WATER SUPPLY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5136, 6 February 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

WATER SUPPLY.

The Mayor laid on the tablo a printed report by Mr. Monarty on the water question (which 18 published in another colutnu) He said the only thing for tho Council to consider at present waa, whether they would consider the leporfc at present, or whether they wou d see Mr. Monarty upon the subject Mr. Moriarby was leaving Auckland by the 'Victoria,' and if the Councillors d«sued to see him there waa but litile time. Mi . Moriarty waa in attendance if any Councillor wished to see him. — Couucillor Isaacs stated that ho had not seen the repoi t before he came into the Council Chainbua, and he could not speak upun tho meritb of tlie report. He would like time to r^al it <>Vk.v, and think the matter over before coining to a decision on auch a subject. —The Mayor explained that a copy had becu foi warded to each Councillor, and he ought to have received aoopy. — Councillor Isaacs explained that he had left his orhce at Lulf-past one o'clock, and tho copy had not 1 cached there then. — Mr. Moriarty was then introduced by tin- Town Clerk, and took his seat at the Council table. — Councillor Isaacs said he did not know the recommendations which had been made by Mr. Moriarty, and could u.>t satisfactorily consider tho subject with .vlr. Moriarty. lie would need botno time to ooo3ider the subject — Mr. Moriarty baid ho tound the iteamer ' Victona ' did not loavfl Auckland b&foie Monday, atid that would afford Councillors time to read and consider the report, and afterwaids have an interview with him if such was dean id. '-Councillor Williams said ho saw by the report that Mr. Moriarty there was not sufficient Bpace for a storage reservoir at th>.Nihotupu. Jle was always umtoi the impression that it was a particularly good place for constructing storapo reset voird. Mr. Moriarty was not aware of bis impressions. — Councillor Hurst said Mr. Moriarty 'b opinion was: "but as the minimum yield must always be takon towards tho teat of the capabilities of a water supply for a city, I do not think it would be safo to estimate being able to draw any largi r summer supply from this stroam [than 1,210,000 gallons pei oay,] and as for the exceedingly precipitou* and broken character of the country iu which the Nihotupu takes its rise, them would seem, as far as I could observe, or gather from the different reports recommending it, te be no suitable site for the foimation of storage reservoirs, in which the surplus of wet seasons could bu retained to meet the requn ements of the dry. lhe tigurei< I have given above at to the quantity hke'y to be available, cannot in n.y opinion b<materially increased, and even if the whole of tho water could bo deliveiod in Auckland, it would be, as I Luve st.it d in refirencu to Onehuiiga, hut baioly sufficient for piostut requirements, and must shortly f.dl rihort of thoiie and tho future " Tho question he wanted to ask af'er reading tho ftbove, was a simple one Is there not sufficient room for the construction of storage and leservoirs in tho neighbourhood of tho Nihotupu? — Mr. Moriarty said, judging from tho features of the country theie he should Hay thuro were not. He saw no suitable place tor i storage reservoir, and he was over a good portion of thexiistricr. When he spoko of a suitable prtice for a storage reservoir, he did not mean a place where a few days or weeks supply can only be stored. He meant a place where a six tronths' supply could be stored, so that ample time would lie afforded for repairs, &c. For auch a place he saw no place in the neighbourhood ot the Nihotupu. A» to the water he believed it would bo found unsuitable. It rose in a pl>ce which rendered it undesirable for a town supply. The large quantity of vegetablo matter thereabout in a state of decomposition, rendered wat^r unfit for domestic us,e. — Councillor Hurst asked whether he was distinctly of opinion that there was not a sufficiency of vator for tho city in the Nihotupu?— Mr, Moriarty said when he w«ut to tho mer at first there was

