MEETING AT LINWOOD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12824, 7 June 1907, Page 8

MEETING AT LINWOOD.

The statutory meeting in connection with tho proposed high-pressure water supply fcclienio for Linwood Ward was held last night at tho Social Hall, Church street, Linwood. Thero wa_ a moderate attendance, and his Worship tho .Mayor, -Mr G. I'ayling, presided. Councillors Horsley, Cooper, and Otley wero present.

The Mayor said that under the propened fcchemo it was intenued to coiupieio a separate installation of water tor Linwood similar to the one existing at Sydenham, with a power supply from the destructor. It was proposed that the supply ot water should be artesian. Tho intention wos to catch tho water in a surface reservoir, and pump it into a tower IUO feet high, the capacity of tho reservoir on the tower being -10,000 gallons. Tho loan which it waa proposed to rai-u to carry out tho water biipply scheme was £19,200. He thought that all present would realise that an -adequate high-pressure water supply was really a uecossity. The residents of Sydenham had a partial schemo in their district,*and they wore so pleased with it that they were clamouring tor its completion. Christchurch and its suburbs had been going ahead by leaps and bemuds during recent years, and it was becoming more and moro evident that a general highpreasuro water supply must be provide*d lor tho wholo city. In every way— for drinking purpose's, (sanitation, and in the event of fire—a good water supply was desirable. Mr W. W. Tanner, M.H.R., said a point had been made of the. proposal to lay on water in order to givo highpreisiiro sewerage connections. Ho would liko to know tho extent of the sewers in Linwood. If ho remembered aright, not a third of the streets had sewers with which to establish connections. Tho Mayor said he was not ablo to state tho exact length of the sewers in tho streets of Linwood. Councillor Otley said that a largo proportion of tho Linwood ward was not provided with sewers, but it was intended to extend the present sewei.s, and increase tho eewago area. He emphasised the importance of carrying out tlie proposed high pressure water supply scheme. Councillor Cooper also advocated tho carrying out of tho proposal. Tho Mayor alluded to tho decreased quantity of water now flowing from tho privato supplies. On nn average, thero were from 300 to 500 private wells being put down every yoar. The adoption of a general schemo would obviato much wasto of money and water. In reply to Mr Little, tho Mayor said every ratepayer who took tho water would pay the whole rate, whilst those who did not take tho water would pay half tho rate. In a general discussion that ensued, the drainage question was raised and considered. Mr W. W. Tanner 6aid the water supply system proposed was about tho cheapest scheme that the people could adopt. Tlie question for the ratepayers to consider was, whether it should bo adopted now, or postponed until it would bo really useful—namely, when a proper sewerage system was provided. Mr A. D. Dobson, City Engineer, explained tho general schemo for the city, and tho separate scheme suggested for Linwctx- if the general scheme was not adopted. Councillor Horsley asked whether, in the event of all the wards adopting tho scheme, tho .supply would come from one central source, or from separate sources. Mr Dobson, City Engineer, said that in that event, tho intention was to supply all wards from a main central source. The Mayor announced that a poll on tho question' would bo taken in about threo weeks. Mr W. W. Tanner moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor, Councillors Otley, Cooper, and Horsley. and tho City Engineer, for tho information they had given the ratepayers. The motion .ai carried unanimously.