BIRD ISLAND AND TOMAHAWK HEAD SEWAGE OUTFALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13079, 15 September 1904, Page 8

BIRD ISLAND AND TOMAHAWK HEAD SEWAGE OUTFALL.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—Some mere questions to Mr Smaill and tho representatives of tho Ratepayers' Association. Where did the bags of flour, plunks, kelp, etc., corns from that wero cast up on Tomahawk Beach? Immediately north of Tomahawk Head cliff i=> Paradise Bay. and a mile farther on Sandfly Bay. I have seen on these beachcs sacks of flour, planks, portions of gold sluice-boxes and cradle*,'sheaves of corn, straw, maori-heads, pcsls and rails, logs, bottles, ctc. Did tho sacks of flour come from Taieri Mouth after Captain Simpson lost his life trying to take his vessel into the Taieri River? Did tho sheaves of corn, straw, etc., come from tho Taieri after tho big flood? If the evidence given against the Bird Island outfall was of any consideration, would not these articles that came ashore on Paradise Beach be more conclusivo ovidenco against the Tomahawk Head outfall? On Suuday night, August. 14, there was'a strong southwest wind, with rain showers; Monday, -sth, was calm; there was a continuous lino ot foam from Tomahawk Head to Sandymount Head. Inshore of that lino there wero various circular lines of foam, tho waves breaking, against Tomahawk Cliff, enveloping in a cloud of spray the faco of tho olid from the headland to Paradiso Beach and back; over tho top of tho cliff to tho tripf. -station on the highest part of Shand's Hill and up Taradieo Vallov to -within a short distance of tho Portobello ioad, obscuring the view, while the surrounding landscape- was clear.. During a Eonth-west gale the sea breaks with, great fury, reaching half-way un the. cliff near where tho outfall would be,' and tho spray and foam aro oarried for miles over the land,and over tho Portobello road. Tho«o residing back on top of tho cliff .can t&sto tho salt spray, acywhero within tho influence of. tho spray and foam one can taste the sjilfc on tho hlada of grass and the leaves .. of tree*. .Under these circumstances, jviirtheto not be great ulaiiger from Tomalwwk Hwd

outfall? " Will tho spray and foam carry sewago with it? Do wo not find tho Corporation of tho City of Dunedin buying out those owners of land at the head of tho Loitli Valley in 'order l-o sccuro a water supply freo from pollution? If tho head waters of tho Loitli Valley wero oxpoiod to tho spray and foam from tho Tomahawk Head sewago outfall, would tho Corporation of tho City of Dunodin ever dream of taking a wator supply from suoh a souroo?—I am, etc., : • Inquisitive.

TO TUB EDITOR.