WATER AT PORT

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 7

WATER AT PORT

CEDAR FARM CRITICISED SUPPLIES BECOMING LOW Various aspects of the water storage system at Port Chalmers were ventilated at. the monthly meeting of the Borough Council last night during the discussion of the Water and Gas Committee’s yeport. The chairman, of Ahe committee . ‘(Cr C O- Knewstubb) moved the adoption of the report, but Cr W. D. Campbell questioned a clause relating to alterations to the proposed reservoir at the. quarry. Cr. Campbell asked the cost to the ratepayers of the proposed work, claiming that it was a waste of money. He advocated the construction of a reservoir closer to the town. Referring to the Cedar-Farm area, he said that the council should put all thought of this “tank” out of_ its mind and eater for the residents instead of for the shipping. An engineer from the Public Works Department should be asked to report on the quarry proposal. This had been decided upon some time ago, but so far nothing had been done about the matter.

(Replying, Cr Knewstubb said that Cr Williamson could obtain the facts and figures of the cost of the proposed work from the town clerk. He also explained that there was an output from Cedar Farm -at the present time of 17,000 gallons a day, which was keeping the residents supplied with water. Engineers were at work with respect to'the site of the new reservoir, and the Public Works engineers would be called in immediately it had been decided to apply to the Loans Board for a loan.

The mayor (Mr H. S. Watson) pointed out that recently a considerable sum had been lost to the ratepayers through the inability of the council to supply sufficient water to overseas shipping using the port; When the reservoir had been completed at the quarry—or tank, as Cr Williamson called it—the ratepayers would have their full supply as well ps being able to supply the demands of _ shipping. Ratepayers would have their normal water supply during the day, and the reservoir would he filled pt night when there was a smaller demand from the town. Cedar Farm was one of the best schemes the council had, and visits had been paid to the area by. a geologist, who would later submit his report. The motion was carried. WASTAGE OF WATER.

Cr Knewstubb reported that the level in the borough reservoir] at Sawyer’s Bay was low and decreasing. He made an appeal to the citizens of the town to exercise care in the use of water and avoid any undue waste. He also moved that a notice be inserted in the newspapers to that effect. Cr Matthews seconded the motion, aud Cr Campbell amoved as an amendment that restrictions be imposed -on the use of hoses. “ The council is becoming a debating society,” remarked Cr F. C. Smith after the matter had been discussed at some length. . The amendment was defeated, Crs Campbell and H. Williamscm, who seconded the amendment, asking for their dissentient votes to be recorded.