THE WATER SUPPLY.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. •

A special meeting of the City Council was held last evening to consider Mr Mestayer's report on the water supply and suggested improvements and extension. There were present — The Mayor (Mr J. A. Harley), Councilors Baigent, Lock, Piper, Fairey, Moller, and Akersten. Cr Kout sent an apology, through Cr Baigent, he being detained at a Building Society meeting. After stating the object of the meeting, the Mayor called on Cr Saigent to open the question, Cr Baigent asked ' that free discussion should be allowed, and the ordinary rules suspended. The Mayor said that he would not place any restriction upon speakers, who could speak as often and as long as they wished. Several Councilors thought it would be better to go into Committee, and allow toe reporters to remain, and this course was adopted. ' Cr Baigent said that he was rather disappointed that Mr Mestayer had not gone into the suggestion of three small dams 'in the gorge more fully. Mr Mestayer seemed to have discarded the idea of these dams altogether. This, he thought, was a pity, for it was questionable whether the ratepayers would sanction so costly a scheme as that recommended, though it was undoubtedly a superior scheme. Therefore he was sorry that the suggestion to have three small dams in the gorge was not completely reviewed. T Mr Mestayer, basing his estimate upon the City Surveyor's calculation, found that these dams would store 6| millions of gallons, equal to 16 days' supply, but apparently Mr Mestayer had not taken into consideration the inflow during the time, which, would be 10,400 000 gallons, and that would mean a 34 days' supply at the present consumption^ The City Surveyor explained that evidently Mr Mestayer had estimated for the larger consumption with proposed new main.

Cr Baigent said that he gave the information for the Councilors to consider. He (Cr Baigent) estimated that 280,000 gallons per day were required for the population at 40 gallons per day, and 136,000 gallons foi extraordinary services (irrigation manufacturing, etc.) which was all taken out in about 14 hours of the day, and as the discharge capacity of the present main wa3 650,000 gallons in 24 hours, this meant that there was a deficiency of 44,000 gallons on the requirements of the" fourteen hours through the incapacity of the present main to supply more' during that time (Cr Baigent then detailed how he estimated the quantity used for- extraordinary services). Altogether, he continued, he felt that he had shown dearly that it was necessary to lay down a new main at once, leaving out of consideration altogether the question of conserving water. Except in times of drought there would ba sufficient water to fill the proposed new main. The Maitai scheme was undoubtedly the best of all schemes, but the cost put it out of consideration. Coming to the scheme Mr Mestayer recommended, he noticed that Mr Mestayer stated that only £1500 could be saved by partially doing this work. " , Cr Lock said that he had not had time to consider the report, and would like to coni aider the report fully, but it was not fair to those who had studied the report and come prepared to put consideration off again. He could say, however, that there was no doubt that those in the high levels wanted more water, but there were hundreds who got all the water, they required, and they would not be likely to put their hands in their pockets to give water to others for irrigation. The fact was that there was a splendid domestic supply, and if all waste was stopped there would be plenty for everyone. He, however, was willing for the matter to go to the ratepayers. Cr Piper said that he ought to feel proud

that Mr Mestayer in his preamble justified what he (Cr Piper) had for years contended t that there was a splendid supply for all ordinary purposes, and that there was ample water if waste was stopped. If the Council was going to give unlimited supply, then the Brook must be abandoned altogether, and Mr Mestayer bore him out in that by saying that if free water was to be given without restriction, the water supply should be increased indefinitely. The gist of the report was that there was an abundant supply equal to 100 gallons per head per day, when 40 gallons was all that was reasonably required. He (Cr Piper) also considered that another main was not required, and Mr Mestayer bore him out in this, unlebS extra storage was provided. Quoting figures relating to 1885, the driest year on record of recent year, Cr Piper showed how the rainfall during the first four months of that year, gave only 50 gallons per day, or a half the present daily supply, so that there was not enough water for the present main. Then, Mr Mestayer showed that if storage up to 60,000 gallons was provided, it would only mean 119 gallons per day, and if that was all the extra benefit derivable, attention should be turned to the

tended that tbe Council was bound to place a scheme before the ratepayers.. He objected to postponement because two or three Councilors were absent.

Cr Piper supported the motion, and contended that Mr Mestayer's, and no other, scheme should be placed before the ratepayers. Amateur engineers had been the ruin of New Zealand.

Cr-Fairey said that there was no idea of placing any other than Mr Mestayer's scheme before the ratepayers. He was certain that the scheme would not be carried ; it would be a question of high versus low levels.

Cr Fairey's motion was carried. Cr Piper proposed that the City Surveyor procure two rain guages in accordance with Mr Mestayer's report. Cr Piper bad previously said that one should be placed at the Maitai (Mr Dolamore's) as well as at the Reservoir (as already ordered). This was not seconded, and Cr Baigent's motion to adjourn for a fortnight was carried.

