The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1909. THE DRAINAGE OF GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2511, 26 May 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1909. THE DRAINAGE OF GISBORNE.

It would have been a distinct advantage if all the ratepayers in Gisborne

could have been crowded into the Council Chambers last evening to hoar Mr. Marohant outline his scheme for dealing with the sewerage of the borough. The report he has prepared is published in full in this issue, but only those who were present and heard Mr. Marohant i‘eply in detail to the numberless queries which were put to him can realise the completeness with which lie lias mastered the difficulties that were said to stand in the way of a proper sanitary system being installed in the borough. Incidentally, his remarks elicited during the discussion furnished most interesting information upon the treatment of sewage generally. Ever since the Mestayer scheme was first considered by tho Council, we have maintained that it was too costly for this town, and hazarded the opinion that a satisfactory one could be obtained for much less money. Subsequently a report was received from Mr. Jickell, but the extraordinary circumstances under which 'tlijs scheme, was promoted by tho Mayor prevented it from receiving the consideration which its merits might have justified. In any case, the cost was ’considerably in excess of that which has been outlined by Mr. Marohant, 'who estimates that for a system capable of providing for a population of 30,000 and covering the entire radius of the borough, £58,000 will suffice, with an annual upkeep of £4OO per year. Under Mr. Mestayer’e scheme £125,000 and an annual upkeep of £2OOO were required to deal with the same area and population; whilst Mr. Jickell estimated tho cost of his scheme at £107,000, with annual charges of £750 per year. As to the efficiency of Mr. Marchant’s scheme, no one who heard his explanations last evening can have 'much doubt. He was able to quote chapter and verso in reply to every adveise contention that was suggested by those Councillors who very properly sought the fullest information. Broadly speaking, he relies upon the use. of the septic tank principle, and where pumping is necessary he uses electricity generated by the surplus power from our water supply system. The efficacy of septic tanks has now been proved beyond a shadow of doubt, and the number of Dominion towns which have adopted this system with,: successful results leaves no room for misgivings. The Council will probably adhere to its former decision to submit Mr. Marchant’s scheme, together with those of Messrs Mestayer and Jickell, to a Boaid of Experts, although such a course now seems unnecessary in view of the lucidity with which the much more economical scheme of Mr. Marchant has been set forth and verbally elaborated. it seems to us that if the Council were to submit Mr. Marchant’s estimates to an independent qualified sanitary engineei, and he should endorse them, the most satisfactory plan would he to then submit the scheme direct to the ratepayers.