from tne wharf and in an out of the way position. There would bo another outlet into the lake by Erucra-st at the the back of Mr Brent's sections. The channels would be open but covered at the intersections of streets. This would necessitate the construction of 114 chains of concrete channeling at an estimated cost of £BSi3 or including crossings and with the arrangements for flushing £O6O. If this was agreeable to members ho would ask for some one to move accordin gl v. Mr Malfroy moved—"that the Government be informed that in order to meet the absolutely necessary requirements to put. the town in a sanitary condition the construction of 114 chains of channelling be begun forthwith at an estimated cost of£9oo and that the Board respectfully submit that unless this sum is granted for the purpose, the Board must decline all responsibility in connection with the sanitary state of Rotorua for the current year. Mr Mueller remarked that it was a case of the Government giving the money or assuming the responsibility. Mr Brent seconded and the motion was carried. Mr Mueller stated that with the Chairman ho had gone in search of ground most suitable for a night soil depot. Tin's had been found along the MaVetu road, near the Puarenga stream but not on its banks. There was sufficient area of dry ground there between the Makof.u road and the lake but a considerable distance from the latter. The idea would be for the Board to run a trench there, say, six feet wide. As the nightsoil was emptied in it could be covered up and when one trench was filled another could be opened. In a certain time the fertilised earth could be taken away and used for manure. With a carefully drawn up set of regulations and an inspector of nuisances worth anything at all, everything would bo satisfactory. The whole of the sewage transport would, of course, bo under the control of the Board and a rate struck for doing the work which everyone would have to pay. Earth closets would, of course, be used, and proper pans provided. Ho thought this would meet the difficulty. Mr Dansey agreed with everything that had been advanced. He would only ask if the trenches could not be dug forthwith and the work commenced at onee. The cost and description of plant should also be ascertained. Mr Mueller said that the first thing to be done was to have the bye-laws gazetted. In the meantime ho would procure for them particulars as to how the night system was earned on elsewhere, along with the cost and description of the best appliances. Mr Dansey then moved that 60 acres near the Cemetery reserve be set apart as a nightsoil depot and that the Chairman be authorised to make the reserve available for immediate use. This was seconded by Mr Malfroy and carried.