HEATHCOTE WATER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30447, 22 May 1964, Page 14

HEATHCOTE WATER

County Council

Dissatisfied

Water containing the blackened remains of water plants was sometimes supplied toHeathcote Valley residents by the Lyttelton Borough Council, and the Health Department had confirmed this, the Heathcote County Council was told in a report by its works committee last evening. The county council, which has a contract with the borough council for the supply of the water, will state its dissatisfaction to the borough council. The borough council had said the material complained of was silica in the pipes. “I trust something will be done to see . the ratepayers are satisfied, even if this means cancelling the contract,” said Cr. C. M. A. Thompson. “It has been going on for more than two years now,” said the chairman (Mr J. C. Holliss). “I’ve seen no tadpoles, but I’ve seen mud.” “We’ll be getting salmon up there soon,” said Cr. W. B. Laing. “When the water goes down in their reservoir, black algai material comes down the pipes,” explained the engineer (Mr J. McF. Hamilton). The County Clerk (Mr W. H. Scrimgeour) said the material was no danger to health. The water plants died when the sun got on them through the level of the reservoir falling. “The Health Department says the only way to get rid of the material is to empty the tank and scrub it out, and even then the plants would probably grow again.”

Pre-Inca Body.— The mummified body of a priest who lived more than 1100 years ago has been discovered at Nazca, Southern Peru, perfectly preserved. A Peruvian archaeologist found the body in a burial gallery constructed of wood and leaves 10 feet underground.—Lima, May 21.