Maitai, which would give an unlimited supply. If Nelson was goiug ahead (and it was the manufactories that had sent Nelson on with "a bit of a spurt), it was to the Maitai they should turn for increased supply, as well as a source of power for manufactoring. Alluding to Mr Mestayer's recommendation that the higher levels should draw this supply from above reticulation.Cr Piper said that this would mean that each of the isolated high level quarters of the town would require a separate main from above reticulation- a most costly affair. Summing up the matter, he considered the policy should be to check waste, and prepare for improvement in the future from the Maitai. To his mind it was idle for £24,000 to be spent in conservation, when in the driest time, with increased main, the water would all be drawn off. Cr Fairey said that Nelson, from a residential point of view, was going ahead, but from a manufacturing point of view he did did not think so. He had read the^ report, but it was a big one, and he had not been able to fully grapple with it. To his mind the whole trouble was that there was too much waste. If the main was to be made larger, then the storage at the other end must be doubled, then came the question whether the Brook could supply the quantity of water. Before the question came before .the ratepaaers they should see Mr Mestayer's report in full, and he would later move that the report be printed in each paper. Cr Moller said that there was no doubt that if water was to be provided for the high levels manufacturing etc., then more storage was undoubtedly required. The Maitai scheme was 20 years off , the dam area there would be nearly a 'mile long and about half a mile wide, and it would store enough water to supply a town of a million inhabitants. The Council had promised to supply a scheme for the ratepayers (Cries of "No " and counter cries of " Yes ") and he was pleased to see that Mr Mestayer had favorably reported on the scheme which he (Cr Moller) and others approved when submifcted by the City Surveyor. This would give the high levels an adequate supply, As to Nelson going ahead, he put it down to cheap money, which enabled people to build houses, and he did not think there was much more than change of residence taking place by poeple going into new houses, the population increasing very slowly. Cr Fajrey said that the populatian had increased substantially, and" that by aged people from other parts coming to settle in Nelson. Cr Akersten asked the City Surveyer what he estimated it would cost to lay an eightinch main from the Reservoir- to Bashford's ? Mr jickell: £4,000. " Cr Akersten asked how much less seven-inch would cost ?

Mr Jickell said only the cost of metal, the labor etc., would be the same for one as for the other. .

Cr Akersten said his opinion was that they -should put in an 8-inch main from the reservoir to Basb ford's, and this was a duty. The supply could be increased by about one-eighth by making a cutting diverting a portion of water from the Roding watershed, and beyond that it was impossible to get a drop of water from the Roding. This cutting, by Wooded Peak, would cost about £2000, and he thought it should be done. This, with an 8-inch main, would give an adequate supply to the high levels, as well as tbe lower portion of the town. To get out the required pipes from England would take quite 12 months, and if the discovery of gold or coal sent the place ahead in the meantime, the question of building the dam could then be considered. There was too much water wasted, and he favored a charge being made, for irrigation, for which the, water was wastefully used. The community was small, and Mr Mestayer had mistaken the spending power of the people. The reservoir could be repaired for aboui £500, and this would assist the 8-inch main supply. Or Lock asked whether an 8-inoh main would give, enough water to fill the two mains which diverged at Bashford's, Or Akersten said that it would. Cr Piper : Mr Mestayer said that it would hot.

Cr Lock said that if there was plenty of water to supply the main advocated by Cr Akersten, there was no doubt that this would remedy the deficiency on the high levels now complained of. But he had on several occasions seen the dam with not a drop of water running over, which showed that the present pipe at times took away more water than came down the stream.

The Mayor said that the Maitai scheme was out of consideration. (Hear, hear.) For the lower scheme about £30,000 would be required, and he did not think the ratepayers would look at such an expenditure when all reasonable provision could be made for a few thousand pounds. He, with Cr Akersten, had recommended that another main should belaid, and this would remedy matters, unless perhaps for a month in an odd year. This, he thought, was better to put up with than burden the town with a great debt. He would go to the ratepayers in favor of what Cr Akersten had suggested. The full report had been in the hands of Councilors only a few days, and he thought that it would be well to adjourn the Council to a Mine date, and in the meantime issue the report as a leaflet through both papers. The City Surveyor, by leave, explained that a dam to hold 40,000 gallans did not mean conserving all the water in the Brook. There would still be a large surplus rainfall, which could be conserved with still larger dam. Also an eight-inch main with the present dam would at certain times of the year require to be cut off,. as there would not be enough water to fill' it, but still the laying of an eight-inch pipe was a portion of the .scheme approved by Mr Mestayer, and if the latter was decided on, the main would work in.

Cr Fairey said that it was for the Mayor to put Mr Mestayer's scheme before the ratepayers. It was no- good the Counoil adjourning, or further considering the. report ; it. was a ratepayer's matter. In reply to Or Fairey, Or Baigent said that Mr Mestayer did mention that the present dam could be increased in capacity, 1 but it was not sufficient to warrant the outlay: Cr Baigent again spoke in favor of the eight-inch main and larger conservation, but was not in favor of the idea of Cr Akersten's to bring in a portion of the Boding. He moved that the Council adjourn for a fortnight. Cr Akersten seconded. Cr Fairey moved that ' the report be printed, and distributed through the two papers. Cr Moller seconded this motidn, and con-

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