STORM WATER TROUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3232, 31 May 1911, Page 5

STORM WATER TROUBLE.

HOW TO COPE WITH THE PROBLEM. A NEW LOAN SUGGESTED. A. problem that has long been felt in Gisborne is that of dealing with storm water, and after heavy rain, at practically any time, the various water tables and channels are quite inadequate to cope with the resultant, flow. At the meeting of . the Borough. Council last night, the engineer submitted the following report on the subject:— “To diminish the storm water trouble in Gisborne, it will be neces- . sar for the Borough to construct , large sized overflow's to the rivers. The road channels and open storm water drains would then feed into the overflows in a proper manner These overflows must be of sufficient size to take the water for all time. Thencost will be high, and it will be necessary, in my opinion, for the Council to decide the method of paying for this work. Should the work be carried out in piecemeal fashion, a bit here and a bit there, those ratepayers who are benefittod in. this manner will not see the necessity of helping the others who are not benefittod if the. Council should decide- bo raise a loan for this purpose. The amount of .money on general account that could be used for this purpose is small l in comparison with the work required, therefore the process of alleviating the trouble will be tedious. I am of opinion that it is inadvisable for the Council to* alter the present overflows in a permanent manner without deciding a system of finance. Meanwhile 1 the ordinary drains are being cleared out by piecework:.” „

Cr. Darton said that circumstances were such that, the engineer could: not deal with the- large subject, of successfully dealing with storm: water. The Council had cut down the revenue, but people bad a reasonable right to expect their sections to be made dry. ‘He mov-' ed that a committee be: set up to consider the l question of dealing with storm water,: and thait' the Council take into consideration the advisabilit-- of raising a Joan to complete the work.

Cr. Collins said he realised the necessity of dealing with storm water, but he" was afraid that the Council would require a loan of some £70,000 to complete all works urgently required. Cr. Pettie said that he was of oninion that where urgent cases existed they should give relief. He had been of the opinion that storm: water had been provided for in the streets proposals. He was strongly ini favor of the motion. Cr. Smith said he had been in favor of' including the matter of dealing with storm water in the original drainage proposals, but had been informed by the Mayor that a further loan, would be required for the purpose. Cr. Darton’s motion was carried'. Cr. Sawyer stated that he considered the drains of the borough had been neglected during the past year, and on this account the storm water had caused ipore trouble, than it would otherwise have done. He moved that where required all drains should be cleaned nut at schedule rates.. There were miles of drains to he cleaned out on the Whataupoko, and the work should .be done at once if 'they wished to avoid anothei fl °After discussion, Cr. Sawyer altered his motion; to read that the engineer be instructed to have the drains cleaned out at schedule, rates’. < The motion was carried.