The Water Supply of the City.

Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 98, 25 April 1884, Page 2

The Water Supply of the City.

The moat important disonsaion at the meeting of the City Council last night was that which had reference to the best means to be adopted for increasing the water supply of the oity. The snbject was introduced by the reading of a olanse in the Public Worts Committee's report, stating that the City Surveyor had been instruoted to ask Mr. Saunders to name a price for which he would be willing to construct the flams at Wainui and maintain it till the completion of bis contract. In connection with this matter, a letter was read from Mr. Baundon, in reply to that sent him by Mr. Longhroy, intimating that he saw no objection to the proposal to construct a flume, but would not undertake to do the work himself. He added that a flntno should not coat more than XIOO. The Mayor explained that he had spoken <o Councillors 8. Brown, Danks, and other practioal men, on the subjeot, and had ascertained that water for the lower levels of the city could be obtained by placing a centrifugal pump in the stream near Fetone. The higher levels could be supplied from the Polhill Gully reservoir. Councillor M'Kenzio was in favour of constructing a flume. The oitizens were now suffering from a lack of water, and in somo coses employers had been obliged to discharge hands because of the want, of motive power. The matter was a very serious one, and should be taken into thorough consideration by the Counoil. The erection of a centrifugal pump might be cheaper, but he questioned whether it would act so well as a flume. One hundred pounds was not a large sum to expend for sneh a purpose, and so far as he could see, the oonstruotion of a flume would in no way be a hindrance to Mr. Saunders' contract. He would move, therefore, " That a 2ft flumo be constructed and tho water brought in at onoe." He objected to the water being brought in from Petone because it was not so pure as that at Wainui. He had several times seen duoks and geese swimming about in the stream on which it was proposed to erect the pump. In wply to a question from Councillor Petherick, tho Mayor said he did not know how high abovo the pipes it was proposed to place the pump. Councillor Danks— On tho level of the pipes Councillor Thompson would like to second the motion, but was afraid to do so in the face of the City Solicitor's opinion as to the liability in case of floods. He had seen Mr. Saunders on this subject, and had been assured by that gentleman that he had no desire to oarry out the erection of the flume. He (the speaker), however, was hopeful that some arrangement in that direotion might bo made with Mr. Saunders, and he suggested Councillor M'Kenzie should amend his resolution in the direction of appointing a committee to wait upon that contractor to see what could be done. Councillor M'Kenzie said he had no objoction to meet Councillor Thompson's views, and the resolution was altered so as to read, " That a two-feet flume be brongbt in, and that a committee, consisting of Councillors Danks, Thompson, Maginnity, A. W. Brown, and the mover, accompanied by the City Surveyor, be appointed to wait upon Mr. Saunders." This was seconded by Councillor Thompson. An amendment was moved by tho Mayor, " That the engineer be instruoted to place a centrifugal pomp in the stream at Petone." His Worship explained that he preferred this course because there was no possibility of involving the Council in a legal difficulty with the contractor. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Danks. Councillor Nowman was in favonr of bringing in the Wanui supply. His objection to the other scheme was that the pump would not supply the higher levels with water. Councillor A. W. Brown spoke to a similar effect. After further discussion the motion and amendment were pat, and the latter was lost. Another amendment by Councillor Wilson, " That the engineer be instructed to ask Mr. Saunders to name a sum for which he will

supply Wellington with water until the completion of his contraot," was not seconded.