MR KIDSTON-HUNTER'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 10767, 31 October 1898, Page 3

MR KIDSTON-HUNTER'S REPORT.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir, Be your criticism of Mr KidstonHunter's report on the Dunedin water supply, you are possibly not aware that Mr Hunter left for Home on a visit by the Qothicon the 20th inst., consequently his alienee might be misunderstood by your readers. Nob being in possession of the data which influenced Mr Hunter in the drawing up of his report, it would not be right for me to enter into any controversy on the subject. My own opinion is that a single series of analysis is not, however, accurately performed of sufficient value either to condemn or belaud a water supply. The practice at Home is, in the large town, a weekly analysis of the water supply. Average results of the water constituents are obtained, and one is able to detect aooidental imparities from what are inherent to the water supply. By controlling reunite in this manner the watei purification can be intelligently carried out. Water ought to ba delivered to the consumers in a condition pleasing to the eye. The suspended matter, whioh is the cause of the cloudiness, may be of such a nature as to cause no injury to the publio health, yet ita appearance causes an Uncomfortable feeling in the mind of the consumer, and may even make him so apprehensive of evil effects as to cause illness. Every shopkeeper who values bis trade H«k* to deliver Jue goods in each » manner

Aa tho snppliw o{ water for Dantdiajan, I apprehend (I have only been a low weeks in Dunedin, and am therefore ignorant of the whereabout!i of tho supply), all upland water, there will not he niuon to Choo* in jpoint of purity. What will require *tt«n. tion is the extent of the Watershed, it* eapaci'y for storage by damming, etc } then its course to the town; if by an open watercourse, the geological nature of the toil along which the water will pass (this, of course, will augment the suspended and, possibly the matter in solution); also means must be adopted to keep the water free from animal organ'o contamination (vegetable organia is not likely to cause b rious trouble); filtration should certainly take place before delivery to consumers; this, of course, may be either upward or downward filtration. The latter is cer. tainly a matter requiring attention in Dunedin. I have noticed that the appearance of the water as drawn from the tap varies from day to day. If this were remedied the nitro-nitrogen and free ammonia, etc, com* pare very well with what I have been accustomed to both in Glasgow and London.— I am, etc., Geo. D. Macindoe. Dunedio, Ootober 31.