not mors water in it th.ui would bo sullic'ient toi n. good town supply at tho present tnno, without making provision foj' the future. — Co incillor M acre id \ he had it from competent engineers that the t was amplo gathering iriound about the Nihotupu for millions and millions of y. lions. If Mr. Moriarty had gone with Mr. Anderson, the city .surveyor, or any othor gentleman who knew the country, ho would ha\c luul a better chance of knowing the capacities of the distuct, and would piobably have found that thoie gentlemen would have shown him places where any <|iiautity of water could be collected. — The Mayor said Mr. Mon.iity was thero to hear and answer questions not to listen to speeches. —Councillor Hurst said apart from what Mr. Monaity said about the quantity of water, attention should be paid to what he said about the quality owing to it passing through a district with so much vegetation. — Councillor Maeready wanted to know Mr Moriarty '3 views upon the bringin j ot the water fiom Nihotupu; Would it bo very difficult ? —Mr. Moimty: It would be almost impossible. — Councdlur Wilhims said Mr. Monarty recommended a place near f'onsouby lload as a site for a distubuting reservoir, he wanted to know whether he had examined Kyber Pass Koiid as a. site for a storage reservoir. — Mr. Moriarty replied that he had, but Kyber Paas was some 50 feet higher than the highest part of the City proper, and if they lifted the water unnecessauly higher in order to allow it to drop down again, this consumed so much more coal which would have to bo paid for and that increased tho genual cost. They must raise the water only the necessary height to serve tho city. Councillor M.icrcaily was quite ot opinion with Air Moiiutym that respect. — Councillor Hurst said if the Council extended tho water supply to Aewmaiket, Epsom, &c, would th it cause Mr. Moriarty to change tho site which he had recommended tor a reaoivoir V— Mr. Mouarty, even in those circumstances, would stick to Ponsonby lioad. It was the most suitable site they had. It they extended the waterworks to other districts he im^ht cmstiuct a reservoir at Kyber Pass, but ho would still havo tho one at L'ousouby Road. That encumstauce would not alter his views m the least. The Pousouhy Road site w.is the only suitable place m the city for auch a purpose Why should they deaire to lift tho water oQ feet higher than was necessary to supply the highest placo in the city ? — Councillor Hurbt asked what would be tlie difference in th« expense. — Mr. Moiuity replied it would be at least £400 per annum in favour of tho Ponsonby Itoad situ. — Councillor Isaacs aaked whether the statements he gave respecting the quantities and and qualities of the wateia were made upon personal observation, or whether they wero made from information supplied to him. — Mr. Moriarty replied that the statements ho had made respecting the quantity of wate. weie the result of observations made by himself, and he would again impress upon CounoilloiB that to pump the water unnecessarily high would be a great mistake. — Councillor Isaacs asked, from what Mr. Moriarty had seen of the several sources of supply, did he think any of them would fail when drawn upon. — Mr. Moriarty replied that they might t»Ke his measuies as to the quantities as being correct. They might rely upou the discharge he had stated as the minimum quantity ; th-j measurements being taken m a- dry Uino of what he considered a very dry season. — Councillor Macready was not so suro of that. He ivmeinberdd some l'J years ago the discharge of water fiom the Westciu springs was much less th.ui at prtsunt. Tneii the quautity discharged was only bullicici't to drivo one pair of stones m Messrs. Low and Motion's Mill, when, da tlu* quauuty <tt pn'^uit \\a& sulheiuiit to dme tluee pans of ptunis. Then that iitm sent to Australia for an engine to do tho work which tho water was not enough to let them do. A similarly diy season might come again, when thit souice ot supply might f.ul inera — Mr. Moriarty replied, thero were six pairs of stones in the inill, thtee driven by water, and thieo connected with tho steatn-engintt. 