EPSOM AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16233, 19 May 1916, Page 6

EPSOM AFFAIRS.

VENTILATION OF SEWERS. RATES FOR COMING YEAR. A meeting of the Epsom Road Board was held last evening. Present—Messrs. M. Frost, chairman, O. E. Hemus, T. Tyne, and H. E. Vaile. A long-standing grievance among Epsom residents was freely discussed in an in* formal way. Of late months many peopla have complained of offensive emanationsfrom sewers in the district, and the board's engineer, Mr. H. H. Metcalfe, attended the meeting to discuss the matter with" members. He suggested that a ventilating shaft should be erected at Newmarket. He was of opinion that this would remedy the defect. He considered that the offensive smells were caused by the Hobson Bay branch ventilating the main outfall sewer by the various branches of the Epsom and One-tree Hill sewer scheme. Mr. Metcalfe 'said he was con,vinced that a ventilating shaft built at Morrow Street would obviate the trouble. He estimated the cost of the work at about £50. No action was taken by the board, pending a conference with the One-tree Hill Road Board and the .Drainage Board. Recently the board raised a sum of £3500 to carry out certain waterworks in a portion of its district.: When the proposal to raise the loan was submitted to the ratepayers the costs incurred in coni nection with the poll were paid out of the loan money. The matter came under the notice of the Controller and Auditor- ; General, who sent several communications ito the board, complaining that the ex- ; pendifpre of loan moneys to pay the costs |of the poll was an illegal procedure. A ! further letter upon the matter was re» ceived from Colonel E. J. Collins last evening. The chairman stated that the" board's solicitors had advised that the procedure of the board was authorised under .Section; 3of the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Id was resolved, however, to refer the question once again -to the board's solicitors. The Onehunga Borough Council wrote drawing attention to the fact that a contract had been lei to drain St. John's Lake, Tamaki. As it was considered that there was every possibility that the wate* supply of the Onehunga springs, which had supplied the Epsom district in the past and might again in the future, was largelydrawn from the lake, the board was asked to co-operate with the council in having the work -stopped,' principally by taking legal steps to secure an injunction. No ' action was taken by the board in the absence of more definite information ;on the matter. * It was resolved, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, that the clerk's salary be fixed at the rate of 30s per week and 5 per cent. commission«on all general rates collected, this amount to cover all necessary office work. Also, that the following rates be struck and levied, for Jhe coming year :—General rate, Id in the £; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rate, %d in the £; Auckland and suburban drainage rate, id in the £ } interest rate, Jd in the £.