THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914. AUCKLAND'S DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15549, 5 March 1914, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914. AUCKLAND'S DRAINAGE.

Auckland can justly pride itself on the civic undertakings of the past dozen years. Among the improvements of that period none were so essential as the abundant water supply, which relieved the city from the annually recurring danger of a water famine, and the great drainage scheme now nearing completion. In the past four and a-half years the expenditure on drainage has totalled £370,000; the works at Orakei are to be officially opened this month; when another £100,000 has been expended Auckland city and suburbs will reap the full benefit of the largest drainage undertaking ever carried through in New Zealand. The experience of early Auckland gave atopic evidence of the need for effective drainage, but few of the Aucklanders of even twenty years ago foresaw the great expansion which ultimately compelled the abandonment of half measures, and made the citizens of Greater Auckland decide to purchase health at a cost of half-a-mil-lion pounds sterling. At the time the scheme, though backed by the best engineering advice, was subjected to considerable criticism. One material alteration was made; the Greater Auckland which constitutes the reticulation area was not, as urged by representative citizens and advised by the consulting engineer, formed into one great municipality. Auckland has not yet fully realised the gravity of the mistake then made. In municipal government citizens submit as cheerfully to-day to the inefficiency and waste resulting from artificial divisions as they did a-quarter of a century ago to the loss of health and life caused by the primitive conditions then existing. A magnificent opportunity for the creation of a Greater Auckland was lost when the Drainage Board was formed; but with this single exception Aucklanders can look back with satisfaction upon every step taken in furtherance of the drainage scheme. Prior to the formation of the Drainage Board local jealousies and conflicting interests threatened to defeat the object aimed at, but since the com- > promise was arrived at and the con- ! trolling authority was constituted by statute representatives of all i interested districts have worked har--1 moniouslj for . a common purpose.

The Drainage Board has unquestionably done great service to the community. On its institution it was the successful rival to a Greater Auckland Municipal Council; its five years' work might with safety be quoted to-day as an example of what the co-operative control of all p- blic services could do for the wide area known to every citizen as Auckland, but officially designated by many names and indifferently served by many local authorities.

Among the influences which forced Auckland to enter upon a great drainage undertaking was the insistence of the Harbour Board that the pollution of the inner harbour must cease. Millions would have been required to carry the sewage out to the ocean on the western side of the peninsula. The services of highly skilled sanitary engineers were procured, and on their advice it was considered safe and practicable to empty the drains into the Hauraki Gulf at high tide. This necessitated the erection of the huge storage tanks which are to be officially opened three weeks hence. A few years ago it was questioned whether this method of discharge would save the harbour from pollution, but the weight of expert opinion and the results of practical tests have effectually silenced the amateur criticism to which the scheme was subjected on its presentation. The outflow is nearly a-quarter of a mile from the tanks; it is 30ft below high water; it will be closed for half of every day and open only on outgoing tides; tests made by the harbour engineer have satisfied the board that the cleanliness of the inner harbour is not threatened; lastly if experience proves the best available advice to be at fault the sewer can be extended further along the seabed without great difficulty. There are, however, the best reasons for anticipating that the scheme will fulfil all expectations. It provides not merely for the immediate needs of Auckland and suburbs, but for three times the present population. On the initiation of the proposal this was considered a great step; it was described by the Mayor of the day when the first sod was cut as "a bold scheme;" to-day it may be doubted whether Auckland has not again erred on the side of caution.

As a reward for the half million to be spent on drainage Auckland has already gained much, and will gain more in the future, in increasing health and a falling death-rate. With a good water supply in summer as in winter there can he no reason, on the completion of the scheme, for the continuance in any district served by the sewers of the barbaric sanitary methods which have recently aroused much bitter feeling in some of the suburbs of Auckland. Objection has reasonably been taken to any suburb making a dumping ground of a neighbouring district. When the reticulation is complete this objection will be irresistible. Nothing should satisfy the citizens but the compulsory connection within reasonable time of every house within the drainage area. In the city this should be simplicity itself; in the suburbs where water is bought, and sometimes sold, by the gallon such a course will doubtless be considered drastic. The remedy is easy. Every suburb by amalgamating with the city can share in all the city's services, and thus extend to residents the advantages of the free use of water. If suburban residents prefer the more costly method of purchasing water by meter, which is one of the disadvantages of separation from the city, they should not be permitted to put this forward as a plea for failure to fall in with a general scheme of compulsory drainage. This is the purpose for which the drains were intended, and care should be taken to see that their use is not limited, to the detriment of the health of the whole community.