COST OF WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25216, 31 May 1945, Page 6

COST OF WORKS

SEW DRAINAGE BOARD ADOPTION OF ESTIMATES Estimated loan expenditure totalling £46,250 for the current financial period ending March 31, 1946, was shown in a report submitted to a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board yesterday. Because the board came into existence on February 1 last, the period is of 14 months. The amount is estimated to cover the cost of proposed newworks. office expenses, investigations, surveys, engineering, supervision and other charges. Among the expenditure provided for was £IO,OOO for the purchase of the island of Motukorea and investigations, surveys and incidental expenses in connection with the outfall, treatment works and main intercepting sewer works. A sum of £IB,OOO was provided toward the cost of a pumping station and rising main to replace the pumping station No. 3 and the rising main in Ansae Avenue. ' Estimated expenditure in the general account was given as £61,958. I his included £22.926 as appropriations for loan charges. £17,583 for sinking funds and redemptions, and £21,450 as appropriations for maintenance and other expenses. Against this was the sum of £BOSI, being mainly surplus brought forward at February 1. The balance of £53.907 would have to be obtained by levying assessments upon contributing local bodies. The principal assessments were as follows:—Auckland City, £38,504; Mount Eden, £5362; Newmarket, £1140; Mount Albert, £5706; One Tree Hill, £2275; Mount Roskill, £865. _ Much lower assessments were levied in the case of local bodies which were not contributors to the earlier drainage hoard, but which are now within the new board's inner area.

The ostium tax wore adopted. The Devonport Steam Kerry Company, Lid., wrote offering the hoard a further option on the purchase ol Motukorea Island, the option to Ik' for 12 months at L'J per cent on the lised purchase price of COoOO and subject to the company's fight to re-acquire tlie island at the .same figure if the hoard did not proceed with its drainage scheme as contemplated.* On the motion of the chairman, Mr ,J. A. C. Allutn, the hoard agreed to the terms of the option subject to the question whether it could lawfully resell, the property to the company at a fixed price. To a member who asked what the position would be if tlie board had not that right and the company would not therefore offer the option, Mr Allum said the board would have to acquire the island under the Public Works Act.

THE NEW SCHEME "UNINFORMED CRITICS" BOARD'S COUNTER-MEASURE With a view to countering what was described as uninformed criticism the Auckland Drainage Board decided yesterday to prepare _ publicity setting out what it considered to be the true facts about the effects of the proposed new drainage scheme involving an outfall on Motukorea Island. The publicity will be prepared by the chairman, Mr J. A. C. Allum, and the engineer-secretary, Mr H. H. Watkins. Concern was expressed by members at misleading statements which they said were being circulated about the scheme and its effects.

Mr Watkins said that exaggerated statements that huge volumes of sewage, trades wastes and other filth were to he discharged from the outfall had no meaning in themselves, were absolutely untrue, and most misleading to all concerned in the provision of a safe and practicable scheme of main drainage for Auckland. The effluent which would pass from the treatment process on the island would be absolutely clear of any risible particles, equal in appearance to ordinary tap water and rarely distinguishable from the body of sen water into which it was to be discharged. The discharge would be made through scores of nozzles on a group of pipe lines which would provide for the widespread assimilation of the effluent with tlie sea water without causing any of fence to sight or smell or risk to the public health, and without impairing the amenities of the locality or polluting any one of Auckland's beaches.

Sludge, or impurities, deposited in the sedimentation tanks at the treatment works could be satisfactorily dealt with for several years by digestion tanks and drying beds, but it was intended eventually to transfer the sludge to the outer waters of the Hnuraki Gulf by especially-constructed vessels. That method of sludge disposal was extensively practised abroad, notably in London. Manchester and Glasgow.

CLOTHING COUPONS HOUSEHOLD LINEN AND WOOL (O.O.) ,v WELLINGTON. Wednesday The release of the remainder of the clothing and household linen coupons in the current rationing book as from Friday was announced today by the Rationing Controller. Mr A. J. Costelloe.

The coupons now becoming available are the 19 clothing coupons, 60 to 75. and the four wool coupons, numbered 11-14, on sheet 16 of the fourth series ration book, together with the remaining three household linen coupons numbered 10-12 on sheet 15 of the same book. All clothing and wool coupons may be used to purchase wool, clothing and household linen, but household linen coupons are available only for the purchase of the articles of household linen detailed in the book. .

All persons residing on .Tune 1 in hoarding houses, hotels or establishments where they are supplied with linen arc required to hand the three household linen coupons numbers 10-12 to the management immediately, for despatch to the "Rationing Controller not later than the end of .Tune, as an offset against supplies of linen authorised on special permit.