1 he enguo did not Beein to have been used for a veiy long time, showing that for a long time pabt thei e had been as much water as tho quantity he had put down. — The Mayor : Have you visited tho Western Spnngs at times when your vis)t was not expected ? — Mr. Mouarty : I believe, I have. — The Mayor: 1-ave jou had oocajion to believe, or suspect i that the wat^r was dammed up on any occasion you visited the springs, so that the discharge might measure uioiethan the ordinary llow ' — Mr. Moiiarty asked to be excused for not -ivmg an answer to that qiiLstiou. — Councillor Isaacs : 1 a»k you has there been any such t.hu.g as damming up the water 1 ' — Councillor Hurst (m the sinu breath): If you have any reasons for thinking that there has btPH damming up to make the llow stronger than u->ual ? — Mi. Mon.uty : Appa» r< ntly thoie had been damming ud to make tho llow s'rouger t l i<m proper. He had since made several observations on the Western Springs, and believed ho had now obtained tho truths m r<gaul to their discharge. — Councillor D.irgavillo (who had been absent during tho previous part of the examination of Mr. Muiiart}) here onteied, and asked if Mr. Morinrty had Bati&tied lain self that there were no facilities for constructing Btorage reservoirs at Nihotupu. — Mr. Moriarty replied it was possible theie might be such places, but ho had seen none. He had not exploicd eveiy nook of tho country, but from r. hat ho had seen he thought thoro was no suitable place. He made a aufneieut examinat on of tho distiicc as satisfied him upon that point —Councillor Dargavillo said mmy of the councillor and citizens weie of the opinion that thero was one valley vciy well adapted for that purpose— Mr. Monaity : I saw no placo that m my opinion 13 suitable for hucu a puiposc. — Councillor Dargaville said at the croabin ' of th<j load it seemed to him there waa .1 plice which was by Nature intended for a storage leservoir. — Mr. Moriarty saw tho place iofcrred to, but Ciusideied it unsuitable. Tho fall of the fluifaco of the ground waa lapid then, and m such places vety high cmbuikments were required before even a small quantity of water couldjbo ttmed. He couBideied the place quite eontoinptiblo foi a reservoir of the capacity r-quued ; so much no, that ho never thought ot tut mug that place to such a purpose. - Councillor Dargavillo said Mr. Moriarty hiJ not piovuled estimates of the cobi of tho Nihotupu souroe of supply. — Mi. Monaity said it was only a general estimate he could form. -Councillor Dargaville said some gentlemen wero of opinion that a cheap supply could bo got from tho Nihotujiu by making a short tunnel through the hill, and then cairying tho water in n opon aq i-uluot >nd pipes to the roservo'r. — Mr. Modaity •aid euch a plan would bo unbuitiblc. Before tho water were carried four or live miles m an open race, nearly tho whole of lb v ould bo lofet by ovapoiation, leakage, \c — Cmucil'or Daigavillo asksl whether the bLoit tunnol had suggiatcd itself to M>. Monarty'n mind' — Mr. Moriarty lopliod it did, but he was opposed to the jjan. The loss of water would be Tory gre.it — Councillor Dargaville : Could you give mo an estimate of the- cost ?— Mr. Monarty repLod that tho plan would be a costly one. To hi ing water fiom tho Nihotupu a lar^e quantity of piping would be lequuvd, at lea-it of 21 miles. Ifo ooul! only mako a rough estimate. — Councillor Dargiville said as to tho purity of the water of tho Nihotupu they had had tivo aualj seq by two sepaiato chemists, Dr. Knight and Di. Hoctor, who i ('commended \tjor its purity. Could not tho great mass of vegetation referred to by Mi. Moriarty be obviated ? — Mr. Mori,»rty did not think so. Tbpre wero so many streams falling into that river, aud cvoiy little stream would bring down a quantity of this decaying organic mattei, and, in his opinion, it could not be got rid of, not even by lilterinjj.— Councillor Dargaville said Mi. Bell's opinion was that £100 or so would eon->tiuct a liltor sufftcitnt to mako the water thoroughly p'jre. — Mi. Moriaity said if they took the *atcr fiom it dm ing the dry season the water might ho made comparatively pu ( „ oy a hlter, but if thoy took it during the wet soRRon when, the

