WAINUI WATERWORKS. 1

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 52, 4 March 1901, Page 5

WAINUI WATERWORKS. 1

INSPECTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. A TRIP COMBINING DUTY WITH PLEASURE. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. G. W. Aitken) and his colleagues in the City Council held their annual outing at the Wainui-o-mata waterworks on Saturday, and in combining inspection duties with picnic pleasuies spent a most enjoyable day in the open air. The party consisted of Councillors and their- wives or other relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Page, Mr. and Airs. Rounthwaiie, and pics lepresentatives. The only Councillor ab.-uut wcio Messrs. Anderson, Toihur»l, M U4l, and Townsend, the last-named two being out of town. The weather left behind in Wellington at 9 a.m. was dull, Out from Pctoae onward through tae valley of tue Ilutt and over the hills huo xha Wainui Valley it was all that could be deshed. Tho long drive was delightful, and when the caretaker's house was reached, afc about ha.i-pasfc 12 o'clock, every one in the party was ready for the good fare provided by Mrs. Quaintance. After the meal had been heartily partaken of, tho .City Fathers, headed by tho Mayor and the Engineer, made their way up the gorge to the site lor the proposed second reservoir for tho storage ot water. On arriving at the ranger's house strangers to the locality had a run across to see the waterfall-, which was in lull play. The sightseers were surprised to learn that the water which went to make the pretty effect was all waste, being the overflow from the reservoir. "My word," exclaimed one Councillor, enjoying his first visit there, "what would our citizens of the high levels say if they knew that all this water was running to waste?" The City Engineer assured the company that it was estimated that 'during the flood-lime of somo five years ago no less than 700,000 gallons of water per minute ran to waste over that waterfall. It will be remembered that the threatened drought of two summers ago caused the Oily Council to turn its attention seriously to the water supply difficulty. Since his arrival in Wellington. Mr. Rountlmaite, under instructions frbm the Council, has devoted a good deal of time to the matter. He has at odd times tramped over the watershed and through the gorge of the Wainui in search of the key to the problem. He has had borings made in trying to find bottom and learn what that bottom consists of. The result of the Engineer's months of investigation waB shown to Councillors on Saturday. About a quarter of a mile above the present reservoir the visiting paity came to where Solomon's Knob overlooks the Wainui stream to the leffc and north, and George's Creek comes out of a second gorge away towards the right and east. "'lf you go on up there," said one of the party, pointing to the gully whence came the rippling waters of the Wainui, "you will get into the Mungaroa Valley." No one was looking for Mungaroa just then, however, and the inspection proceeded. At the foot of Solomon's Knob a triangular group of pipes was seen projecting out of the ground. "What ore those pipes for?" was the general query. The Engineer, who was the guide and in-" strucfor of the party, explained that those pipes indicated his borings, which had been made within the area of the triangle. The bores showed that a stratum of solid rock lay at depths ranging from Bft to 22ft. A huge hole, upon the edge of which Mr. Aitken stood, holding a warning fiugcr up to venturesome visitors was dubbed "the Corporation infernery," because in its depths tho excavation contained some ferns that tempted enthusiasts. This hole representsented some of the sinking lately done to discover the nature of the bedrock. The ' triangular outline mentioned above is the ; area which Mr. Rounthwaite suggested should be utilised for the storage of the ( surplus water — that water which is now j running to waste down stream. The aica j is as yet in. a very rough state, yet lends ! itself admirably to the construction of a fine dam, with a capacity for storing some 90 million gallons ot water. The site lies •between the Wainui stream and George's Creek, at the foot of a gorge in which the second watershed forms George's Creek. The area owned to-day by the Corporation at the foot of the Wainui watershed is some 3000 or 4000 acres, and the magnificeut range of bills, densely clothed with bush as they are, should <?ive a water supply ample for a city double the size of Wellington. But the' water needs conserving. Even as it is there is a Ire- | mendous waste going on. After the party had returned from its instructive visit up the gorge, an inspection of the overflow at the reservoir and the water-race wasi made. The race, which is an open flume running down into ihe valley for a mile and a quarter, was found to be in very bad condition. "Why, it leaks like a sieve !" exclaimed %an astonished Councillor. "2Tes," was the reply, "half the j water that comes from the reservoir down f this race escapes before the well is reach- | cd." It was generally agreed that it had been a fortunate thing tor the city that Wellington had passed turough a well- | watered summer. Discuss-ing the race i difficulty, Councillors generally agreed i that it was highly necessary that "the i flume should be superseded by the use of mains right up to the reservoir. Ten- < ders for the supjjly, of the necessary pipes , have already been called for. Befoie > leaving the locality the City Fathers ex- i pressed the opinion that their time had be,en well spent in thug seeing for themselves tho condition of the tource of the city's water tupply, and that they would now be better equipped for dealing with all questions relating to it that may come before them in the future. The reurn trip was started upon shortly after 3 o'clock, after Councillor Barber had photographed the driving party and cheers had been given for the caretaker and his family. It should be mentioned in passing that a number of the visitors had spent a little time in coaxing the luscious blackberry fioin its thorny lair, and other energetic beings gathered ferns from damp and darksome retreats. The afternoon's weather was "made to order' for driving, and good time was made by the Jehus and their horses in getting over the ranges back into the Valley of the Hutt. The lovely landscape and seascape presented from the hilltops — the Hutt valley lying beneath and to the right, Petone and Port Nicholson to the left— called forth many expressions of delight from members of the party, all of whom had brought their "seeing" eyes with them. A halt was called ntM'Nab's Gardens, where, and whilst afternoon tea was under preparation, the visitors strolled round the grounds. The altered and improved appearance of tho gardens and lawns was the subject of general praise. It \vas agreed that the new management had transformed the popular grounds into a most beautiful spot. After the soothing and refreshing cup had been partaken of, Councillor J. P. Luke said he could not let such a merry party break up without offering thanks to the Mayor for tho enjoyable outing provided. The vote was carried with cheera. In returning thanks Mr. Aitken said the pleasuie of the day had been such as to make the occasion remembered. Tho visit had also been instinctive, for, speaking personally, he had learned some things about the city's water supply which ha had not known before There was work to be done at the waterworks which needed urgent attention, and he felt sure that tho visit of inspection had proved

profitable as well as pleasurable to Ihe Councillors as w«U as to himself. He thanked them for their vote, and thanked the ladies for flieincompany. Tho Mayor, the Town Clerk, and the City Engineer made an indefatigable trio in looking after the welfare of the party, arid, as they remarked, their reward lay in the thorough, enjoyment which had come to all throughout the day. "All aboard once more!" the whips cracked, and away the carriages sped for town, which was reached shortly after 7 o'clock.