MAYORS AT VARIANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 12

MAYORS AT VARIANCE

TREATING LAKE WATER COPPER SULPHATE'S EFFECT SOME BRISK INTERCHANGES "I do not think you know what you are talking'about," said the chairman of the North Shore Water Board, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, Mayor of Devonport, at a meeting of the board last evening when Mr. J. Guiniven, Mayo;r of Takapuna, declared that the seven tons of copper sulphate used for treating Lake Pupuke was excessive. The cost of the treatment was about £SOO, including £157 for the copper sulphate, £278 for wages and other items, and £42 for supervision. N "Altogether too much copper sulphate was used and many fish were killed," said Mr. Guiniven. "I only saw two little fish which succumbed, and they must have come directly under the spray," retorted Mr. Meikle. The amount of copper sulphate was calculated after complete tests had been carried out. Only sufficient to kill the protozoa which caused the orlour in the water supply was applied and very few fish indeed were killed.

Talk About Sharks Mr. Guiniven: There was enough to kill all the grey nutue sharks in Rangitoto Channel. Mr. Meikle: It is a wonder you have not been killed. Mr. Guiniven: You see, I do not drink the water. The Mayor of Northcote, Mr. R. Martin, said that even if the amount of copper sulphate was more than necessary, which he did not think was the case, the end justified the means. The water had been vastly improved as a result and there had been no complaints in his borough regarding the odour of the water for four weeks. "It was the exceptional rainfall which caused the improvement," said Mr. Guiniven. Mr. Meikle: Rain does not improve the lake; it brings down the filth from your watershed. When Mr. Guiniven proceeded to criticise the treatment of the lake again the chairman rose to his feet and called, "Order! Order! If you have any petty grievances keep them until later, when general business is being discussed." The report on the copper sulphating presented by the engineer to the Devonport Borough Council, Sir. A. E. Griffiths, was adopted, Mr. Guiniven dissenting from the motion. North Shore's "Blue Bath" Reference to the lake continued to be made by Mr. Guiniven, who said it could compete with the blue baths at Rotorua. When the purchase of a launch, which would be available if further copper-sulphating was required at any future time, was being discussed, ,he suggested that the disused 'ferry Condor might be obtained cheaply from the Devonport Steam Ferry Company. 7 It was decided to make monthly tests of the lake water so that remedial measures could, be undertaken if signs of a recurrence of the trouble were noted. It was also decided to obtain a launch if one could be bought cheaply. "One never knows when the protozoa, nuisance will develop again and we should be prepared .to take steps to copper sulphate the lake again," said Mr. Meikle. With the apparatus that was now available the cost of another treatment would probably be only 50 per cent of the previous expenditure. Appreciation of the assistance given by the Government analyst, Mr. K. M. Griffin, was expressed.