THE DRAINAGE WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15567, 26 March 1914, Page 9

THE DRAINAGE WORKS

OPENING CEREMONY. A GREAT UNDERTAKING. DOMINION'S LARGEST SCHEME. SPEECHES BY THE MAYOR AND MINISTER. An important ceremony took place yesterday afternoon, when the new sewerage works at Orakei, by means of which Auckland and suburbs are shortly to have available a complete drainage system, were formally opened by the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr). In spite of unpropitious weather the steamer Peregrine carried guests numbering between 400 and 500 to Orakei. Those present included the Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Minister for Public Health), the Mayor and Mis. Parr, members of the City Council, local members of Parliament, Mayors of suburban boroughs and their wives, chairmen of road boards, and a number of other representative citizens. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Fraser, Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., and Mr. J. H. Gunson (chairman of the Harbour Board). The ceremony took place in the main building connected with the outfall works. The building was decorated with bunting for the occasion.

History of the Project.

The Mayor, in his opening remarks, said that the work inaugurated that day was the largest ,and most important municipal enterprise that the City of Auckland had yet ventured upon. The main intercepting sewer and the outfall had been completed at a cost of close upon £400,000, and the sewage would now be precipitated into the deep waters at Okahu Point. In tracing the history of the project, he said that in 1903 the Auckland Harbour Board decided to stop the system whereby sewage polluted the shores of the harbour, and the City Council was thus confronted with the necessity of providing means for the disposal of the sewage. The present scheme was not inaugurated without due deliberation. In 1903 Mr. Mestayer, of Wellington, prepared a scheme by which it was proposed to, make the outfall at Cox's Creek. This involved a system of septic tanks.

Advice from England

So much doubt, was then cast upon this scheme that the then Mayor (Hon. E. Mitchelson) was persuaded to obtain the best opinion in the United Kingdom on the question. Mr Midgley Taylor, who was in the forefront as a sewerage engineer in London, was brought out here at considerable expense, and on his advice it was decided to. abandon Mr. Mestayer's scheme altogether and to take the sewage down stream instead of up stream. This idea was the essence of Mr. Taylor's report, and was. the engineer pointed out, the most natural way to treat the sewage. Prior to Mr. Taylor coming to Auckland, Mr. W. E. Bush was appointed city engineer on account of his special qualifications in regard to sewerage work. Mr. Bush had agreed that Mr. Taylor's scheme was the right one. After going through a mass of evidence and conducting tests with corks, the City Council found no difficulty in accepting the scheme which was now being inaugurated. The opinion expressed that the sewage would come back upon the beaches had by means of the tests proved to be groundless, and the public could rest assured that the idea promulgated a few years ago that the scheme would be a nuisance at Orakei could not j eventuate. (Applause.) Proceeding, the Mayor said that the work, originally the idea of the London engineer, -had been most capably carried out by Mr. Bush. (Applause.) Immense responsibility had rested upon his shoulders. The Mayor paid a tribute to the excellent work done by the various contractors. The sum paid to them ran into over £300,000 and all acknowledged that excellent material had been put into' their i work. '

Looking to the Future.

The Mayor went on to sav that, the scheme catered for 280,000 people. It had been suggested that the scheme, was altogether too small. He pointed out, however, that when 280,000 people settled within the present drainage area Auckland would have a population of half-a-million. Population was going towards the Mannkau. and the people there in the future would have to provide a drainage scheme of their own. The present scheme, however, would hold good until Auckland was populated by half-a-million people. He was one of those who thought that the authorities had looked sufficiently forward m carrying out a scheme that would suffice until the population reached a total of half-a-mi-llion.

Auckland's Low Death-rate.

To-day," proceeded the Mayor, "the death-rate in Auckland is one of the lowest in New Zealand. When the suburbs are all reticulated with the main intercepting • sewer I believe that the death-rate in Auckland will be the lowest in any part of the Dominion. As a healthy city it will be in the forefront of all the 'cities in Australasia. This alone justifies the expenditure on the drainage scheme." (Applause.) r Mr. Parr congratulated the Drainage Board on the completion of its great task He believed that the work could have been done just as efficiently under a Greater Auckland Council, but- he would not go into that issue now. Credit, however wis due to the Drainage Board for making the great scheme an admitted fact. (Applause )

Features of the Scheme.

