STRONG SMELL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20479, 4 December 1934, Page 3

STRONG SMELL.

Gutters at New Brighton the Cause. REMEDIAL STEPS TAKEN. The stench which emanates from some of New Brighton’s side-channels is giving the Borough Council and residents grave concern. A long spell of warm weather, no rain, and the discharge of water used for household purposes have combined to create a nuisance. The problem has already been considered by the council; an effort is being made to secure more men for cleansing purposes, and the borough inspector has been armed •with wide powers to deal with persons discharging matter improperly into the channels. Brighton’s geographical peculiarities make the drainage and sewerage problems difficult. In some of the gutters there is very little drop, and unless there is a good volume of water, the low is sluggish. There is no underground sewerage system, and to con-s'-ruct one would cost, according to the latest estimate. £250,000. The result is that a great deal of water from kitchen sinks and wash-tubs is disi c harged into the side-channels. Unless j this is followed by a strong stream of S fresh water, it creates a nuisance, and j this fact has been recognised bv the Borough Council. The inspector has been empowered to take action against residents who do not flush their drains immediately after sinks have discharged dirty water. Further Sweepers Wanted. The Mayor of Brighton (Mr E. A. M. Leaver) admitted this morning that there was a serious difficulty, and he narrated some of the steps which had been taken to deal with it- He pointed out that the council kept a norma l staff or sweepers, each one being allotted e’ght miles of gutters a day. These men were under constant supervision, and did their work faithfully. However. in an effort to improve on this, the council, at its meeting last night, empowered him to applv to the Unemployment Board for the services of additional men for the hot-weather season. This application was forwarded this morning, and if a satisfactory reply i; received, the men will be put on immediately. Mr Leaver explained that even in slreets where there was a constant and full flow of fresh water from nearby wells, it was easv to assume that the gutters had not been swept. The running water encouraged ix green growth to attach itself to the sides and bottoms of the channels, and this was exceptionally difficult to remove. Tn view of the present position, he attempted, as recently as last Saturday. to remove some of this from outside his own house, but found that it was well nigh impossible. Even a steel scraper was not satisfactory. Grass Being Removed. However, if it was possible to obtain men from the Unemployment Board, a concerted effort would be made to free the gutters of this slime, while in the meantime, all the long grass in the vicinity of the channels was being scythed. Men were put on to this task this morning. While extravagant statements were deprecated by Mr Leaver, he was perfectly candid concerning the position, but stressed that everything that could be done to remedy the present conditions had been put in hand.