WATER CARTED FOR DOMESTIC USE AT BLACKBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1949, Page 4

WATER CARTED FOR DOMESTIC USE AT BLACKBALL

With 14 days without any appreciable rainfall, the township of Blackball is critically short of water for domestic purposes and the cartage of supplementary supplies by lorry was commenced this morning by the Mines Department. There was a substantial list oi applicants for relief today and unless there is a change in the weather within the next few days the position will rapidly become more acute. The department’s mobile tank, which is equipped with a pump for delivering the water into the householders’ tanks, is servicing the homes of the mine employees, but an appeal has been made for assistance from the Grey County Council for the other residents. Arrangements were being made by the county officials this afternoon for the use of a pump for the purpose and it is expected that a county lorry, equipped with tank and pump will be available tomorrow.

This will be the first occasion this year on which it has been necessary to cart water at Blackball, but last year there were several periods of acute shortage. Plans for a permanent water supply for the township are still in the embryo stage, although the survey of the proposed scheme is proceeding at the present time.