LAKE IN HOBSON BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 10

LAKE IN HOBSON BAY.

FINANCING THE SCHEME. DRAINAGE BOARD'S POSITION. A QUESTION OF LIABILITY. "I desire to correct the erroneous impression which appears to have gained general credence that 1 have recommended, or even favoured, the reclamation of land in Hobson Bay for commercial purposes," said* the engineer-secretary of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, Mr. H, H. Watkins, at last evening's meeting of the board. The deliberations upon which engineers representing the Harbour Board, City Council, Drainage Board and Railway Department had drafted their memorandum to the Harbour Board were restricted to the economical and sanitary aspects of the formation of an artificial lake. The Harbour Board notified that, subject to conditions, details of which appeared in the llebald yesterday, the work of- constructing a temporary artificial lake in Hobson Bay had been approved. Th'e work is to be carried out within the amount of money 011 deposit in the names of the chairmen of the Harbour Board and the Drainage Board. This amounts to £6500, and Mr. Watkins pointed out that the Drainage Board would become involved from the point of view of the influence of the scheme on the stability and maintenance of the length of main sewer in the bay, and the possible contamination of the lake by stormwater discharged into the bay from the board's sewer system. It was unlikely the stability of the main sewer would be affected by the project, but the retention of the waters of the lake at the suggested level would render the main sewer somewhat less easy of access for its inspection and maintenance. There would also be a possibility of the board being required ultimately to provide culverts, involving considerable expenditure, to divert from the lake the flow of large volumes of stormwater discharged into Hobson Bay through overflow chambers on the board's sewer system during heavy rainfalls. It was decided to seek legal advice as to the authority and liabilities of the board with N regard to the suggested financing of the scheme, and the liability in respect of the stormwater culverts. It was stated it would probably be necessary to obtain legislation to validate the expenditure of the sum on deposit.