NOTICEABLE SAVING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21945, 13 February 1946, Page 4

NOTICEABLE SAVING

WATER CONSUMPTION 2,000,000 GALS. PER WEEK FURTHER STRINGENCIES “Well, we weren’t far out when we said we could save about 2,000,000 gallons per week, but it looks as though we may have to save still more,” commented the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, when a report befox'e last night’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council disclosed the consumption had been reduced to in the vicinity of 5,000,000 gallons per week. The report stated that the meter readings were: For the week ended January 28, 7,190,000 gallons: for the week ended February 4, 5,336,000 gallons. “The consumption during the week ended February 4 includes water pumped from the creek below Waingake, and the big reduction in consumption during this week shows that residents realise the seriousness of the position and are using the water sparingly,” the report commented. The average consumption in past years over the same periods and under normal conditions was 8,000,000 gallons a week. Rainfall at Waingake during January was ,08in., the lowest recorded over any month during the past 30 years. At present the Mangapoike pump is operating 6£ hours per day and the Waingake Creek pump 13£ hours. Mangapoike Contract

The progress made to date on the Mangapoike contract includes the formation of approximately 250 chains of access roadway for transporting and laying the pipeline from the dam to the main road at Mr. Smith’s. Transport and erection of stone crushing plant, metal screens and bins has been completed. The spawling of approximately 2500 cubic yds. of boulders in the Mangapoike Stream above the pumping station, and stripping and erection of air drilling plant and piping for excavation work at the dam has been carried out, while rock excavation work is in progress on both banks of the stream. So far no definite date can be given in respect to the manufacture and delivery of the steel pipes owing to the disorganisation in the steel manufacturing and shipping industries. In reply to a question by Mr. G. D. Muirhead. the engineer, Mr. G. F. Clapcott, said "he was satisfied with the progress being made at Mangapoike. Labour was still a difficulty.