SURREY HILLS DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11540, 27 November 1900, Page 3

SURREY HILLS DRAINAGE.

DISCUSSION AT THE GREY LYNN BOROUGH COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council last night, Mr. H. H. Metcalfe, C.E., submitted an exhaustive report upon and plans for a main gully drain for Surrey Hills. The estimated cost of the entire scheme was £2729, allowing 15 per cent, for contingencies such as engineering and supervision. If carried out according to the report, it would be capable of carrying away the entire liquid drainage of the area. The total length of the piping was put down at 6400 ft. The Mayor thought the time had arrived when, if they wished to keep pace with requirements, this important question should be considered. It was most urgent that this large area should be put into a sanitary condition. Ha thought that a l|d rate at the most would meet the whole question. He hoped the Council would put their shoulders to the wheel and carry the matter through. Mr. Ambury objected to the report and plan, on the grounds that in them no provision was made for touching the Sussex Ward. As far as draining the borough was concerned, both, were misleading. . They only provided for one main drain. There were several gullies in the Sussex Ward which would have to be drained, and there was no provision made beyond a sewer to bo carried up to meet the drain. The Mayor explained that Mr. Metcalfe had only been asked to deal with a portion of 'the drainage. There had been no intention that any portion should be overlooked. He himself had gone over the ground with the engineer. Tbe scheme was merely for a main gully drainage, and that was what Mi. Metcalfe had reported upon. Mr. Far roll said that Mr. Ambury had neglected to see by the plan that side gullies wore provided for, and the direction given for the drains required. Mr. Brown thought that the report was not as complete a one as the Council had intended to obtain. He considered the estimate of cost was misleading, and that £6700 would not cover the scheme when the connections were made according to the plan. Mr. Priestley concurred. Mr. Ambury said he did not object to the plan so far as it went, but the Council ought to know' what expense they would be put to to connect tho gullies with the main sewer. Though provision was made for three gullies in Sussex Ward, no cost was stated. The Mayor pointed out that the report and plan only covered a portion of a whole. They dealt with a main drain for an area with a population of 10,000. Mr. Ambury said that the gullies into which the drainage was to go should be drained. The engineer should have been shown these gullies. The Mayor stated that he had spent five hours with Mr. Metcalfe in going over the ground, and the latter gentleman had taken several days afterwards in" preparing his report and estimate. Mr. Brown said that it had been implied by the Mayor that this plan was to cover the drainage of the whole borough. This was not even a plan of the gully drainage, and not what he had expected for the fee paid. . The Mayor said he had not meant to imply that the plan would cover more than it did. He thought the councillors instead of criticising the work of the engineer so adversely should consider that he had done excellent work. When a plan for complete drainage was required the present one would be serviceable, .