BUSH NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7601, 21 February 1896, Page 2

BUSH NEWS.

[OWN COEEEBPONDBNT.]

With reference to the Danevirke water scheme, which has absorbed so much attention for some time past, the whole of tho preliminary survey acd inspection of the oountry lying between the Tamaki rivor and the town are now completed by Mr Leslie H. Beynolds. With his neual thoroughness, he examined every nook and corner, so as to be absolutely certain of having , tho open water race, the reservoir, and the iron piping fixed in place where best provided for by Nature. With a view to have an adequate head of water at Dennehey's corner, the highest point of the town, the Tamaki stream will be tapped several ohains further up than originally intended, say about sixty ohains south of S!r Williamson's property, at which point the water will flow from tho Tamaki by gravitation in an open race dug out of the ground until it reaohes a plaoe where a reservoir will bo made of sufficient capacity to maintain tho full requirements of the town for a week or two, if needs be.

The dietance from the Tamaki by tho raja will ba two and a-third miles. The distance between the reservoir and Dennehey's corner, where iron pipes are to be laid down, is about 210 chains. The volume of water carried in the race to the resarvoir will bo 1000 gallons per minute, and the volume of water running through tho main pipe from the reservoir toDennehey'soorner will be 750 gallons per minute, so that 250 gallons per minute will be running to waste from the reservoir. This wi)l find its level on the land on each side of the pipes, bo acting aa a means of irrigation on the lands it crosses.

I may mention here that although the water course, including both race and piping lines, is longer than stated, by reason of having to tap tho stream at a higher altitude, in order to havo the water head at Dennehey's oornor—say 210 feet, instead of as originally intended, 110 feet in height, and have 117 head as Mr Norrell's hotel instead of 67 feet—yet it is very satisfactory to know that now the heads of water both in Danevirke and Mangatera will have ample height for all time for firo prevention purposes, as well as for domestic and perhaps horticultural purposes, fetill the expenses of the works as thus unproved will not be increased ia the least.

I see by the papers that Mr Reynolds, who worked out the above scheme so well, is employed by the Palmeraton itforth Borough Council to report oa the waterworks of their town, which is not now in a satisfactory sfcato.

Mr Boynolde hsa 13ft Danevirke for DunediD, where he ia to prepare the placs and specifications, with a general report, of the Dinavirke works as lately altered, which will occupy hia timo some four or fivo weeks.

I do not remember of ever having here guoh continued and intense drought as we are now experiencing in the bush dietriots. It reminds rao very muoh of Melbourne some years ago, when living there. If na rains come shortly, our prospects of winter grass are not very bright.