GARDEN HOSES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 4

GARDEN HOSES

CITY WATER SUPPLY NORTH SHORE SERVICE In a report to the Auckland City Council last night the waterworks engineer. Mr. A. D. Mead, reported on The scheme being carried out to provide water for the North Shore. He estimated the ultimate cost at £22.000 over the original estimate of £125,000. He attributed this to increases approaching 100 per cent in a number of items, including transport and shipping, particularly since Japan entered the war. He said wages costs had risen, and owing to the call-up of men the average quality of labour had declined. When a further .'53 chains of 12in main had been laid, including the harbour crossing, the supply of water to the Shore could be commenced. The completed scheme called for a duplicate main across the harbour and the erection of a reservoir at Birkenhead.

It was decided to apply to the Local Bodies' Loans Board for authority to raise a 10 per cent supplementary loan of £12.500 to enable the scheme to be completed.

Mr. Mead also reported on the use of water in the City Council's area, and 'commented upon the high demand for water for garden use by means of hoses. He said the consumption made it necessary to bring the policy relating to garden supply up for review both in respect to bylaws and the effect of the garden supply on the distribution system. Last February the consumption had reached 16.000,000 gallons a day on several consecutive days, whereas the normal consumption was 5.000.000 gallons a day less than that figure. An increase in the number of inspectors to possiblv ten in summer was recommended bv Mr. Mead. He also proposed that there should be installation of meters where sprinklers were used to excess and prosecutions for all breaches detected. The report was adopted, the council authorising the appointment of inspectors to detect wasteful garden use of hoses in the coining summer. The council ratified an arrangement with the One Tree Hill Borough Council and Mount Wellington Road Board for the supply of water for fire-fighting purposes in the industrial area of Penrose from the loin main now being laid from the city to Westfield and which passes through thfe area.