THE WATER SUPPLY.

Evening Star, Issue 18812, 10 December 1924, Page 9

THE WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOU. Sir,■—Your leading article on the Dunedin water supply was to the point, and if there is any civic pride in Dunedin it should bo the means of stirring up the citizens to take an intelligent interest in city affairs. 1 understand that recent alterations to tho Southern Reservoir were to solve all our problems, yet after an expenditure of about £IOO,OOO we appear to be in a worse plight than ever. It, is now rumored that a similar position has occurred in connection with Waipori; that owing to miscalculations on the part of the engineer the foundations of tho dam will have to bo considerably strengthened before the wall can be carried to the necessary height. This sort- of thing appears to be tlic rule rather than the exception in Dunedin, and any number of instances can bo died. We are not getting value for our money, and tho rates are steadily rising. It is about lime that a change was made in tho personal of tho council. On looking over tho list of names one cannot help being struck with the fact that, with few exceptions, none of the councillors appear to be men of particular standing in tho city. The present system is not giving good results. The host men will not come forward and serve on public bodies. My suggestion is that two or three capable men be .appointed as commissioners to run the city. Ray them well—it would bn cheaper in the long run. Wo could not possibly be in a worse position than we aio at present.—l am, etc., Citizen. December 9. (The present city engineer (Mr Alexander), to whom the point was referred, states that there is no question of a miscalculation in regard to the Waipori dam. It was obvious that tho calculations for a 40ft, dam would not be applicable to one of 110ft.—Ed. E.S.]