DROUGHT CUTS DOWN MARTON WATER SUPPLY

Grey River Argus, 19 April 1948, Page 4

DROUGHT CUTS DOWN MARTON WATER SUPPLY

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT FINDS OWN PUMP P.A. MARTON, April 18. Due to the co-operation of the Railways Department, the residents in the Marton borough will not suffer any further restrictions of their water supply. This was made clear to-day by the Mayor of Marton, Mr F. Purnell, when his attention was drawn to a published statement that if rain did not fall before Monday, the people in Marton would be forced to maintain a “bucket”' service. The Railways Department has now been disconnected from the borough water supply, having installed its own pumping plant at Kakariki, some six miles south of Marton Junction, to obtain water from the Rangitikei River. This action by the Department, he said, had enabled the Borough Council to maintain its present water supply to its own consumers. Due to the abnormal dry weather, the borough supply has had to be cut off for seven hours daily during the night time.

Showery weather has been experienced in the district to-day, and it is hoped that the borough reservoir will soon carry a sufficient volume of water to enable full service to be restored. Mr Purnell said that the borough is grateful for the prompt way in which the Railways Department has met the position.