CITY WATER SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1913, Page 8

CITY WATER SUPPLY

PRESERVING ITS PURITY. GRANT BY GOVERNMENT. t For some years past the City Corporation has" been anxious that an area of land at Wainui-oonata which is held by the Government should be vested in tho city, in order to further ensure tho adequacy and purity of the city water supply. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) recently wroto to the Prime Minister (lion. w. F. Masßey) with reference to the area of land referred to. The City Council has received a letter from the Government intimating that the forest reserve in question, Consisting of an area of 6500 acres, will be vested in tho City of Wellington for water-supply purposes. Ton, Post reporter to-day, Mr. M'Laren, alluding to this Government grant, said : "We thereby secure a permanent addition to tho area which ivd already have for the very valuable purpose of ensuring continuously an adequate and pure supply of water for the city. I understand that in the course of a fow days the land will be formally gazetied as having been vested in the city. This has given mo considerable plea-sure, because it is a matter of great importance, in view of tho growth of our city, that wo should have . tho -whole of , the watershed surrounding the source of the water supply. "I believe that the time will soon come," added the Major, "when wo will have to mako provision for bringing in a further supply of water from Orongo-rongo. When I visited Wainui-o-mata the other day with members of tho City Council, the City Engineer pointed out how the work of bringing tho additional supply from Orongo-rongo could best bo carried out. Of course, such an extra supply is not required at tho present time, but it is well that we 6hould look some years ahead in regard to tho very important matter of having the most nerfect and up-to-date water-supply system that we can secure."

The demonstration on Saturday at Eoseneath was really the outcome of the choice of the name of the locality. The block of land originally comprising Roscneath was 104^- acres, extending from the school to the boundary of Hataitai. At the time of its purchase in December, 1885, it was being used for grazing purposes. The property was then surveyed into allotments by Mr. E. H. Besre, and named " Roseneath " by an old resident of Oriental Bay (the late Mrs. M. S. Hill, mother of Mr. G. S. Hill). The new proprietors contemplated running a ferry service, and for this purpose a ferry company was formed and a paddle steamer called the Colleen was purchased. The Harbour Board granted an application in January, 1886, for the erection of a ferry wharf, the site being immediately opposite the large tea kiosk now being erected at the ttam terminus, but beyond preparation of plans and taking soundings nothing further was done in the matter. A fire in Wade-street Extension, Wadestown, which broke out at 5 minutes past 9 o'clock this morning, resulted in the total destruction of a fiveToomed house owned ant occupied by Mr. Chas. R. Joplin, the local schoolmaster. The Central Brigade answered a call to the suburb, but on arrival had jio chance of saving the building. All the contents were also destroyed. The house waci insured for £360 in the Stnte Office, while the furniture was covpred by a policy of £200 in the United Office. It is thought that the outbreak was caused through sparks from the washhouse fire falling on some clothes. Messrs. 15. Johnston and Co. will hold a sale of the stock-in-trade of tobacco, stationery, fancy goods, nnd household fuiTjjturo on the premises, No. 284, Upper WillL-slreot, to-morrow, at 1.30 o'clock, ou account of Mr. Atkimou, who v eiyhis ujs busiaew.

A very exciting runaway occurred on i ,Jervoie-quay late on Friday afternoon.. ' An express was drawn into the Bond Store, where the horse took fright, and, despite the fact that the wheel was chained and the brake hard on, careered madly down the street. Tho animal had not gone far when it encountered a boy's bicycle, which was smashed to pieces. The boy, who wae holding the machine at the time, had a very narrow escape. Next, ono of Messrs. Wardell ' Brou. 1 carts suffei'ed as the result of a collision, and the harness was also broken. The horee was brought to a sudden stop by running between the wharf-shed and a lorry. To-day Mr. Herbert Seaton, of Willisstreet, handed a cheque for £12 l?s 9d to the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren), which amount will go towards the Easter carnival receipts. The cheque was accompanied by' a letter, ih which Mr. Seaton states that tho amount contributed is 10 per cent, of tho gross receipts from his business for the first week of a period from the 15th inst. to Ist March. He expresses the hopo that the 1 t v cheque^ which he will havo pleasure in conIributing next week will bo/ a larger one, and ho wishes tho carnival every success. Tho Mayor has instructed the secretary to write to Mr. Seaton, thanking him for his generous offer. Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. will hold a sale of furnishings and piano, at their rooms, oh Wednesday, at 1.30 p.hi. They also insert a notice that the Miramar sections, which havo been advertised, have been sold for £,400-