DRAINAGE OF GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2518, 3 June 1909, Page 5

DRAINAGE OF GISBORNE.

CONSIDERED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. MR MARCH ANT’S SCHEME ALONE TO BE SUBMITTED TO A BOARD OF EXPERTS. At the conclusion of the ordinary business of the meeting of the Borough Council last night, the Council considered the question of drainage for Gisborne. The Mayor moved, and Cr. Collins seconded, a motion that the Council go into committee to consider the question of drainage. Cr. Darton said lie was not in favor of going into committee, especially in view of the fact that several members had made distinct and definite pledges at the time oi' the. election. He considered that the discussion should be held in open meeting. Cr. Collins said that loan proposals for drainage in the past had been thrown out because it had been made known that the Council could not agree. There was a moral responsibility on them for the lives that would be lost in the next two years if they did not come to a unanimous decision. He strongly supported the suggestion to go into committee in order that the public might see, at length, that the Cuoncil had come to a unanimous decision. They (the Council) did not know the awful state of affairs thathad been in existence during the typhoid epidemic. He urged them, in the name of humanity, to bury tho hatchet once and for all. and let tho Council come to a unanimous decision on the all-important question of drainage. Cr. Clayton said that there were certain portions of the question that should be discussed openly. He thought ther was a lot to be said on both sides, and suggested that they should define the portions that were going to be considered in committee, lie was quite certain that the Council would approach the subject in an amicable and proper spirit. The Mayor said that he only meant that they should go into the matter in committee in order to discover how the Council intended to-, have the schemes approved of. Cr. Pettie objected to the Council going into committee any oitener than was necessary. He believed that the members would be able to come to quite as unanimous a decision in open meeting as in committee. However, on tins occasion, he would support the motion.

The motion was carried, Cr. Darton alone dissenting. The Council then went into committee, and, upon resuming in open Council, the .Mayor moved the following resolution:—"That ill*. Marehant’s sewerage scheme bo submitted to the Chief Health Officer of the Dominion, the Chief Government Engineer, and Mr. Cuthbert, of Christchurch, for their report and opinion, and that all necessary information be forwarded with the report,, and that the experts be asked to specially report on the following heads, as well as on any others that they may think necessary: (1) Is the electric system of pumping, formulated by Mr. Marchant ,the best system for this borough 5 si requirements? (2) Will the system of syphon age, as suggested, between "W hataupoko and Ivaiti work satisfactorily? (3) Will the excess of water from bathrooms, washhouses, etc., interfere with thovsuccessful working of the septic tank? (4) Is the cost of lnaintouanee sufficient? (o) Will the suggested drainage of trenches through the pipes affect- the joints in in construction? (.6) Is there any danger, from a sanitary point of view, from putting the effluent from the septic tank into the sea? (/) Is the scheme so designed as to be capable ot extension as population increases. C Are the suggested gradients sufficient . (9) Is the absence of filter l>eds a detriment to the scheme? (10) Do you consider that the work can be earned out for the estimated cost?'’ Cr. Kirk seconded the motion. Cr Darton proposed as an amendment that all the drainage schemes bo submitted to the board of experts. His only reason for doing so was on account of a pledge he had given to the Cr. Clayton seconded the amend- ( U 1 The Mayor said it was not possible to expect the ratepayers to adopt Jic Poll’s scheme at twice the exist of Marohant’s. and Mestayer’s had already boon refected. , , . Cr. Pot-tie said that he had given thought to the matter, and llfl W ' that the only way to arrive at asp - conclusion was to abolish the ques of sending all the reports to the boaiu of exports. . . . rn Cr.'Collins said it gave him pleasure to find the Council practically unanimous on the question, except °n tfi° smaller question of the three schemes . The motion was carried unanimous! the amendment having been lost by ‘ to 2 . Tli'o result of the division was received with applauso.