WAINUI MAIN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 537, 18 June 1909, Page 9

WAINUI MAIN.

DUPLICATION DEFEATED,

BY A.MAJORITY OF ONE. Councillor J. P. Luke, M.l\, at last night's mooting of the' City Council moved: (1) Thafc the council is of the opinion that the duplicating of the Waiiiui water . miin is a. work of nrgent ncccssity, and . .. resolve that </ho proposal bo submitted to . tlho ratepayers at.an early date. <- (2) That the City Engineer bo in-" sfrructed to' report to. tho council his recomnxffldiation, together with' 'detailed 'estimate \of coat' for the construction, laying, and connecting up proposed main a to city's requirements. . (3) That tire Finance Committee be re-. quested to consider ways, and means and . report to the coaneil th«r recommendii- ■ trons for the carrying out of tliepro- ■ posed undertaking. . . , lie mover quoted the former recommendation of the.engineer that tho"present* main would serve until the population exceeded (50,000. That point had now b«en passed,; and Wadestown. and Northland had. to ho supplied, and, there was aJso an:.agr«ement with Miramax. Tho pipes were "fatigued," and were therefore not in as good a condition as formerly. It would take some timo to prepare' plans, and he thought a beginning rfieuld be made. The tunnel whifch would be required oenld be started, nnd fibat would provide'employment for a considerable time.. Councillor Smith seconded tho resolution.

Councillor ShirtcliCe said he believed the ■ duplication was not so urgent now that the'. Karori reservoir was available. The engineer sasuTed him that tlhcTO were no more breaks in the m«in than formerly. Ho thought also thatas the project would require a now loan iit should stand over for the present year. Councillor Cohen suggested that a report and estimate should be made on the matter by the, engineer, .. Councillor Ballinger thought a new main was necessary. \ When 'the last accident occurred people in Cuba Street were without water. Wo wero fortunate in not having any fires during tho week the accident happened. Councillor Fletcher remarked that the matter had Deon brought up before and shelved., He thought tho engineer should bo asked to report on the work.

Councillor M'Lareh considered the matter was purely, one of finance. A risk was being taken with, the present main but he did not know whether thoy could got the . ratepayers to support tho proposal. Councillor Devino was in favour of the engineer being asked to report, and give an estimate. The .whole motion being precipitated would, ne considered, bo fatal. , Csnncillor , Carmichael moved that the words "and resolve that the, proposal be submitted to the ratepayers at an oariy date" in the first clause be doloted.

There was no seconder to the motion. ."Councillor Trevor was of opinion that we might' , wait for another year or two before tackling the work. The council could not ask for a loan for. the ourpose at present.!: ~ Councillor Fitzgerald considered that there was a desirable catchment area close to Wellington, viz., at ohsriu Valley. Tho erection of a dam there would, ho urged,"be loss expensive than doubling tho present main. Councillor_Luke, replying, said the duplication . would not involve great expenditure this year, as the tunnel would tako somo time, so would the survey work. Every time tho Waintii main broke down, they had to rely, on the 10-inch main from Karori, which was quite' inadequate;. Fore fire prevention purpose thero was not : an . adequate volumo of water, coming, into the city. . . , :.r Counoillor Dovine: Another pipe wouldn't increase it. .1. •: f 'Councillor Luke: It would. You ought to know, better, than that.

.Councillor Devine: Duolicato .tho Karori mam. ■ ' , ' ',- ■ . • Councillor Luke saiid that would be of' no use.". Councillor DevineV It would cost less. The - was- defeated by six -votes -to* five. - Noes—the .Mayor.and .Councillors Car-, michael, Devine" ;'Fiteebrald 'and i Trevor, Ayes—Ballinger, Fletchor, Luko, M Laron,. and Smith. . ' • .