THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 1, 24 December 1912, Page 2

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE

COUNCIL

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening to die* cuss Messrs Robinson and Christophers’ report and plans on the new drainage system proposed. The Mayor and Councillors J. Boon, N. J. King, T. Lawson, R. McK. Morison, JR. Dingle, J. D. Healy, and S. Ward were present. The report read as follows: — “The area now under consideration is practically bounded on the north by Pembroke Road, on the south by Celia street, on the east by Swansea road, and on the west by Hamlet street, and includes the present sewage system in operation, and the proposed system in the north-west portion of the borough previously reported on by us.

On plan No. 15, we have shown the whole of the existing and proposed systems, and indicated the method which we consider will be advisable to adopt in order to obtain the best results from both.

Bipefly, the position is as follows: The whole of the sewage of the north- ' ern portion of the borough now being drained with the exception of Fenton street west and Broadway from Fenton street to bridge is taken down to existing tank, via Clbton road to Swansea road, and that of the southern portion of the borough now under drainage, is taken down Celia street, all the sewage being eventually dealt with in the present tank. We understand from you that the capacity of this tank has been nearly fully utilised, consequently any considerable extension of sewage in the southern portion of the borough would overload it.V It will be evident to you that for the purpose of draining the southern portion of the borough the present-tank is most conveniently situated, and were it relieved of the amount of sewage now coming into it from the northern portion of the borough, it should serve the needs of the southern portion for some years to come. As for any extension whatever of the present sewage system it becomes necessary to construct a new tank, and as it would be perfectly feasible to divert the present sewage from northern portion of borougn into it, we strongly recommend that tins course be adopted, and that the now tank be built of sufficient erne to cope with' the whole of the present and proposed systems in northern portion of borougn, leaving t/ie present tank ifee for the southern portion. With this end in view, we have estimated on a tank of sufficient sAe to fuhil such requirements, auu on plan Ao. io have shown the proposed diversion of present sewage iruiu -northern side of borough, and at the junction of Cloton and roads into our proposed mam outlau sewer. In designing the proposed extended system the present system m operation has been made use oi wnere the grades will allow of this being done, and -where the -sewers ol present system are, fof sullicient diameter to. take the increased how. Otherwise the proposed system previously reported on by us has been extended (.as then indicated) to serve one requirements or the north-western portion of the borough. • With an e>e to possiole future extensions up rein broke road, Olivia, (Regan, Rage and Oelia streets, provision has been made for this in tne matter of sizes of sewers and manholes proposed at present. In order to satisfactorily drain Orlando street, it will be necessary to -take a lin'd of sevtfer down through Victoria Park' to Cordelia street near the junction of 1 the latter with Falstaff street-' thence'’-down the latter street and per mediuifa of an easehient over private property to Swarisea road; the conditions of the ground being such as not to allow drainage being taken either out to Regan or Fenton streets. In order to obtain .satisfactory grades for sewers in Miranda, Portia and Hamlet streets north, comparatively heavy excavations are necessary owing to the intermediate low-lying areas between Regan and Seyton streets and Seyton street and Pembroke road. Generally, also, the excavation work in the extended system now being dealt with is materially heavier than that previously reported on. - Plans Nos. 16 to 29 show the profiles of the additional streets to be drained, and the sewers necessary for that purpose. Plan No. 3, submitted with-the previous report, shows the general design of proposed tank, which will simply be increased proportionately to meet requirements of the extended system. Estimate of Cost.—The total estimate of cost of all new work in connection with the extension-of the sewage ‘system in Stratford borough, exclusive of connections laid to street boundaries is as follows-Sewers in position including excavation and backfilling as per previous estimate, £3140; manholes and lampholes as per previous estimate, £294; pipe ■bridge as \per previous estimate, £l6O. Further extension: Sewers in position including Excavation and backfilling :—Pembroke road west, £210; Seyton street west, £353; Regan street west, £263; Celia street, £148; Hamlet street north, £220; Hamlet .street south, £96; Portia street north, £228; Portia street south, £9B ; Miranda street north £403; Miranda street south, £136; Juliet street south £54; Lear street, £73; Orlando street north, £9B; Orlando street south, £47; Easement through Park, £133; Falstaff street and easement to Swansea road, £218; Gloton road including small branches in Juliet and Ariel streets £160; Lower Fenton street, £122; Ariel street south, £59; Cordelia street south, £34; Manholes, etc.' £377; Lampholes, etc., £9l; Septa ! rank. £I2OO ; total, £8415. Engineer iiig’ ! per cent-, on same, €378 Jbs 64 . j ■ office expenses, advertising, clerk - oil a -•■rk.i, etc., £2OO 6s Od; grand total.i £9OIOO. His Worship said that Councillors I would see from the report that the ioE'.l amount estimated was £9000.| i’erSonaliy, lie thought that the scheme; was a verj comprehensive one, as laid! out by the-engineers, and I think wi-j might adopt it Councillor Healy: As a new work? The Mayor: Yes. His Worship went on to say that the new work was to be bounded by the Pembroke road on the north,, Celia street on the feouth, Hamlet' street on the west, and Swansea road! on the east. That was taking in the) inert congested part of Stratford, ii l n.'iy part of Stratford could hr> said in; k- congested. It was proposed to j borrow a sura of money to put the draining in, that was to instal new connections from boundary section to their houses, and charge so much per year. Furthermore, it was proposed to borrow a sum to cover the cost of taking the connections to the sewer. A Councillor: What would that last!

