THE ABATTOIR DRAINAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8997, 6 December 1907, Page 5

THE ABATTOIR DRAINAGE.

MR GILRUTH CONFERS WITH THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

[ A special meeting of the Masterton* Borough Council was held last evening to meet Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief' Government Veterinarian, and con- : sider the question of efficiently draining the abattoir. The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) presided, and there were also present:—Crs J. Yarr, J. Prentice, J. C. Ewington, W. Pragnell, A. Haughey, F. W. Temple, J. Elliott, and J. H. Pauling. Inspectors G. H. Jenkinson, D. Elliott and J. Gillies were also in attendance. The Mayor, in explaining the ohjpet of the meeting, said the Stock Department had frequently made representations to the council regarding improvemnts to the abattoir drainage arrangements, and Mr Gilruth had consented to meet the council and offer suggestions as to what would be the best course to take. Mr Gilruth s: j .id that when the present site for the abattoir had been selected the department did not think it the best procurable by any means, and it was the general opinion that a better one could have been got. When the council also procured 50 acres for the site, it was pointed out such an area was more than was required for the ' abattoir. It was found when the works were erected that there was a shallow water course which could be utilised for carrying away the drainage. This course served its purpose for a while, but latterly it has been found to be un- , satisfactory as the sewerage matter . accumulated in the drain, and was liable to become a nuisancee. He, would not say that it was a nuisance yet nor had any obnoxious smell been noticed during the present spell of hot weather, but it was only.a matter, of time when the present position of affairs would be- intolerable from a sanitary point of view. Therefore he thought that the present was the time for the council to consider another method of getting rid of the drainage. The land round the abattoir was overrun with noxious weeds, which could be turned to account, for if the land had a steam cultivator run over it, the weeds cut down and the. drainage from the works distributed over the land, it would be found that the soil would be excellently manured, and what was now poor land could be made productive, and pay interest at least on the purchase money. The land, he thought, could be cultivated at a cost of about 15s per acre. What was now required was a method of distributing the drainage over the land, and he would suggest three methods. In the first place a tank might be built underground near the buildirg into which tho drainage would run. From this it could be pumped by centrifugal force, and lifted into pipes which would distribute the matter by gravitation over the land. There was barely sufficient fall from the works to the paddocks without pumping, and here he would like to «ay that it wou'd have been preferable to have erected the building on the high land instead of. in its present position. Howe.er, the works had the advantage m their present position of being close to the railway line, and when it was decided to nut them there there was a suggestion that freezing works might ultimately be established in connection wit)) the abattoir. The second method of distributing the drainage would he to have movable pipes, sav strong hose, screwed on to the main drainage pipe at the works. These pipes could be placed in any position, and so carry the sewerage to any part of the paddocks. Still another means of distribution was a portable tank capable of holding about 1,000 gallons. ! This could be used about four times per day to carry away the days' washing-down water and other drainage to any portion of the paddock. Certainly the council wanted the most economical method of distributing the drainage, and that was perhaps a question for an engineer. In conclusion, he repeated that the matter was not very acute just now, but he advised the council to take time by the forelock. *The Mayor said he was more than satisfied with Mr Gilruth's explanations. He agreed with him that it would be better to take the matter in hand now than let ft wait v for any time. It seemed to him that the first scheme outlined by Mr Gilruth, would be the most efficient, but whatever course was .taken he did not think from Mr Gilruth's remarks that the improvements would be very expensive. Cr Ewington moved that the abattoir committee and the actingengineer be instructed to obtain all information regarding the drainage, and report to a future meeting of the council.

This was seconded by Cr Prentice and carried.

General satisfaction was expressed at the information given by Mr Gilruth, and he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.