CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 465, 25 January 1908, Page 5

CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held last evening, there being present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Buckland) and Crs. T, Hartly, F. O’Toole, T. F. Richards, F. J. Marfell, C. Reid, G. Dickinson and J. Ferguson. STOCK ROUTE. The Mayor was appointed to represent the Council on the deputation to wait on the Hon. R. McNab (Minister for Lands and Agriculture) at Ruakura on Monday, regarding the Gisborne-Waikato stock route. oddfellows’ sports. The Oddfellows’ request for a reduction in the percentage charges in connection with their late sports was not granted. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The finance report was read and adopted. It showed : Cemetery Account.—Cr. at date, £34 10s Id. Street Improvement Loan Account.— Credit at date, £442 2s lOd. Saleyards, Gas and Karapiro Bridge Loan Account.—Credit balance last month, £705 Os lid ; accounts to pass, £Bl 5s 6d; credit when accounts are paid, £623 15s sd. District Fund Account.—Debit balance last month, £155110s sd; accounts since paid, £650 15s 3d ; amounts lodged, £978 7s lOd; present debit, £1228 17s lOd ; accounts to pass, £355 4s 3d ; overdraft when accounts are paid, £1584 2s Id. DRAINAGE MATTERS. The Town Clerk, Auckland, wrote that the City Council had only one set of drain cleaners in use, and they were in daily use.—The procuring of a suitable cleaner was referred to the Borough engineer and foreman to report on. Inspector Bennett submitted the following':— “ In reference to the recent blockage in the main sewer at Duke-street, Cambridge, I beg to submit the following report : Notwithstanding any foreign bodies that have been found in the sewer, I am forced to the conclusion that the block has been caused to a great extent by the silting up in the pipes, contributed to no doubt by the very meagre fail the sewer has in Duke-street. As you have the drainage plans to refer to I do not need to dwell on the figures contained therein, but will quote from Colonel Moore, R.E., whose work on “ Sanitary Engineering ’’ is a standard throughout the British Empire. It is becoming every day more apparent that provision for adequate flushing of drains, in addition to other precautions, is necessary in order to sweep away all deposit, and prevent the growth at the water-line which so often takes place. Flushing is effected by the sudden and powerful discharge of a large volume of water into the drain, which completely fills it from invert to soffit, carrying all before it, and renewing to a great extent the air in the drain. In order to effect this, chambers for storing water in what are called flashing tanks, should be provided at the head of all foul drains, and adapted so as to discharge a sufficient volume of water suitable to the size and gradient of the drain intended to be flushed. The discharge should be, as a rule, automatic. In connection with the Cambridge sewerage there are two opposing points to be considered. One is the cleansing of the drain, and the other to prevent the too great a dilution of the sewage, so as not to interfere with the “ septic ” action in the tank. There are many appliances on the market of an automatic nature, but the majority of them have the disadvantage of being either costly, or requiring constant attention, or both. In the one I am submitting, I venture to think that simplicity in construction and economy in cost are combined, and in addition I do not see why it cannot be constructed by a lobal tradesman from the tracing I give herewith. I believe one of similar construction is now working satisfactorily at Eltham. I would suggest a tank of about 150 gallons capacity, regulated to tip one in 24 hours, and placed at the head of the system in Alpha-street. In addition to the above I find that the gratings fitted to gully traps are too open, and allow matter which should not, to pass into the drain. After the block opposite the Masonic Hotel, I induced the proprietor to put perforated iron grating over the traps, and the utility of it has been demonstrated by the amount of solids detained, which otherwise would have passed into the drain. This appliance has been made universal in Wanganui and is found to work well, I would suggest its adoption in Cambridge.” The Mayor said it was originally intended to adopt some such idea as Mr Bennett had suggested, but it had been allowed to drop. It was resolved to carry out the recommendations made in the Inspector’s report. It was also decided to request householders to have perforated iron put over their gully traps. Inspector Bennet read a list of persons upon whom he had served notices, who had not connected with the sewerage system, informing them that if such connections were not made by the Ist of next month, legal proceedings would be commenced to compel them to do so. The Council instructed him to see

that the by-laws re sanitation were duly carried out. THE BAND ROTUNDA AND BOWLING PAVILION. The Gas Committee reported that it had arranged to have the gas laid on to the above buildings, and the work was now being proceeded with. The Mayor and some of the Councillors commented on the marvellously quick manner (?) in which the work is being executed, (It is being done by day labour). CARTING COAL TO THE GASWORKS. The following tenders were received for the above work R. Brockelsby, 3s 9d per ton; P. Fogarty, 3s. The latter was accepted. ADVERTISING CAMBRIDGE. The Committee appointed for the above purpose, submitted a short report. The Committee consists of the following: —The Mayor, Crs. Tudehope and Ferguson, and they recommended that the Committee should be a permanent one, and that the following be added to it: Cr. Marfell, Drs. Roberts and Edmonds, Messrs M. E. Gardner, J. Hammond, and J. H. Ferguson. The Committee recommended that a premium should be offered for the best design for a Town Hall, £lO ; and for a swimming bath, £5. They also stated that several other matters wore receiving attention, and would be reported on at a later date. In moving the adoption of the report the Mayor said the committee had discussed the question of advertising Cambridge at considerable length. The committee was of opinion that both swimming baths and a town hall were much needed to make the town attractive to visitors. The advisability of allowing boats on the lake, and suggesting to the owners of the National Hotal that they should erect a large private hotel, had also been discussed. After some of the Councillors had spoken in favor of swimming baths, and Cr. Dickinson had advocated a water chute in the Domain, the report was adopted. The Council adjourned at 9.50 p.m.