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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7904, 24 March 1887, Page 4

It will certainly be a difficult matter to assure people's minds as to the parity of our water supply when they see so many fearful nuisances being accumulated on and around the gathering ground, some of the worst of them on the very scoria land whioh undoubtedly forms the drainage area, The cemetery referred to by Mr. Pond is one of the great dangers, and another is undoubtedly the boilingdown establishment on the Mount Roskill Road. Several persons spoke to us on this subject yesterday, after reading Mr. Pond's report. The stench emitted from this boiling-down establishment is very bad, and extends for miles around. The residents sometimes for days and nights together dare not open their windows; and even with doing all they can the smell penetrates everywhere, at their meals, and in their bedrooms. It seems absurd that people should go out to Mount Roskill or Mount Albert districts for fresh air, enduring the many inconveniences attaching to a residence at a distance from town, and then be subjected to poisonous smells, which they would not have to endure in Queen-street. "We understand that a petition is being signed in the district, praying the local authorities to take steps to get quit of this boilingdown establishment as a most injurious nuisance to the neighbourhood. Leaving aside the dreadful nuisance which this boiling-down establishment is to tho neighbourhood, all the citizens of Auckland have a close interest in the question whether or not it affects the Western Springs. We can easily believe that a place, having copious and offensive drainage, may be within but a short distance of the springs and yet not drain into them. Such places may be situated on the clay formation, and the drainage may be cut off by a watercourse. But the boiling-down establishment stands on the scoria, and it seems to us that no power can, sooner or later, prevent the drainage from flowing into the lava stream through which the Western Springs filter. A settler on the Mount Roskill Road writes to us in very strong terms as to the nuisance, and we think the Council should cause some inquiry to be made into the matter. Our correspondent says:—"All the dead beasts of the whole country are carted here and thrown out in the scoria enclosure, there to be eaten by pigs, and the putrid offal to be washed away through the scoria. The Mount Roskill Board are about to allow a butcher to establish private abattoirs, which will likely be as great a nuisance." We quite admit that there is great difficulty in this matter. Around a large city like Auckland there must be establishments in which businesses of an uncleanly nature are carried on. But it is a great misfortune when, as seems to be the case with Auckland, these are concentrated about the source of its water supply.