OUTFLOW OF SEWAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1929, Page 11

OUTFLOW OF SEWAGE

QUESTION BY RATEPAYER. RESULTS OF THE TESTS MADE. Declaring that it had not been proved that the outflow at Eliot Street from . the proposed sewerage system would not pollute the beaches, Mr. F. C. Tribe wrote to the last meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board suggesting a further series of float tests under vaiyjng conditions and supervised by a representative committee. “If I am wrong in my contentions I will bear the cost of the experiment,” he said. ' A copy of the letter was received by the council last night, when it was decided to send Mr. Tribe a copy of the engineer’s reply. Commenting on the statements made, Mr. Clarke said: — may s&y Elicit "tlio float tests ciiti* cised by Mr. Tribe were carried out by floats as suggested by Mr. R. P. Worley, consulting engineer, but were found to be totally unsuitable on account of wave action affecting their drift. Even then, only three out of the number liberated came ashore, and it was definitely proved, even with these floats, that it was impossible for sewerage from the proposed outfall ever to drift on to the bathing beach at East End. ihe most reliable boat tests were made by discharging decayed oranges and apples, etc., at the proposed outfall by means of a wire stretched from the cliff at Eliot Street. “Although these tests were carried out daily for a considerable length of time and the beaches scoured from the baths io the Waiwakaiho daily, on two occasions only did the floats wash back on to the beach. On both occasions the floats washed back directly in from the point of discharge and were found to constitute only a small proportion of the material discharged on those days. Ho had always considered these tests to be the most reliable that could be made,: on account of being able to discharge regardless of weather conditions or tides. . “The float tests were made with the view of discharging crude sewerage. Now that liquefaction before discharge has heen adopted, the currents will have little or no bearing on the matter, as there cannot possibly be any pollution of bathing beaches, even if the currents were adverse.” Mr. Clarke added that, from Mr. Tribe’s letter’ it appeared that he had drawn the conclusion that he looked upon the foreshore opposite Eliot Street as a bathing beach. However, he him«elf had never looked upon that section x).f the beach as suitable on account of the rapid erosion taking place and the blocking of the northerly sand drift by the breakwater. In moving that a copy of the engineer’s report be sent to Mr. Tribe, the Mayor said it was a question whether the council should avail itself of his offer concerning further tests. Or, Amoore said he did not think it necessary. The council had carried out tests already. “The point is that we want all these people to be satisfied,” said Cr. Stainton. He suggested the engineer should personally explain the position to Mr. Tribe. Mr. Clarkei I should be very glad of that opportunity. Ho added that he had already persuaded several opponents that the scheme was all right. The Mayor mentioned that the East End committee had been opposed to the scheme until it had heard Mr. Clarke’s explanation. Cr. Spence said that when a ratepayer made an offer like that of Mr. Tribe the council should not pass it by. He suggested the engineer should ’give Mr. Tribo the opportunity of a demonstration if he were still not satisfied. He believed the tests, if made, would prove satisfactory to the council. At least it would be shown that the council was reasonable. On tho motion of the Mayor, the engineer was instructed to send with his report a covering letter asking Mr. Tribe /or an interview*