DRAINING INTO TUB HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 3

DRAINING INTO TUB HARBOUR.

Sir, —Perhaps iu is not to much want of interest in public affaire that we suffer from but rather a feeling "of'utter holplossnesn ■, to " stem the tide," and prevent grave mistakes being made in the expenditure of public funds. The drainage from Paul's Bay ■ may proYO to bo one of "those expensive* blunders, It will make but little difference 0110 way or the other to the present councillors, but if the harbour continues to bo polluted it will bo a great injustice to the rising generation, who are now too young to raise a protest. When the tide is going out the drainage from the current near the ■ bay will rush out to sea. Whon the tide is coining in the drain, deposit will rush in, and cover the seashore with black slimo, as . ,fj it has been doing ever since drains have .*• emptied into and spoiled our bathing places. ' > f Typhoid and plague and a big tax to build "a rat-proof wall will bo tho .heritage wo .shall leave to our girls and boys. Ask any boating man what the stench "like at tho yacht moorings when it .. jis raining heavily, and, the drains being flushed, meet the sea water with great lorce {ono pities the man who gets an ' accidental dipping there), and - evidently the deposit ■ docs not stay in one plade, but impartially spreads itself over the whole foreshore. ■ People do not dare to bathe anywhere oil * this side now, till reaching Kohnnur.uiva and St.. Holiers. And now, as a ; last straw, these places are to be taken. By the way— • ' the Maoris are, of course, of no consequent.. I notice that the o 1100; lovely little bit ol shelly beach at their point has already boon appropriated for Mr. Go!die's logs. If some . of the older people would go . in. for : swim- \ * ming, diving, etc., they would know ' that the sparkling blue water of tho Waitemata, ,5' when left to nature, gives people health ami renewed vigour, cures rheumatism, prevent* baldness, and strengthens tho sight, midi cures a great many other ills, too numerous ,to mention.' The Councils 'and Harbour . * Board might also try to remember tint tho channel is our best front rOad, "a thing of beauty, a joy for over," and should be kept smart, and clean ; along each shore.*. ■ j„ Would a householder bring the refuse of-tho back yard to his croquet lawn and "avenuo entrance? More probably he would lake it as far as possible from oven his back door; and that "is exactly what the people of Auckland .should sue is done with the city | drains and refuse. •As tho schcmo for doing -this is not original, and- as it works well in other countries, no doubt.the engineers and other scientific men in Auckland know how it could.be worked, and their opinions - would ho gratefully received, by the publio 't-» in general, who have as much right to be - consulted upon a matter of such importance ! t to pubiio health and happiness as the mere - handful of men who are ; going .to,. eettle the matter. 5 . < ■ < s 4*. Yachtsman. 1 •