THE CAMBRIDGE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 319, 3 January 1907, Page 5

THE CAMBRIDGE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

THE SEPTIC STINK. At the special meeting of the Cambridge Borough Council last evening, the following letter was read from Messrs Russell and Campbell, solicitors, Auckland : —“ We have been consulted by Mr Harry Bell regarding a nuisance created by your Council in connection with the septic tanks recently constructed for the treatment of the sewage of the Borough. Our client resides close to the site of the tanks and the effluvium arising therefrom is of such a disgusting character that unless the nuisance is forthwith abated, it will be impossible for him to continue in the occupation of his house. The fact that a most offensive odour arises from the tanks can be substantiated by persons who are in the habit of passing along the road abutting upon the site upon which the tanks have been constructed. Our instructions are that unless the nuisance is forthwith abated, to move the Supreme Court for an injunction restraining your Council from sufficing it to continue. The. matter is one of such vital importance to the health and comfort of our client and his family that we must request that immediate attention be given to it. This communication you will observe is addressed to a member of our firm, Mr McVeagh, who happened to be in the place and received instructions to take such steps as were necessary to protect our client’s interests. Kindly ensure that any communications with us after the 4th prox, regarding the subject of this complaint are addressed to our firm, Wyndham-street, Auckland.'’

The Deputy-Mayor said he had acknowledged the letter, and had requested Inspector Middleton to furnish a report on the matter. The Inspector’s report was read as follows:—“I have again visited your septic tank this day (Decernher 29th), but I can positively find no nuisance from same. However, I would suggest that the ventilation at the top be kept covered with the present sack, and the said sack be diluted about twice per week with carbolic liquid or a small bag could be filled with fine coke (finch) and placed over the top of the ventilator, whereby any gases would be filtered before reaching the atmosphere. This should continue until the connections of houses are complete, when a scum will have formed in the tank, and the stirring up of the liquid by deposits of other liquids will give off very little smell to the air.”

The Deputy-Mayor said there was no no doubt there was a bad smell.

Cr Hally : “ Oh it was frightful.” The Deputy-Mayor then went o» to say they must sympathise with Mr Bell. He suggested that the vent pipe should be extended skywards, and the tank be covered with two feet of earth, instead of six inches. It seemed to him there was no alternative but to disconnect everybody from the sewer. The Council had given the proprietor of the Masonic Hotel and Mrs AVeston permission to connect with the sewer, at the suggestion of Inspector Middleton ; but at°that time it was thought the scheme would soon be in working orfier. The old drain used by the Masonic Hotel had been a nuisance, and Mr Middleton thought the best way would be to get it connected with the sewer.

Cr Hally said they were not bound to provide anybody with drains. The Deputy-Mayor said they were bound iu a way to fill up the old drain, but he believed they had made a mistake in giving permission to drain into the sewer. Cr Stone said it was only on the Inspector's recommendation that the Council gave the permission. Cr Hally said he objected to anyone having permission to drain into the sewer before it was in proper order. The ■ Deputy-Mayor said they were pushed to do something to abate the nuisance, hence the suggestion of Inspector Middleton.

Cr Clark said the stench from the tank was very bad, and he suggested that everyone should be cutoff from the sewer, until everything was in working order. The Deputy-Mayor said if they disconnected the Masonic Hotel the old drain trouble would commence again. Cr Buckland said that was the look-out of the proprietor of the hotel, and had nothing to do with the Council. The Deputy-Mayor said the late Clerk of Works (Thomas) gave instructions to the workmen to open the drain. Crs O’Toole and Auckland said the Masonic drain was always in a bad state. Cr Stone said the matter from the drain was running under the house until it was connected with the sewer. Cr Hally said Mr Sinclair might have an action for damages against the Council. Everyone should be disconnected and the tank be cleaned out. Cr Buckland said the tank would work all right iC the full number of drains were connected, for then they would be kept full; whereas they were now partly empty and the excreta dried in them. By permission of the Council Mr Harl.ly, who was present, stated that in Mr Hill’s buildings a dentist and a chemist had been connected with the sewer by the contractor for the drains, on the authority of Mr Thomas, and the old drain had been taken up. He asked what they were to do? The old drain discharged into the surface drain in Empire-street. Cr Hally said they should not have done

so, and they must devise some means of getting rid of the surplus water. Cr Clark said the Council had put th(MiM‘lves in. the position of having actions laid against them.

The Deputy-Mayor said it was a very remarkable thing that Mr Middleton bad been at the septic tank several times and could not detect any offensive suitll ; he certainly did not treat the matter as seriously as many of the inhabitants did.

Cr Ferguson said there was a great smell of carbolic near the tank. Cr Clark said it was nob carbolic that smelled on Christmas night, for the steneh was something awful. After further considerable discussion, it was moved by Cr Buekland, seconded by Cr Clark, and carried :—“ That those persons who have received permission to use the sewer be instructed that until the drainage system is in operation no matter whatsoever is to be allowed to go into the sewer, and those persons who have already received instructions not to use it be prohibited from doing so, and that Mr Hugh Fitzgerald be appointed to visit all properties and see that this be carried out, with power to close up all connections if necessary. Further, that such steps as Mr Middleton may direct be taken to cleanse and disinfect the septic tank at the earliest possible moment.” Cr Hally said those who did no comply with Mr Fitzgerald’s request to discontinue using the sewer, should have their pipes blocked up. It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Messrs Rusekl and'Campbell. THE DRAINAGE CONTRACTORS. The Deputy-Mayor said the Council were aware that a deadlock had arisen with the drainage contractors, Messrs Andrews and Gall. Mr Gall thought the instructions lei fc by Mr Allsop, previous to his departure for Australia, were too exacting, and he did not fell disposed to to carry them out. However, he (Mr Gall) had made an offer for the Council’s consideration ; and the Council then went into committee to consider it.

On resuming, it was moved by Cr Dickinson, and seconded by Cr O’Toole, *• That the whole question relating to the private drains, be deferred until Ml’ Allsop, the engineer, returns from Australia, in about a month’s time.”