HUTT SANITATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9784, 6 October 1917, Page 8

HUTT SANITATION

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AN UNSAVOURY DISCUSSION. A special meeting of tho Hurt Borough Council was held last evening to inquire into a charge made by Councillor Kerr concerning tho deposit of nightsoil in tho Hutt river. The Mayor (Mr 11. Baldwin) presided, and Councillors A. J. Hobbs, H. A. Ward, W. Kerr, IV. Cotton, S. Clcndon, J. Brassol, H. Carver, W. GMcldrum, and J. McDougall were also present.

Tho Mayor said, in opening, that the council had not rules of procedure to guide them in a case such as the one to bo inquired into. Tho inquiry was in the nature of a trial. Tho council was the prosecutor, and tho officials concerned tho defendants. It would bo necessary in the circumstances to adopt some method of procedure, and he asked tho council to suggest the form it should take. Councillors disagreed with tho Mayor that tho officials were on their trial, as the subject to ho dealt with by the council was whether tho charges made were true, and. it would bo for the council to say if a trial of officials should take place on tho finding. ■A number of suggestions were made, and, finally, on Councillor McDougall’s motion, it was decided to examine witnesses, and to allow the officials concerned (Mr J. W. Roche, borough engineer, and Mr A. Cometti, foreman of works) to cross-examine •thorn-

Councillor Kerr called tho following witnesses.:

- James Hosie said that he worked for the council for about two years. Mr Cometti informed him tho septic tank was too full, and ho told him to empty the nightsoil down the trap. It might bo a dozen times that ho treated nightsoil in this manner during a, period of eighteen months. Dan Nyhanc deposed that there was a sump or lug-bole iu the ground near the river. As a trainer of horses he bad to he up early in the morning, and had seen night-carts in the vicinity of the hole. The smell was pronounced when tbe wind blew in his direction. Hoys on tho river-bank fishing ■ complained of the smell. He had seen tho nightsoil emptied into tho trap, and was of the opinion that the refuse was carried out to soa by means of pipes. Ho bad never made complaint, as ho was not a ratepayer. To Mr Cometti: Did not complain, although he passed him hundreds of times. Would not a'gre© with a suggestion that picnic parties who had been on the spot had never complained. Saw the nightsoil being emptied about 4 o’clock in the morning._ The horses ho had seen in night-carts were a grey and a hay.

Hosie, recalled, said that he arrived at the tank about 1-30 o’clock in tho morning. A bay horse was never used, and witness was away from tim tank about 1.45 o’clock.

In answer to the Mayor, the engineer said that tho septic tank had been in existence for about six years. The sanitary depot was dispensed with about four years ago. There had been, during that period, four men employed on tho work in districts not served with tbe sewerage system. This refuse was at first put into tho inlot chamber of the septic tank. This method was found to choke the pumps, and then it was put direct into the tank. This had been going on, as far as ho know, until recently. It was strange that there was no trace on the banks of the river of tho refuse finding its way into the river. There was a continual flow of water into the sump, and the overseer of f tho 'River Board (Mr Kershaw) had stated that no nuisance existed on the riverbank.

In answer to Councillor Kerr, the engineer said that the council had so little money to spare that he could not make tho improvements ho dosired. Believed he had done his duty to the council. Councillor Cotton, speaking with some heat, said that, as far as he could discover, the septic tank had been in use for about four years. Six months after its being used it became so full that the nightsoil had to bo emptied into the river. For this practice to go on for so long and tbe council to know nothing about it was simply scandalous. The Mayor said he would stake his reputation that the septic tanks were doing their duty. (Laughter.) “Councillors and the members of the audience may laugh,” said Mr Baldwin, “but my reputation is as good as any man’s in the room.”

William Adams, nightman, in the employ of the council, said that for the past twenty months he had deposited the nightsoil in tho hole at the back of the septic tank. Witness had never received instructions from Mr Cometti or the engineer. The previous workman had told him where to place tho refuse. He believed the hole was made for that purpose.

Arthur Cometti said that, in 'the first instance, the refuse was put in tho receiving chamber. This receptacle became full, and the main tank was used. This, again, became blocked, and in order to get it down he told Hosie to place the nightsoil in the hole at the Lack of the tank. Ho accepted"all the blame for having the refuse deposited there.