EDENDALE DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19060, 3 July 1925, Page 10

EDENDALE DRAINAGE.

THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISION. RESULT NOW AWAITED, POSITION OF MOUNT ALBERT. Tho present position in regard to the drainngo schcmo for obviating tho recurring floods in tho Edendale district was explained by Mr. L. E. Rhode.-,, Alayor of Mount Albert, yesterday. Mr. .Rhodes said tho present delay was due to tho failure of tho Mount Eden and Mount Albert Borough Councils to agree upon the scheme to bo adopted. The Mount Eden Council desired a combined sewerago and stormwater drainage scheme, whereas tho Mount Albert Council desired two separate systems for sewerage and storm water. Being unablo to come to any agreement tho two councils had decided to appoint an arbitrator to decide upon tho more suitable system and allocate tho cost between them. Mr. H. 11. Watkins, engineer to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, had been chosen as arbitrator, and both councils had agreed to abido by his decision. , " Mr. Watkins has had tho two schemes before him for some time, and has been going fully into the question," said Mr. Rhodes. " His task should soon be finished and wo are, in fact, expecting his decision from day to day. In the meantime there is nothing that can be done to give immediate relief to the residents. " Mount Albert is prepared to act ps soon as tho decision is mado known," Mr. Rhodes continued. "Wo have hail the money available for some time, and there ' will bo no delay. " For the present the two boroughs are doing all that they can, and we aro quite alive to the position," he concluded. Tho flood waters at Edendale receded very little yesterday in spite of the more favourable conditions. It is doubtful if there will be any material relief until the spring unless a dry spell sets in. With each succeeding downpour the already saturated soil becomes moro waterlogged and there is little outlet, except by soakage, for tho flood waters.