CITY DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 940, 7 March 1890, Page 24

CITY DRAINAGE.

The Committee of the City Council appointed \o consider the question of the drainage of the city, presented the following report at the meeting of the Public Works Committee on Monday:—The Committee assume that there is no controversy as to the desirableness of efficiently draining the city, and that the drainage ought to be disposed of so as not to fall into the harbour. The only mode of dis-

posal that commends itself to the Committee is by taking it to Cook Strait. Several engineering questions of the greatest importance will have to be determined. Some of these are—(l) The efficient disposal of the silt. (2) The best plan of reticulation. (3) The best route by which to reach the strait. (4) The supply of water required and that available. (5) The cheapest mode (having regard to due efficiency) of pumping or otherwise conveying the sewage to Cook Strait. (C) The cost of a complete system of drainage as to these two schemes are before the Council, viz., the schemes of Mr Climie and that of Mr Clark. As to the mode of conveying sewage to Cook Strait, several modes of pumping have been laid before the Council, and in addition a m -de of pumping by means of compressed air (Shone’s system) has also been brought to the notice of the Committee.. The questions involved are purely matters for the decision of experts on drainage, and in the opinion of the Committee cannot be properly decided by a committee. The opinion of persons pretending to no skill in hydraulics in general, or sanitary drainage in particular, however well considered and on what materials founded, will not be likely to commend itself to the public, or to inspire confidence in the results. The Committee therefore beg to Jrecommend that a commission be appointed of suck skilled engineers as the Council can procure the services of, to examine the several modes of disposal of sewage pro posed or available, and to take such e\ idence as the commissioners may think proper. The commission to treat the population as likely to increase to 75,000, and to report to the Council. In the event of a scheme being alternately adopted the Committee would suggest that the work, if possible, be executed by tlie Corporation staff, but under the superintendence and control of a consulting engineer. The Committee believe that it will be impossible to drain the city out of revenue, and that a loan for the special purpose will be absolutely necessary. ”