GRAVITATION PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 90, 26 January 1943, Page 5

GRAVITATION PLAN

QUESTION OF TEST BORES.

DECISION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last evening. Those present were the, Mayor (Dr J. Connor), Messrs J. Thompson, W. H. Amos, TV. Kerr, H. G. Fcrrier, E. C. Bathurst, A. A. McDonald, A. H. Fenn, TV. IT. Smallbone W. H. Sarney, H. W. Sherratt and A H. Todd. • Mr H. G. Boyds, a consulting engineer, forwarded a letter from Mi JM. Stewart to the effect that the plant required to drill test bores at the site of the proposed gravitation water scheme at Greenstreet would proceed to Ashburton immediately following the completion of Government contracts already arranged for, provided the operator was not called into camp. The letter stated that owing to the small amount of work to be done the estimated additional cost of transport would be not less than £2O higher than the figure previously quoted. Expressing the opinion that the scheme for pumping water through a 6-inch pipe was futile and far from adequate, Mr Thompson said he thought a reservoir should be constructed at th# site and water could then be pumped from this source. There would then be no danger of inadequacy of supp!y. . , , , Mr Bathurst said it was understood that the proposed 6-inch bore was only a test'bore, and that others would be put down if the supply proved satisfactory. j .

A motion by Mr Bathurst that the Council accept Mr Stewart’s proposal, with a proviso that the work be commenced in four weeks, was seconded by Mr Kerr and carried . ■ Mr Kerr said he thought the water obtained by means of the proposal outlined by Mr Thompson would be river water, whereas the. bores were to be sunk in springs . / ■ A report of the results of an analysis carried out on a sample of water taken by the Inspector, of Health (Air J. G. Kirk) at Allenton on December 21 was received from the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. T. Fletcher Telford), who stated that the water was satisfactory. The Government Analyst’s report showed that no organisms* were detected in the water.

Current rates were coming in steadily, reported the Town Clerk (Mr It C. Major), and £13,209 had been received to date. Compared with the previous year’s figure of £130,916, the valuation of the Borough for last year was £131,052. Building activities at Allenton were largely responsible for the increase. Since the previous meeting of the Council seven building permits, totalling £238, were issued. Receipts since the last meeting amounted to £7217, announced the Mayor. As a result of a statement by Mr Thompson that he had received complaints about some boys taking dogs into the paddling pool at the Domain, the Council, sitting as a Domain Board, agreed to erect a notice at the pool to the effect that dogs were not allowed there. In the interests of health, said the Mayor, it was essential that this sort of thing should bo prevented.