THE MECHANICS' BAY NUISANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 6

THE MECHANICS' BAY NUISANCE.

OFFER BY THE RAILWAY DE-

PARTMENT.

DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

Tiif, Mechanics' Bay nuisance was again under discussion at last night meeting of the City Council, at which a letter was read from the district engineer for railways (.Mr. C. H. Biss) forwarding details under which the Department would grant the Council the right to occupy certain land at Mechanics' Bay oil a month-to-month tenancy, terminable on one month notice, to be used as a tip for house refuse, rubbish, and waste matter. The conditions provided that all refuse or rubbish should be tipped so as to bring the final surface not more than 2ft above high water spring tide, the upper foot of the deposit, to be composed of street sweepings and other non-putresciblo materials only. Dry paper and dry straw or other readily-inflammable substance would have to be completely burnt, ami then only m small heaps, and 110 rag-pickers or .suchlike persons would be- allowed at the tip. The Council would be expected to appoint a tip-keeper to see that the provisions were carried out, and that odorous refuse was at once covered up when deposited, a supply of .suitable clean earth to bo kept for the purpose. The letter also stated that- floating garbage and other refuse would have to be retained in the vicinity of the tip. and prevented from being dispersed by tidal action, this to be effected by the use of screens of galvanised iron wire-netting of suitable mesh, kept in position by .stakes, and moved from time to time, as necessary, to suit the advance of the tilling. The Mayor moved. "That the letter be referred to the Streets Committee."

Mr. G. Knight reported what took place at- the interview with the Premier on Monday last, and stated that Mr. Seddon had endeavoured to throw all the responsibility on the. Council, and had shown 110 inclination to agree to the request to have the intake filled in.

-Mr. C. J. Parr said the Council could not allow matters to rest, as they were. Although tho tip was not- the cause of the miisauce, it undoubtedly accentuated the nuisance. Surely another tip could he found somewhere -until the destructor was completed. He moved as an amendment, that the Streets Committee be instructed to make some other provision for the disposal of the refuse until the destructor is erected.

Mr. M. Casey seconded the amendment. The Mayor said that at- his request Dr. Frenglov, district health officer, had consented to accompany the city engineer and .Mr. Casey on a visit. to some of the places referred to by Mr. Casey as being suitable for a tip. In the meantime ho did not think it would be advisable to pass Mr. Parr's proposition. The Streets Committee was quite agreeable to remove the tip if another suitable sit© could be found. The nuisance, as ho had said previously, bad existed for a long period, and if they ceased depositing rubbish there the nuisance would remain until the whole area was reclaimed. The duplication of the railway line to Penrose would necessitate either the widening of the present- tunnel or the piercing of another tunnel, and the earth from this should be nearly sufficient to till in the intake. The Streets Committee, if the matter was referred to them, would use every endeavour to arrive at a satisi'actoiy .solution cf the difficulty. Mr. Parr's amendment was negatived, tho mover and seconder Mono supporting it. The Mayor's motion, to refer the Kailway Department's letter to tho Streets Committee, was then carried.