CHRISTCHURCH WATER SUPPLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5598, 3 February 1879, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH WATER SUPPLY.

TO THB EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Bie, —I observe in your issue of to-day that the Water Supply Committee bare decided that the Waimakariri river is the best source of supply, but do not say why; andhave arranged to proceed with Mr White’s experiment. In the face of the opinions which I submitted from the highest possible authorities on water supply extant, to the Council on the 16th instant, I cannot characterise their decision as anything short of presumptuous. The mere fact of an experiment being necessary implies grave doubts of its practicability. As an engineer, I should not submit a scheme unless I were confident as to its results, and should I not possess the confidence of the Council, for their satisfaction I would undertake any experiment connected therewith at my own expense, upon the understanding that if successful I should be recouped, and this should be the case with Mr White. Why should the ratepayers be called upon to contribute towards an experiment upon a scheme which even Mr Clarke refers to in his report as being “ very undesirable, because it involves the carrying of a pipe crossing the channel at an elevation above flood level, and the filtering area was limited to the sectional area of the cylinders to be sunk, which is an expensive arrangement, and would require such a number of them.” Considering that at least 1 square yard of filtering material is requisite to filter 700 gallons per day, how on earth does Mr White expect to filter one million gallons per day through nine cylinders, 3ft diameter, possessing an area of only 7'07 square yards, capable of filtering properly only 4949 gallons ? Without wishing to criticise this scheme any further, which, if in possession of full information respecting it, and emanating as it does from anon-professional hand, I make no doubt I could upon many other points, I feel sure that no reasonable thinking man will, in the face of the facts I have submitted, upou such high authorities, have two opinions upon the matter. If the Water Supply Committee were supported by qualified professional advice, as the Drainage Board is through Mr Bell, 0.E., it would be a different matter, I think, Sir, we have had quite sufficient of rule of thumb engineering practiced , here hitherto, the Tuam street conduit, to wit, to make one and all consider their- ways, but as there are several qualified legitimate Civil Engineers in practice here now, - this mal-practice should not appear. My favourite maxim is “ He sutor ultra crepidam,” which for the uninitiated means “ Let not the shoemaker go beyond his lastand with all dae respect to our devoted Councillors, I am bound to apply the above maxim to them. It cannot be expected, neither should it be, that a non-professional body should adjudge upon a question of such magnitude and importance unless professionally advised. If this scheme be persisted in I will stake my reputation upon its culminating in an utter failure, and if the ratepayers consent to stand and see their money wasted, I say they will have themselves to blame. I am, &c.,

W. F. HUBBARD, Hydraulic and Civil Engineer.