The city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush) described the machinery and the general working of the drainage scheme, and made reference to the roof of the storage tanks, which would, in the future, provide part of a great esplanade for Auckland. It had been built sufficiently strong to accommodate a double track tramway or a steamroller. The scheme had presented many perplexing problems. The two features which would appeal most to the publ-'c imagination were the outfall sewer laid literally on the bed of the sea, and the long tunnels that had been driven at a grade of only one in 3000 ft in the bowels of the earth so as to intercept the drainage and the numerous gullies that slope towards the Waitemata. It was now possible to walk through a concrete and bricklined tube from these works a distance of nearly seven miles to beyond Meola Creek without rising more than one inch in every

Mr. Bush referred to the confidence leposed in him by the board, and he paid a tribute to the work of hi,' staff, thS con tractors, and also to tire work done by the rank and file '" connection with * the scheme. °

Presentation to the Mayor. On concluding his address, Mr. Bush, on 3 °\, the P rillc 'P a l contractors concerned in the great undertaking and himself, as engineer, presented tie Mayor with a smoker's solid silver cabinet as a memento of the opening ceremony. The cabinet, designed by the engineer, formed the model of a section of the main sewer Un one part was engraved a view of Okahu Hay, showing the works. It was suitably inscribed, and bore the names of the Mayor s colleagues on the Drainage Board and of all the contractors. Mr. Bush also presented the Mayor with a memorandum setting forth the history and general features of the drainage scheme. The Mayor thanked the engineer and contractors for remembering the chairman of the Drainage Board. He recalled the good work done by Mr. A. M. Mvers (the first chairman of the board), and of Messrs. C. Grey and L. J. Bagnall, who succeeded Mr. Myers in the Mayoral chair.* Mr. A. J. Entrican, on behalf of the Harbour Board, after apologising for the absence of Mr. J. H. Gunson; (chairman of the board), tendered his congratulations

to the -Mayor; Drainage Board,- and the citizens of Greater Auckland on the completion of the main sewer. He referred to the fact that the Harbour Board in the past continually urged'upon the City Council the necessity for a comprehensive drainage scheme to prevent the pollution of the harbour. The Harbour Board's action was justified by the completion of the scheme. The board jealously guarded the interests of the harbour, and it was quite satisfied with the scheme. (Applause.) The Mayor welcomed the Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Minister for Public Health), who had come from Wellington to be present at the function.

Address by Hon. R. H. Rhodes

Mr. Rhodes was greeted with a round of applause. He thanked those present for the cordial welcome extended to him. He congratulated Auckland on the completion of its great enterprise, and was glad thai he had an opportunity to learn the history of the great work. The Minister then read the following telegraphic message from the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) :—

Owing to engagements in the South Island, I regret that it will be impossible for me to be present at the official opening of the Auckland and suburban main drainage works. Please express my apologies for unavoidable absence, and also my congratulations upon the completion of. this important work, which redounds to the credit of Auckland's municipal enterprise, and which will prove of tremendous service in safeguarding the sanitation and general health of the city." 9 " To an Auckland audience." continued Mr. Rhodes, " I need not say anvthing of the keen interest which Mr. Massey takes in the city with which he has been so long connected. I have also to add the congratulations to Auckland of all my other colleagues in the Ministry."

"Biggest in the Dominion." Proceeding, the Minister said that the opening of Auckland's drainage works was not only of local interest, but was also of interest to_the rest of the Dominion. Auckland had been the last of the big cities to carry out a big drainage scheme, but it had carried out a bigger and more up-to-date work. Owing to its natural advantages, Auckland had also accomplished a great deal in other direetitns. It was not only the biggest city in New Zealand, but it now had the biggest drainage, system, and had thus removed a stigma attaching to it in the past. (Hear, hear) All recognised that without a satisfactory drainage system the health of a community might be seriously imperilled. The reproach of discharging sewage into the harbour was now removed from Auckland. (Applause.)

Mental Hospital Drainage.

"I notice. Mr. Mayor." he continued, turning to Mr. Parr," '"that you are interested in town-planning and that you desire to do away with the slums and the long straight streets. I hope you will succeed in such schemes- 'As Minister for Public Health, I am glad the drainage scheme has been accomplished, and thus removed the reproach of discharging sewage into the harbour. I am pleased to see by the Herald that the drainage is to be carried to Oakley Creek so as to bring the Auckland Mental Hospital into the scheme. In connection with the Mental Hospital drainage I have promised a contribution for a number of years. Now, Mr. Mayor, I have shown my anxiety to help you. I hope yon will help me by pushing on the drainages to the Mental Hospital." In conclusion, the Minister congratugratulated the Mayor and those who had so ably assisted him in connection with the scheme and he also congratulated Mr. A. Kidd (a former Mayor of the city), who had carried the Drainage Board Authorisation Bill through Parliament. The Minister also paid a high tribute to Mr. Busi Three 'cheers were then given for the Minister, the Mayor, and Mr Bush.

Concluding Ceremonies,

The Mayor turned a valve and the works in the building were started. Mr. Parr then declared the drainage works duly open. After the Mayor had unveiled a stone to commemorate the opening of the works the party returned, to the Poregrine. On board afternoon tea was served , and music was rendered .by Burke's orchestra. After a short cruise in the harbour the Peregrine returned to Auckland shortly after five o'clock, and thus ended an important and historic outing.