natcr would wash a greatoi area of country, it would brni£ down suoh a quantity of 01gamc matter that a filter would not sepaiato. — Councillor Macready said hcolitained wme of tho Niholupu water some two or tlnee years ago, and kept it in Jus hou-e for teveral month?, and at the end of th.il time ifc was pure and sweet and clear n3 possible, and lie did not think it would ha\« contained much oigamc matt< r to hav Lt ul for th.it length of time. — Councillor Ifcaica asked it thiiew.is <i good supply at that placo. — Mr Munarfy : No. 1 don't think theie is —Councillor Hurat looked at it in a scientilic way, 13 there any argument in favour of a gravitation scheme ovt r a pumping scheme savi* in the m ittor of cost 1 '— Mr Monarty : Nothing more. London is sup plied by a pumping scheme. — Councillor Isaacs stated tint it was the tendency at the piesent time to adopt gravitation schemes when possible in preference to a pumping one — Councillor Hurst asked if Mr. Moriarty had taken into his estimate of the Western Springs the quantify of water in Edgeoombe's Creek. — 11 r. Moriarty replied in the affirmative. He had estimated ovei 600,000 gals, per day from Edgecombe's Creek. They should obtain a large supply for the metropolis of New Zealand. — Councillor Dargavllle replied, that Auckland was not the metropolis of New ZoaKiud, There were many other cities in the colony besides Auckland. — Mr. Mon.irty replied, that might be, but he believed that iu five years' time Auckland would exceed them all ; and if they selected a small supply now, they would 1 egret it in tho future. Ho estimated that for domestic purposes o0 gallons pur head <>t population would bo required ; bat if they used any foi mamifat tilling purposes, steam bo lers, and so foith, 70 or 7.~> gillous pur day per h' ad of population would not bo inoro than enough. — Councillor Dargaville said, according to his estimate the Nihotupu si ream would piovide an abundant water supply for at least a population three timeg ag large as that of Auckland at present — Mr. Moriarty : That might be for domesuc pui poses, but in future it would be much moie largely used for machinery, and provwou would havo to be made for that contingency. — Councillor Dagavillc would like an estimate of the cost of bringing in a supply from Nihotupu. Then the merits of tho various schemes could bo fanly considered. At present they were labouring in in the dark. — Mr. Moiitnty: To make a proper estimate of that tho land would have to be surveyo.l and the levels taken I have not done that ; I have not tune to do it now. To do bo would ont ill considerable expense. — Councillor Hur^t asked whether Mr. Moriarty could foim an estimate of tho cost of maintaining the 16 miloa of pipes from Nihotupu, and whether the annual cost of that scheme would be as great or greater than the annual working charges of the Western Springs source. — Mr, Moriarty could not give exact figures, but h» was sure the cost of maintaining the Nihotupu scheme would be considerably more tuau the other one.— Councillor Hurst : That is very important. But if we have to pay £30 000 for oompensatiou for the Western Springe, would you then give & preference for the supply being taken from those springs? — Mr. Monaity : I would. I don't think tho Nihotupu stream would suit you at all. To bring the water from that source in by close pipes would cost a large sum, and the aunual breakage would bu considerable ; and to bring it in by an open canal tho leakage would be so gieat, that wh u it was brought into tjun you would not havo half enough — Mr. Moriarty was then thai.kol for Ins attendance and withdiew. — I he Mayoi said, a^ Mr. Monaity was not going avray until tho CounciIIoM would havo tune to consider hiai report, and meet again to express an opinion upon it befoio he left the piovmoe, he hoped that in the meantime the l'iess would ventilate the subject. — Councillor M icready moved that the fuithor consideration of the subject ho deferred until Monday morning at 10 o'clock.— Councillor Dar^avillo seconded the motion, and hoped a copy ot the report would ba given to the Press in tho meantime. — Councillor Hurst expressed, himself auxioui to have the question settled at once. Ho had been convinced of Mr. Monarty's answers that the Western Springs were the proper source of supply. — A numbor of Councillors opposed such a hasty proceeding, especially as several members weic absent, and after some warm debate the motion was agreed tft without amendment.