- The Mayor replied that at £5 or £6 per house, the amount would be in the neighbourhood of £2OOO, allowing for 400 houses.

Councillor Healy: That means that the drainage scheme as brought down

by the engineer entails an expend! ture of approximately £12,000. j

think that the Council ought to provide for a sewer being carried along Broadway South at least as far as Romeo street. The sewer had already gone as far as the Hospital. Councillor King asked, was it the intention to borrow money to make the connections to people’s houses. The Mayor said that this was so, and about £ISOO would be allowed foi this purpose. The average cost pei house would be £2O or £25.

Councillor King contended that there would then be a rush to get the drainage in. The Mayor pointed out that instalments would have to be paid to wipe out the total, in addition to paying interest. He thought £2OOO at all events would be sufficient.

Councillor Boon thought it was ridiculous finding money for people tc connect with the scheme.

Councillor,R. McK. Morison: There is no such proposal. The Mayor: I brought that down in my original scheme. Councillor Ward supported borrowing money for this purpose. He thought that the ratepayers expected it, and considered they' should have it.

The Mayor then moved the adoption of the report and plans submitted. ■ Councillor King seconded the motion.

Councillor Lawson asked why it was that the drainage went through Victoria Park instead of being taken along Orlando street to connect at Fenton street. He wanted to know why the work could not be made a permanent one. It was a big expense upon the Council for noOiing, and he would not support the loan proposal in that respect. Councillor Boon agreed with Cr. Lawson.

The Mayor said it was a question of levels.

In the discussion ’ which ensued, Councillors favoured the ground being built up to avoid the extra expense. Eventually it was considered advisable to secure the presence of the engineer to supply further information. This was found not to be.possible last evening, and Or. Lawson moved that the question of drainage he deferred until the engineers were present and also that they prepare an estimate of the cost of extending the drainage from Broadway to Ro meo street. Seconded by Cr. Morison, and car ried. THE WATER SUPPLY. The Town Clerk read a letter from a New South Wales Council, where it was stated that the Condy system of filters gave every satisfaction. The Mayor said he did not think any Alteration scheme would removthe woody or earthy taste from tilwater. He said he had tasted filtered water and the taste complained oi was still noticeable. The Council would b© unwise, he thought, to proceed with, a loan for filtration until they were quite sure the method would be effective in that respect, and secure the desired result.

Or. Healy fiskfed if anything had been done at the head works to remove the silt and clean out the tunnel.

The Mayor said he understood the. work was rather dangerous at -the present time. In reply to the Mayor, the inspector said it was not possible to do the work. The tunnel is filled up. If the men paddled there for a week they could not clean it out. It was five years since it was cleaned out. “The water is no worse now,” remarked one Councillor.

“Then the longer it is left the better the supply becomes I” ejaculated another. The inference was plain and there was a general chuckle. Cr. King agreed with the Mayor that it would be unwise to proceed until tlie Council were sure of their ground. If they were to do what the inspector suggested and make a by-pass, the whole matter would be settled.

The Mayor: No by-pass would be any good when there was a flood on. With all the enquiries made, they had no information that the trouble would be got over. In the discussion, it was stated that according to an analyst the water was good. The sediment could be removed but that would not make the water tasteless.

The Mayor said that while they were on the water business, he would like to see the boundaries of the borough served with a supply, £2OOO would cover the cost.

Cr. Dingle said h© would rather see the money spent in that direction. It was agreed that the matter stand over. NOTICE OF MOTION.

The Mayor gave notice to move at the next special meeting that all the loan proposals he put separately before the ratepayers. Cr, Healy : I am sorry to see your Worship taking such a parochial view. The Mayor: It is not a parochial view; it is a very wide view, Cr. Healy. Subsequent remarks led Cr. Ward to exclaim: “There is going to be meetings on the green, I can see, at next meeting.” Cr. Lawson remarked that he was -surprised to see His Worship move the motion in that form.

Cr. King: That is uncalled for The Mayor; Quite uncalled for. “NO MORE BUSINESS.”

Cr. Lawson asked whether the matter of the fireplug for practice at Victoria Park was not going to be discussed. He understood it was to be dealt with at the next special meeting of the Council, as it was urgent business.

The Mayor replied that that was not so; at the next ordinary mec ing of the Council it would be cm sidered.

Cr. Ward differed from His Wn ship, and brought up also, the- <;ra-

tion of workmen’s wages whi understood was to be dealt wi

“Not at the special meeting -of Council,” stated the Clerk.

Or. Morison asked if His Worst would take a motion to deal wi these matters, the Chair was fir stating that he did rot wa-d the e

penditure to come into this year’s estimates.

The Council then adjourned