RICCARTON NEEDS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18915, 2 February 1927, Page 11

RICCARTON NEEDS.

RE-LAYING OF MAIN ROADS. HIGH PRESSURE WATER. At a meeting of the Rieearton <"i" tens' and Ratepayers' Association held on Monday night, the question of reconstructing 'Uiceartou road, within the Borough Boundary, and a proposal to embark on a high-pressure water sui/ply scheme were discussed. The Riccarton Borough Council is now preparing a scheme for the reconstruction of Riccarton road, and is also investigating the costs of reticulation for a Of course, unless the work in either scheme could be paid lor out of rates, a poll of ratepayers would be necessary. The meeting ot the cost of such works out of rates apnears to be out of the question. An estimate in the vicinity .«' .£14.000 has been given for the laving; down of the one and a quarter miles ot Riccarton road, passing through the Borough, in a bitumen surface 2;in thick. This information was given at the meeting on Monday, when it \\nstated that the company which lum given the estimate was prepared not onlv to extend the payments for the work over five years, but also to meet the maintenance over that period. As for the suggested high-pressure water sunplv scheme, the present method of siipjdv is by wells, each house having its artesian bore. The level ot water in some of the shallow wells is falling: indeed, some householders who used rams for pumping the water into tanks, have had to install electric pumps. This reduction is particularly noticeable in an area south of Riccarton road. It was apparent, from the discussion, that a high-pressure water supplv scheme will meet with some opposition from residents who are wellscrved with water. A big argument advanced in its favour was the advantage to lie secured from a liigh-prcssuru supplv for fire-fighting purposes. At present the principal sources from which water can be drawn in the ease of fire are the main drain and the Avon river.