WATER SUPPLY ON HILLS

Evening Star, Issue 18259, 26 April 1923, Page 6

WATER SUPPLY ON HILLS

INTERRUPTIONS BY LEITH WASH-OUT. SERVICE RESTORED. Tho Leith Valley main that brings in tho Waitati water supply was washed away at 3 o’clock on Sunday morning by a. torrent- coming clown Kichol's Creek. The water carried away tho road, the bridge, and the water main. Residents of Mornington, Roslyn, the Cavcrsham heights, and Anderson Bay may thus know how it was they could not get their usual supply. The time of tho occurrence was registered instantly by a special alarm clock—patented, wo think, by Mr MfCurdio, city engineer-—hanging in tiro caretaker’s bedroom. Tho caretaker hastily pulled on some clothing, ran along tho lino, and found tho break, but- it was of such alarming extent that tho workmen could not get it mended till midday yesterday. At 3 p.m. yesterday the water was flowing into the reservoir on tho top of the hills, and tho whole of the hill suburbs served by this supply should have been getting tho water by 5 p.m. But owing to the way that onr city forefathers laid the main there are pockets of air in tho pipe, and these prevent tho water from flowing properly. All the length of tho pipe is now under pressure, and when tho city engineer was asked about the matter at 1 o'clock to-day ho said that in a few hours there should ho a plentiful supply.