SANITARY MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9461, 4 September 1889, Page 6

SANITARY MATTERS.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS, POX3OXBY.

A meeting of the ratepayers in the Springbank, Oliphrmt-streefc, and Summer-street portion of the Ponsonby Ward was held on Monday evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, to consider the question of the drainage in the gully in the ncis;hbourhooJ of the upper portion of Olipnunt-street. Mr. A. B-oardman was voted to the chair, and Councillors Evans and Swales ■were amongst those present. Plans wore submitted to tbe meeting of the work proposed to be done, and Councillor Evans explained that the cost would exceed £1000, and this would not meet ■with the approval of the Council, £is it was far beyond the means at the disposal of tho ward, which stood at about £500. He paid the engineer had prepared a modified plan showing a cheaper drain, but one equally effective ; and stated thai this could be made at an expense of several hundred pounds, -which v.-or.ld include a one-foot drain-pipe down Oliphant-streot to carry off tho drainage from that thoroughfare. Quite a long discussion took place on the matter, and some of tbe speakers spoke •very warmly on the subject. It was the general opinion of the speakers, both of those living in the vicinity and others not residing in tbe neighbourhood at all, thxt if tbe work were not put in band at once, the gully would be a source of extreoe danger co thQ health of the inhabitants during the approaching warm months of the Batntner. Councillor Swales followed , with a lengthy speech, and said he was prepared to fully support the scheme, ana wished the drain could be extender! to Cox's Creek, if their funds would admit of it ; bat unfortunately they were very limited. He then went on to explain the position of each . ward member. He Baid the members were split up into three committees, and that no two member/? of any one ward ..were allowed on the same committee. For instance, Councillor Evans was on tbe Finance Committee (of which ho .-was chairman), Councillor Cooper on the "Legal Committee, and he (Councillor Swales) was on the Street.- Committee, and lie could asj*are the meeting that the duties attached to each were not only very arduous, but at times most unpleasant. Mr, Adam.-; in a most pathetic manner referred to a great affliction he had been subject to In consequence of what ha considered the neglect of the Council in general to sanitary matters. Messrs. Duke, Beecroffc, and others joined in the discussion. 'A resolution was eventually passed 00 the motion of Mr. Duke, seconded by Mr. Beecroft, approving of the modified plan submitted to the meeting by the ward members, and impressing upon the City Council the imperative necessity of hastening the vork. Other questions were subsequently brought before the meeting. Tho Chairman and other speakers deprecated the proposal to cut up England-street, and upon Councillors Swales and Evans being questioned, they stated that for some •time paet the residents of EnglandBtreet had been urging tliom to get this street re-formed, but the Ward members) and Council did not consider this work one of nece3!fity, henco no doubt , , the can.se of 'dissatiKfaction in this :neighbourhood. A 'long discussion took place on the question of making the culvert through Freeman's Bay to deep water, and ;i motion was passed appealing to the City Council and Harbour Board to lose no time in calling for tenders for the culvert. On the motion of Mr. Adams, a vote of thanks was pawsed to Councillors Evans and Swales for their attendance and general attention to ward matters, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.