Water and Drainage.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 43, 20 February 1901, Page 3

Water and Drainage.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night the subject of water and drainage came up as usual. Mr B. L. Mestayer* wrote re "testing samples of water for supply. In selecting a source of water supply one of the main considerations must necessarily be' the quality of the water; this can only be determined by chemical * analysis, and should your Council have selected any sources suitable in other respects, it would be advisable to have samples of the proposed supplies analysed as soon as possible. In taking samples for' malysis very great care must he taken to ensure the water reaching the analyst in its natural condition. The samples must be collected in glass-stoppered "Winchester quart bottles ; those which have contained sultained sulphuric acid are the best for the purpose. The bottles must be perfectly clean, and should be thoroughly rinsed out five or six times with the water to be sampled immediately before collection. The samples must on no account be taken from the surface, but the bottle, closely stoppered, being held about a foot or 18 inches below the surface, the stopper is pulled out by means of a string and the bottle filled to overflowing: it is then to be brought to the surface and a little of the water poured off, sufficient to allow the stopper to be replaced and a small aitspace left sufficient to prevent the bottle being cracked by expansion of the water if heated. The samples should be sent off as soon as possible after collection. As modern analysis is conducted in quite a different manner from the method formerly adopted, I would recommend that any samples your Council takes should be sent to Professor Easterfield, at the Victoria University Laboratory, Technical School Buildings, Wellington, as he is undoubtedly the best authority in New Zealand on such subjects. lam engaged to give expert evidence in a drainage dispute at Palmerston about the beginning or middle of next month; I hope it will bo the former, and shall not be able to get away from Wellington until it is over. The case has been hanging on now since the beginning of December, but will, I 1 hope, be settled for good and all by the 1 middle of March.

The Mayor said that evidently Mr Mestaycr thought they had half a dozen places near. • Or Joyce said it seemed to him that the letter was simply sent with the object of prolonging matters till Mr Mestayer had finished with the other work he was on I

t was time enough for him after he had seen the sources to give suggestions as to analysis. They would be charged for such letters, which were of no benefit. The Mayor said that Mr Mestayer had not been asked to come on any definite date.

Cr Hepburn. thought it would bo an advantage to have delay, as there had been so much rainfall this year. Or Harding said it seemed to him that the letter was to facilitate matters, enabling them to get any lots of water sampled. The Mayor said that they desired him to locate a site. They had had water analysed before, and should not want to waste time in doing that until he came and decided as to the probable source. Until that night they had not been in a position to say when Mr Mestayer should come, and he hoped they were not to have delay now. Cr Joyce thought they should not have delay in getting analyses that would not be wanted.

Cr Johnston considered that the course suggested by the Engineer was the only sensible one. There were only about three probable sources, and he moved that the suggestion of Mr Megtayer be adopted. Cr Harding seconded the motion, saying that the expense of getting the analysis was small, but it would be expensive taking him to places that, on the water being analysed, would be found useless for their purpose. Cr Hepburn agreed that the suggestion by the engineer would facilitate matters if carried out.

The Mayor disagreed. Mr Mestayer was coming for two purposes, water and drainage. He should get the water, and not send anyone elso to get it. The drainage scheme would occupy sufficient time to enable the sample of water to be sent to Wellington. It was much better he should have the responsibility in his own hands.

Cr Jones said that he only knew of one probable source, but it was for the engineer to decide that point. .He himself would approve of any scheme that was not high pressure. Until a source was selected, it seemed to him premature to have further analyses. Cr Johnston said that for the sake of spending £5 in analyses, they should have everything ready. Cr Joyce said that there was no use getting analyses of water from sources which had not sufficient quantity, It was better to haye Mr Mestayer’s own opinion instead of spending a few pounds here and a few pounds there in sending bottles of water.

Cr Jones remarked on the fact that it had taken so many months for this suggestion as to analyses to be made. The motion was put and lost on the casting vote of “the Mayor. For: Crs D. Hepburn, Harding, Lewis, and Johnston. Against: Crs Joyce, Jones, Kennedy, and the Mayor. At a later stage Captain Winter’s plan giving the levels of the borough was presented. It was resolved to inform Mr Mestayer that the plans were ready, and that he could come as soon as he liked.