WATERFRONT TIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 14

WATERFRONT TIP

REMOVING OBJECTIONS ] ACTION BY THE MAYOR v SELECTION OF NEW SITE AN AREA NEAR THE ZOO The fact that steps had been taken for the permanent elimination of the nuisance arising from the operation of the' Hobson Bay rubbish tip was reported to the City Council last night by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. The problem of this tip was one ■which had exercised his mind for some considerable time, said Mr. Davis. Although instructions were given to have the noxicAis smell abated, the trouble was too deep rooted to be removed merely by the addition of covering material to the refuse itself. The trouble arose mainly through the face of the tip being bounded by water, which was impounded by a boundary embankment, and through the opening for the in and out flow of the tide being rather restricted. The consequence had been that the water in the impounded area had become stagnant. Another contributory factor had been insufficient covering of the deposited refuse. The stagnant water would be cleared up by deepening and widening the opening, and he had giveD instructions for the tip itself to be closed to the depositing of rubbish other than inorganic waste. A Close Supervision

Mr. Davis added that any household refuse or other refuse, which might cause a nuisance, and which could not be-'dealt with at the destructor, would be tipped and covered on dry ground on an isthmus area owned by the City Council immediately north-west of the Zoo. Under the method of covering to be adopted, nitrification would result, and a. variety of humus would be fohned. Moreover, arrangements had been made for the chief sanitary inspector, in the performance of his statutory duties, to maintain a close supervision over the refuse dumps. Rubbish Well Covered

The Mayor thanked the medical officer of Health, Dr. T. J. Hughes, for his assistance in this matter. Mr. P. Carr asked whether the new ~ tip would not be the cause of an offence to the residents of Westmere. The Mayor said he had been advised that there would be no nuisance as the rubbish was to be put on dry land and « well covered. If it so happened that, an V» offence was caused he would take im- .* mediate steps to remedy it. ■I Dr. Hughes, who was present at the "v invitation of the Mayor, said that with the assurance that sufficient covering sj* would be provided this tip would occa- % s ion no trouble. To his mind no more suitable site for such a tip could be $ found in the city area. It should serve its purpose for some considerable time. £ The Mayor's report was adopted and '4 he was thanked for his action. - 1 WORKERS' DWELLINGS

GREY LYNN PROPERTIES FEW HELD BY BUYERS • ■ > A report that, of the 65 workers' dwellings erected by. the City Council at Grey Lynn, and sold, only seven still remain in the hands of the purchasers, or their transferees, was received from the Property Committee at a meeting of the council last night. The committee stated that it had decided to arrange for the titles of the remaining 58 properties to be reconveyed to the council as mortgagee. It was anticipated that the stamp duty, costs and disbursements in connection with this would amount to about £I2OO, and the committee recommended that this amount should be placed on the next estimates. "The original owners or their transferees of the 58 properties mentioned have surrendered their interest in their properties back to the council, and when the council is shown on the title as the owner, the old balances of interest and principal owing for these properties can be cleared up, and the position properly adjusted as far as tho books of the council are concerned." the committee's report added. The report was adopted. COMMUNITY LIGHTING SYMONDS STREET PLAN APPROVAL OF COUNCIL

•A community lighting scheme pro--4 posed by the Symonds Street Business « Association was approved by the City Council last night, on terms outlined by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler. I Mr. Tyler said that in the case of the community lighting recently com- ;> pleted in Customs Street East the ' council gave its approval and the Auck--4 land Electric-Power Board was advised, it being understood that tho association would be responsible for the col- . lection of al! costs incurred in connection with the installation and mainj tena'nee of the scheme, and pay them to the council. He recommended that the Symonds Street proposal should be approved on the same terms. The council adopted the report.

MAINTENANCE COSTS % ; n ROADS IN WAITAKERES ■-> f t - The Waitemata County Council is to be advised that in the opinion of the City Council it is not complying with the /spirit of the agreement entered into nearly two years ago under which the county was to maintain the roads traversing the city council's property in the Waitakere Ranges. The City Council decided last night to take this action following the presentation by the waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, of a report in which he stated that the county had been doing practically nothing to maintain these roads. EXTENSION OF LEASES "VICTORIA PARK AREA In response to a request that the various leases comprising the Victoria Park . area should bo renewed or extended for the greatest possible term, the Auckland Harbour Board notified the City Council last night that it would accept surrender of the leases and issue hew leases for the balance of the term of the existing leases (16 years), with the right of renewal for a further 34 years, making 50 years in all. This offer was made at the existing rentals, which amount to about £660 annually; . This wag referred to the Finance Committee for a report.