THE DUST NUISANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13357, 11 December 1906, Page 6

THE DUST NUISANCE.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES. STRONG RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. LIABILITY OF THE TRAMWAYS COMPANY: Last evening Messrs. E. W. Burton (chairman of One-tree Hill Road Board), W. R. Bloomfield (chairman of Epsom Road Board), and Chas. Barley (chairman of Mount Roskill Road Board) waited upon the Onehunga Borough Council wish regard to the dust nuisance on the main road between Onehunga ami Auckland. The Mayor (Mr. Roue) occupied the chair. . Mr. W. Biyth, as mover of the- resolution calling the conference, spoke strongly as to the dust nuisance on this road. It was absolute purgatory on dry and windy days to have to pass along the tramway route to Auckland, while the damage done and the discomfort suffered were considerable. He was very pleased to see delegates from local bodies present, and with full powers to act. Mr. W. R. Bloomfield expressed dissatisfaction at. the result of the late meeting of local bodies held at the City Council Chambers. The City Council had asked what the Tramways Company would water the roads for, but the position of the outside local bodies was widely different to that of the city. In Auckland shops were built close together, and it was absolutely necessary to have the streets well watered. On the One-tree Hill, Epsom, and Mount Albeit sections the dust, unless on windy days, was only disturbed by the tramcars, every one of which raised clouds 01 dust. This was not so harmful to residents as to the travelling public. Pressure ought, to be brought to bear to get the company to water the centre track, for little trouble would bo caused from the sides of the road. He might explain that his Hoard was in entire sympathy with Onehunga ,in getting the nuisance abated. The Mayor said he was of opinion that the local bodies interested should secure the best legal advice and see if it were possible to make the Tramways Company water their own track. The deed of delegation stated that this track must be maintained to a distance of 18in on either side, and advice should be obtained to see if maintabling this portion of the road did not also include doing away with any nuisance. Mr. Morton} concurred, but thought that, the dust nuisance in this instance could be dealt with by the Board of Health. Mr. C. Bagley was most emphatic in his protest against the company being allowed a monopoly of the best portion of the roads, and then not watering their share of the track. The local bodies should show the. director that they were determined, and should use every endeavour to secure the best possible concession. Mr. E. W. Burton said that he had attended the last meeting at the City Council Chambers, and was quite convinced that the local bodies had nothing to hope for from the Auckland City Council. One would think that the presiding geniuses at that meeting held shares in the Tramways Company. (Laughter.) The Tramways Company really wished to provide a plan to water the roads at the cost of the local bodies. As to the resolutions submitted by the City Council, it was quite clear that no assistance could bo hoped for from that body. It was a piece of "colossal cheek" on the part of Mr. Hansen to expect local bodies to water the streets at their own expense, when the chief complainers and sufferers were Mr. Hansen's own customers, the travelling public. Mr. Burton then moved the following resolutions, which were adopted unanimously: (a) "That, this meeting of local bodies, held at Onehunga, regrets the failure of the City Council in its dealings hitherto to secure proper provision for the carriage of the public, and to provido against the menace to the public health caused by the dust raised by passing tramcars." (b) "That it be an instruction to the delegates of the urban local bodies at the adjourned meeting of the Auckland City Council Chambers to insist upon the dust nuisance raised by the trams being abated by the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, and to join to that end to take legal steps to test the question, and, failing success, to appeal to the Legislature." It was all very well for Mr. Hansen to write long letters to the papers, but anyone could see that this was only "done to "gain time. The overcrowding and dust nuisances must both be put an end to. • •'<• Mr. Bagley then moved: "That the Mayors of Onehunga, Newmarket, and the chairmen of the One-tree Hill, Epsom, and Mount Roskill Road Boards, with" power to add to their number, wait upon the director of tlio Tramways Company, and, if necessary, the Mayor of Onehunga, to convene a meeting at any time to discuss tramway matters."

Messrs. Blyth, Skinner, Osborne, Morton, Barr, and the Mayor spoke strongly in favour of concerted action, after which it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Bagley, to adjourn the meeting until eight p.m. "next Monday. MR. P. A. VAILE'S REPLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL. Mr. P. A. Vaile has sent the following answer to the City Council's reply to his first communication, and has put the whole matter of the employment of street refuse as binding for our roads, before Dr. Frengleg, the district health officer: — "Auckland, December 8, 2906. Tho Mayor and Councillors of the city of Auckland. Sirs, —1 note your engineer's memo, re dust nuisance herein, and J observe that it does not. in any particular traverse or contradict the allegations made by me, which it undoubtedly would do were they untrue. Until this is done the ratepayer's will assuredly believe my statements, and youi Council will he considered guilty of wasteful and insanitary conduct. I "was pleased that the letter was dealt with in Council. I was afraid it might, he buried in the Streets Committee, which would have necessitated more letters. Your engineer's memo, on my letter states "The City Council is fully aware of its responsibilities with regard to the roads, and I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by discussing the matter with Mr. Vaile, either in public or in private.' Now, our worthy -Mayor, whenever anything happens, alwavs says that the Council is 'fully aware' and fully alive, nor are these statements gonerally superfluous or convincing. It seems to me somewhat presumptuous of tin- city engineer to speak for the City Council in this matter, especially after staling that flier.' are 50 or 60 miles of . roads in Auckland, and that 'the great proportion of these at the present time, are not what could' be called properly made up.' Verily, lam afraid that the memo, is the memo.' of the city engineer, but that the words are the words of the .Mayor. Since your Council dealt with my letter I have had a ' conference on the subject with Dr. Frenglev the district health officer, who, I have no doubt, will deal with the matter should occasion arise. A modified dust factory is now being laid down in Khyber Pass, but in this case metal dust—instead of street refuseis being largely used. This, except that it is comparatively clean, is just as bad as the street refuse. I shall probably publish statutory declarations of those who saw the street refuse beine used in Symonds-etreet, and in the meantime I challenge the Mayor or any councillor to disprove my allegations. —I am, etc., P. A. Vaile."