RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1938, Page 14

RAETIHI

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY. INTERIM REPORT BY HEALTH INSPECTOR. , The following interim report was supplied to the Raetihi Borough Council, on Tuesday last, by the health inspector, Mr. W. H. Roy, in response to a request that he should inspect the suggested pollution of the Makotuka Stream above the intake for the borough water supply. “The number of visits under this heading comprise dwellings, cowsheds, piggeries, sheep dips and tributaries of the Makotuku and Makara Streams. For completion of this work a considerable amount of time is requires and there are as yet several matters I wish to go into. I have received auvice that equipment for taking a bacteriological sample of the borough water will be forwarded shortly and upon receipt of the bacteriologist’s report and completion of my investigai tions, I will forward a complete report. “From my observations made to dat.e, however, I consider that your council would be well advised to have all those portions of the Makotuku River and all its tributaries from the intake of the Raetihi Borough water supply to the source of the river and its tributaries respectively gazetted as placed under the control of the borough for preventing the pollution thereof under section 62 of the Health Act, 1920. If such action is taken, you should communicate with the medical officer of health, Palmerston North. The council decided to have a notice inserted in the Gazette as suggested, the result of which will be that persons causing pollution of the streams may be prosecuted for committing an offence. A final report was not made but it is understood that the health inspector believes the borough water supply to be satisfactory and that the bacteriologist’s report, when to hand, will support this view. DRUIDS’ LODGE. • The fortnightly meeting of Miro Lodge No. 79 U.A.O.D. was held on Wednesday, when A.D. Brq. G. Clifton presided over a good attendance of members. Two members were reported as being on the sick list and sick pay was passed for payment. The standing investigation committee submitted its report on a member who had suffered the misfortune of being disabled and unable to support himself for some considerable time. On the committee's recommendation the lodge decided to make a small grant, in addition to the usual rate of sick pay, the A.D. remarking that it was an opportunity for lodge members to practice their of-repeated doctrine of “benevolence.” During the evening, P.D.P. Bro. Drury presented for Bro. R. McGrath, the indoor bowling trophy, presented by D.P. Bro. Davis to the winner of the competition conducted, over the previous six months. Bro. McGrath suitably acknowledged and it was announced later in the evening that he had decided to present a trophy himself to the winner of the next competition. Considerable discussion followed a suggestion by Bro. Edlington that the

system of concluding the indoor bowls was subject to improvement in order to create more keenness and to make it a better indication of ability at the game. It was finally decider ■hat the whole matter of indoor bowls, lable tennis and quoits should be reviewed at the officers’ meeting on i Wednesday next and a report subimitted to the next meeting of the i lodge. ! The initiation of a new member I was impressively penormed by the o£i fleers after the due closing of the ! I lodge, members indulged in indoor ‘ • bowls and quoits. ; UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. | The anual meeting of the United; Football Club was held at Pakihi last; week, when there was an enthusiastic : attendance of some 45 members. Mr.: I. Plunkett was voted to the chair, i The statement of accounts revealed! that the club was holding a credit bal-i ance of £6 10s 6d. The election of officers for the 1938 ’ season resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. I. Plunket; president, Mr. F. ! Coury; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. McLeod; club captain, Mr. A. Cunningham; management committee, president, secretary, team captain, vice-captain and manager, team manager, and manager, Mr. K. Wright; social committee, Messrs. J. Simpson, K. Wright, L. Wright, J. Strachan and L. Simpson; ladies’ committee, E. Plunkett, T. Scott, N. Byford, P. Cunningham; Rugby Union delegates, J. Simpson and R. Byford. The meeting decided to enter one senior team for the Ruapehu Rugby sub-union competition. A practice match with Ohakune is to be arranged, the matter being left in the hands of the management committee. : RAETIHI TENNIS CLUB. The Raetihi Tennis Club has received advice that the Wanganui Club team will be unable to travel to R.aetihi this week-end to play Raetihi in the final of the "C” grade competition, as formerly arranged. The Raetihi Club has accordingly consented to allow the match to be played on the following Sunday, March 27. RAETIHI SWIM3HNG BATHS. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council the loilowing report oy the health officer, Mr. W. rl. Roy, as supplied and addressed to the president of the Raetihi Swimming Baths Committee was read out “Following the visit to the Raetihi Swimming Baths made in company with you on February 22, you will realise that the baths, enclosure showers and conveniences, etc., are maintained in far from satisfactory condition by your committee, the conditions existing being far worse than on any previous visit made by me (in the past they have been fairly satisfactory) the defects noted and attentions and repairs required being as follows:—(1) The main filling valve is leaking and earth is at present being washed into the baths (1 understand that a new valve is to be fitted, replacing this defective valve). (2) The “hose tap situated mid-way along the north side of the baths, is either leaking at the valve, or has not been closed properly as the escaping water is washing earth into the baths. A new tap washer must be fitted if necessary and the tap always turned off properly. (3) As previously requested by me, a new “double flap’’ seat has not as yet been fitted over the men’s privy. Please treat this as urgent. (4) By the condition of the water, in the baths, they had evidently not been cleaned and refilled for nearly two weeks. Emptying, cleaning and refilling should be carried out weekly. (5) Chlorination of the water in the baths is desirable and may be effected by adding Sib. oi calcium hypochlorite wnen filling and a further Sib. about Wednesday or Thursday as directed. (6) The taps, in both shower rooms, were leaking (and evidently have been for some time) and thorough cleaning of walls and floors in each room and painting and calcimining walls is required. (7) The concrete aprons around the baths are dirty and weeds are showing through concrete cracks in parts. Cleaning and weeding is required. (8) I would point out that no concrete channel is provided for the run off and disposal of surface water from the earth terraces round the baths and storm water with surface washing from the terraces gains direct entry to the water in the baths, causing serious pollution and discolouration. To remedy this I strongly recommend that a graded concrete channel be installed between the concrete aprons and terraces around the three sides affected, the outlets being run off through the walls (one to each side near the dressing sheds) to the river bank adjacent.” The health inspector concluded by advising the council as under concerning this report:—“l consider that your council should be made fully aware of the position and that councillors should press for more strict control of the baths, as, if improperly maintained, they may become a danger to the health of the community.” Council Discussion. Cr. Laing.—l consider that all due credit should be given to the Swimming Club for building, paying for and managing the baths. But too much is asked of the committee and it should be assisted by the council. The baths for some time have been unfit for children to swim in. About 100 children from the Raetihi School a/ tend the baths every clay. The baths are important—even more important that the camp site on which so much money has been spent and of which the council is so proud. The baths should—with all deference to the Swimming Club—be run by the council and not by the club. The council and the public knew nothing of the health and sanitary condition of the | baths until notified by the health j inspect or and then the council leaves I it: to the Swimming Club. His Worship.—No request to adminisistei- has been received from the Swimming Club. Other councillors agreed that the Swimming Club should take the first I step in this direction. j After further discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Councillor | Laing, that the town clerk should j write to" the Swimming Club Committee, notify them that the report in question had been received and ask if assistance were required. The matter would then be duly considered by the council, WUt without placing the couni cil under any obligation at present.