Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 91, 17 April 1929, Page 6

Public Opinion

SMOKY GONVILLE Sir, —I am a poor unfortunate individual who lives in a triangle between , the chimney stacks of the Imlay Works, Hospital and Power House. Consequently every wind that blows deposits clouds of smoko and soot on my residence with the result that paintwork, blinds, and curtains are being continually ruined, notwithstanding careful attention to closing ot windows and hosing down. Staying with friends in Auckland over Easter, I noticed a factory adjacent to their residence and I naturally enquired how they were affected. They said, it had I been very bad but the local authorities ! obtained an injunction in tho Courts I against the effender with a result that / they have been forced to instal some plant which has entirely eliminated the nuisance complained of. Can you tell me if there is any such by-law in this rate-burdened city dealing with this particular nuisance. If it can be done in an Auckland .suburb surely the same laws must apply in AVanganui. Also, if the City Council neglect their duties would it be possible for a private individual or individuals to take action on their own behalf. “SMOKED FISH.” The above letter was referred to the civic authorities who state that the inspector has power, under section 30 of the Public Health Act, 1929, to lay.an information against the person or persons responsible for tho nuisance, but an injunction can be obtained only at tho consent of a Alagistrate. If you were to lay your complaint direct to the city officers, no doubt the whore position would be gone into.—Editor, “Wanganui Chronicle.’’ WESTMERE LAKE PHENOMENON Dear Sir. —Quite recently I learned that it had been stated in the columns of your paper that a sample of water from Westyiere Lake, near Wanganui, had been submitted to me for analysis and that the matter was considered to be one of some interest to your readers. I presume that if such is the case, your remarks referred to a small sample of water which was forwarded to me by the manager of the Westmere Dairy Company about the middle of February last. I understand that the sample was taken from a discoloured area which occurred on the surface of Westmere Lake. The amount forwarded to me was too small for me to perform a full analysis but the general results of such an investigation as I was able to make, are as follows: The sample contained over 82 parts per 100,000 of solids, approximately 68 of which consisted of oxidisable organic matter. Determinations of nitrogen as free and saline ammonia and of albumenoid ammonia gave quantities in excess of two parts and three parts respectively per 100.000. Such figures arc relatively enormous for water analysis and would class the sample as equivalent in chemical composition to sewage.

There were, however, seine most remarkable features about this sample which rendered it different from any which I have previously examined and which would separate it most distinctly from the ordinary types of sewage commonly encountered. Firstly, the fact that tho material was whitish and opalescent, strongly similar in appearance to very soapy water as seen in the household. Secondly the odour of the sample was utterly different from that of ordinary sewage, being similiar to that of decaying vegetation. Thirdly the sample as submitted was quite strongly alkaline, the alkalinity being equivalent to the prescence of approximately 53 parts per 100,000 of sodium carbonate. This latter feature alone, eliminates the sample from the ordinary class of sewage and also is proof that the material could not possibly have been a subterranean soakage from a dairy factory. Dairy factory waste is characterised by a high acidity and a most unmistakable odour. Furthermore, it would invariably contain milk sugar, whereas tho sample as submitted yielded not the slightest trace of this compound. lam unable to offer any suggestion at present as to the exact nature and ultimate source of this discolouration which appeared in the lake, as I have all my knowlcdo of it from hearsay, and did not have the opportunity of observing the conditions and attendant circumstances

The alkalinity of the water was found to be due to mineral constituents of the water and not to any biological process. Some of tho water as submitted was evaporated and completely incinerated, after which the mineral residue gave all the tests for sodium carbonate as above stated. Traces of iron, calcium and aluminium compounds in smaller quantities were found, as would bo expected in a natural water. Alicroscopical examination of the sample showed that it was practically free from bacteria and was not infested with any particular variety of water micro-organism. It would therefore appear as though this peculiar manifestation was caused by some natural entry into the lake, probably from a subterrancnan source, of alkaline mineral compounds, chiefly sodium carbonate, which acted deleteriously upon under-water vegetation and caused it to die, decompose and rise to tho surface. Animal contamination was apparently added from another source. New Zealand is noted for its wealth of mireral waters and such an occurrence ns I have suggested is by no means beyond the realms of possibility. Fading this explanation it seems impossible to account for the presence of such a remarkable strongly alkaline material in AVesttnero Lake.

Finally Sir, I must tender my apologies for two things: Firstly, the lateness of this report; but I must urge in extenuation the fact that I heard only recently, and quite by accident, that the matter had occasioned any public interest. Secondly, for the incompleteness of my investigations; but as above stated,. only a small sample wa! submitted, and as the lake has now re* turned to normal it would seem impossible to pursue the matter further P. O. VEALE, Research Chemist. Hawera, April 15, 1929,