DAY OF THRILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 90, 17 April 1934, Page 3

DAY OF THRILLS.

VISIT TO WATERWORKS SPILLS ON A TRAM ROUTE. TRUCKS WITHOUT BRAKES. Thrills and spills were the experience of some 50 representatives of local bodies and members of Parliament who accepted the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, to visit the city waterworks yesterday. Practically every suburban Mayor was present, and also many councillors who had taken part in the recent water controversy of "Auckland v. the Waikato." In addition to the Mayor of Auckland and several city councillors, including the chairman of the works committee, Mr. H. P. Burton, there were present the town clerk, Mr. J. Brigham, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, and the waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead.

The first thrills were those experienced on the drive to Nihotupu. The long line of cars climbed laboriously into the ranges in low gear, and when the summit was readied opportunity was taken to enjoy the view, for many of the party were making the trip for the first time. When at the dam, the city engineer explained the methods of construction, the time the work took to carry out, and the hazards of the venture. He said that, roughly, the cost was £200,000. A tender was accepted just before the Great War, and after a certain amount of the work had been carried out, the contract was surrendered and the undertaking completed by the City Council itself under his (Mr. Tyler's) supervision. The dam had been built to impound 530 million gallons of water. An auxiliary in the vicinity had also been constructed to hold an additional 70 million gallons. Lower Nihotupu. The party climbed down a beautiful valley for a distance of about a mile and a half to the main dam, and when standing on the crest of the reservoir wall the engineer pointed down the valley to indicate where it was proposed ill the future to construct the Lower Nihotupu dam at a cost of approximately £300,000. When that work was put in hand there would be sufficient water for a population of ;100,000, and the city would be provided for until the year 1955 under present conditions, or until 1950 in the event of other local bodies joining in.

A 10 miles drive from Nihotupu, along the beautiful Henderson Valley to Swanson and into the lower Waitakere ranges brought the party to the Waitakere filter station, where luncheon was to be served. There was a hitch, however, in the commissariat arrangements. The meal was to be eaten before the tramp of two and a half miles, almost half of which is through a pipeline tunnel, when it was discovered that the milk, cups, saucers, plates and dishes had not been brought. By telephone an emergency car was summoned, and although some of the older men were by this time sighing for a cup of tea, it was decided to complete the tunnel stage of the journey and to picnic in the open air on the dam side of the mountain. Through the Tunnel. The tunnel was as blacji as a dungeon, the only light being from the fitful gleams of a few lanterns and from the thousands of glowworms. Walking was difficult on account of the mud and water, and many of the visitors expressed regret that they had not come dressed for the occasion. After luncheon

the tramp to the reservoir was continued. On reaching the dam Mr. Tyler explained that originally it was built to contain 220,000,000 million gallons, but six years ago, when there was a shortage of water, the wall was raised 10ft, doubling the capacity. The lake is approximately 40 acres in area and is fringed with beautiful native trees and bush

It was on the return trip to the filter houses, where the cars were waiting to convey the party back to Auckland, that the greatest thrill of the visit was experienced. A tram rail has been laid for the whole distance for the purpose of hauling material to and from the reservoir. With the object of obviating the long tramp back, especially through the dark and muddy tunnel, five trucks were coupled together with improvised seats, the traction power being a horse 30 years old. Down the Grade. Mayors and councillors took their seats like a party of joyous school boys on holiday. Going down the first gradient the songs and jests (the latter chiefly aimed at the Milk Council) ended abruptly as the "train" got out of control and careered down the grade. The danger lay in the fact that the trucks were entirely without brakes, and the line traversed what is known in railway parlance as "dangerous country." _ At many points a trucjk off the line might have meant a drop of hundreds of feet into the valley. The runaway came to a halt when the front truck came off the line. The passengers got mixed up with the horse's feet. Fortunately beyond a few minor bruises nobody was hurt.

Another accident happened a few minutes later, when the iron harness trace caught into a set of points, slewed the horse around and lifted another truck off the line. The jar brought most of the passengers off their seats, and there was a general mix-up. One city councillor narrowly escaped serious

injury. In a short speech at the luncheon, Mr. Hutchison said that in view of recent criticism he thought it was fitting that the suburban representatives shou ; a have an opportunity of viewing the waterworks. The city had nothing to hide, and all information was available. He was particularly anxious for critics of the Aueklnd scheme to get the facts, and not use incorrect information.