The Devonport Water Scheme.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 229, 29 September 1887, Page 2

The Devonport Water Scheme.

(To the Editor.) Sib,—With your permission, Mr Editor, I would like to throw a few hints upon the Devonporb water scheme. lam very anxious that this delicate infanb borough should bo well looked after and provided with a healthy web-nurse. It has already suffered much from the yellow fever, and is showing signs ot falling into rapid consumption (of ratepayers money!). There were, I understand, two or three schemes proposed in the Council. Tho first scheme provided for the water to flow by gravitation from the Lake, which is 11 feet 3 inches above high-water mark, thus giving sufficient Ml to bring it along the coast to the Narrow Neck, thence across the swamp into a well provided for it at the foot or Mount Victoria, and to be pumped from there into a reservoir at the top. Why was this scheme not entertained? I find by Mr Philcox s letter that he advocated this scheme from the beginning. Mr Philoox is a shrewd and practical mechanic, well _ able to grasp the advantages and difficulties ot such a scheme. .1 believe with him that it may be quite possible to supply Devon port by that means for thousands of pounds less than the proposed £10,000 scheme. The cost of pumps and machinery would be less by nearly £2,000, and the saving in smaller pipes required for this scheme would provide nearly £2,000 worth of distributing pipes in the borough. This would be quite suflicient to fiupply our needs for the next, fifteen years (the usual life of iron pipes). At the end of that period they could be replaced by larger pipes, if necessary. But this, it seems, would not suit some individuals, who, being largely interested in land adjoining Lake Road, hoped to be able to tap the main and get -from it a supply of water, which would enhance considerably the value of their land, and, by a little side wind in tho Council Chambers, they were able to steer to this quarter, and this is done, remember, at the expense of the ratepayers, to the extent of four or live thousand pounds. Besides, pumping at the Lake would be very expensive, owing to the heavy friction in forcing the water up and down the gullies it would have to pass along that road. If thoy do pump at the Lake, the best plan would be to build a water tower by the trig station high enough to supply the whole district, even to Birkenhcad if required.—l am, etc, R. J. Robishts.