DRAINAGE BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20424, 28 November 1929, Page 9

DRAINAGE BOARD.

PEDESTRIANS ON SEWER. THE ARCHHILL GULLY. The common practice of using the main sewer in llobson Bay as a footway was tbe subject of a letter from tho assistant engineer of tho Public Works Department, Auckland, which was discussed at a meeting of tlie Auckland and Suburban Drainago Board last evening. Tho leltersuggosted that a light ramped footpath should be placed on the right side of the sower toward Orakei to enable pedestrians io cross under the railway bridge. The engineer forwarded a plan of the proposed work. The acting-engineer to tho board reported having advised the Public Works Department that the board had always objected to the public using the main sewer as a footpath across the bay and in the past had endeavoured to prevent traffic by erecting fences. Apart ifrom any liability that might bo incurred by the board in ease of accident, traffic had an injurious effect on the sower, and ho was consequently not prepared to report favourably on the proposal. The action of the acting-engineer was confirmed, Mr. G. Baildon remarking that the sewer was never meant as a footway. An inquiry was received from the medical officer of health as to what action was being taken by the board to ensure that Archhill gully, particularly the portion which- adjoined school property, was kept in a sanitary condition. Tho letter stated that spraying with some light oil would help to deal with the. mosquito problem. Tho acting-engineer reported that he had advised the medical officer that the watercourse In question had for some years past been given special attention with a view to effecting sanitary improvement. In recent years four of the board's workmen had spent more than half their time removing slips, clearing blockages, cutting willows and other growths from the banks-of the creek, improving the gradient with a view to the removal of stagnant pools and generally maintaining the watercourse. The acting-engineer had stated that it was not practicable to prevent entirely the formation of pools which became stagnant in dry weather, owing to the inverts of some existing culverts being higher than the bed of the adjoining watercourse. He said that spraying with light oil could be carried out when necessary. The maintenance of the watercourse in a satisfactory condition was a difficult, as well as an expensive, task and although the responsibility in the matter rested on adjoining propertyowners the task was rendered more difficult by residents depositing household rubbish and hedge-clippings io tho watercourse. The boys attending the school were by no means blameless in that respect. A contribution of £5 5s was made to the fund for the maintenance of the Plunket Society Nursing Service.