THE SEWAGE OUTFALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13701, 18 March 1908, Page 8

THE SEWAGE OUTFALL.

WARNING TO LOCAL BODIES

HARBOUR BOARDS ATTITUDE. ' Thus decision of the Auckland Harbour I Hoard, arrived at, a considerable time ago, , to obtain separate expert, advice on the ; question of the proposed discharge of sew- .- age at Okahu Point was rescinded at yesterday's meeting of the Board, on the motion of Mr. J. B. Macfarlane. The Chairman (the Hon. E. Milchelsou) said that last Friday one or two members had desired some expression of opinion regarding the discharge of drainage from various districts info the harbour. This quesI tion was one which had received great consideration, not only from the Board, but from other boards, and resolutions had been passed prohibiting the discharge of sewage into the harbour. The local bodies concerned had received notice on several occasions that the practice must cease, but the notices were not enforced, because the Board knew that, the City Council was in negotiation with one of the foremost sanitary engineering firms in the world, and it was so large a question and so large mi expenditure was involved, that it was not advisable to take action before. The time had now come, however, when all these local bodies on the south side of the harbour should be notified that unless they took advantage of the opportunity of utilising the main sewer that was to be constructed by the City Council they must take some other meaus than the harbour for disposal of sewage, as it was certain the Board could not allow any local body to.discharge sewage excent at Okahu Point. • Devonport would also have to receive. notice to place its sewage outfall 10ft below low water. Mr. W. J. Napier thought, that no great or permanent injury would be done to the harbour by an outfall at Okahu Point. At the same time, the Board must be very careful about the'tonus and conditions. After discussing whether it would add a motion to the effect that, upon commencement of the work, the suburban authorities should receive notice that the Board would absolutely prohibit discharge of .• sewage, except. at Okahu Pointj the question was left to a sub-committee. , A copy of the resolutions passed on Wednesday last ,by the Drainage Scheme Committee was received from the town clerk (Mr. H. W. Wilson) at last evening's meeting of the Eden Terrace Road Board. On the motion of Mr. E. Wrigley, seconded by Mr W. H. Haslett, it was resolved to adopt the resolutions. Mr. J. U. Browne refrained from voting. There was no discussion on the matter. '