CHRISTCHURCH WATER SUPPLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5610, 17 February 1879, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH WATER SUPPLY.

TO XHH EDITOR OF THB LTTIELTOX TIM« Sib,— Having read the report of the Water Supply Committee, submitted to the Counrit iast, as published in your issae of Feb. 11,1 beg to expressa hope that you will allow me to contradict the statement made W the Committee in the second pamir-ani, ■/ —" That not any one of the twenty Iw'r submitted (in the estimation of Mr ciarte the eminent hydraulic engineer, to whose judgment they were referred), complied fully with the conditions required by the Council’’ This is untrue, and at least does me an injustice. Mr Clarke, in his report, condemned the Waimakarm schemes only as failing quantity and pressure. My scheme was from the Heathcote, with reservoirs at an altitude of 400 feet, capable of delivering one and a half million gallons per day, or one-half the above quantity during the first five hours when the greatest consumption takes place, through an 18-inch main. above I recommended as being sufficient for 50,000 inhabitants, and allowing thirty gallons per head, which considering we number 30,000 inhabitants in the city and suburbs at the present time, is not an excessive provision. The population will probably double itself during the next 10 years. In this view that I have taken as to the necessary magnitude of a scheme to be adopted, I am supported by the leading Hydraulic Engineers of England. The beforementioned quantity of 750,000 gallons in five hours, is equal to 2500 gallons per minute. Now let us compare this- quantity per minute, with what the Committee are about to recommend the Council to adopt, viz.,— 1,000,000 in 24 hours, which is equal to only 696 gallons per minute, and this is all the Waimakariri scheme provided for, and upon which Mr Clarke based his- calculations, in conjunction with, the rest, without considering for a moment if it was sufficient, but simply carrying out the conditions issued by the Council.

The size of the main, 15in diameter, with an elevation at the source of 196 ft, Mr Ciarke calculated would be sufficient to bring 696' gallons per minute, and a jet of 100 ft, but did not say if any length, of fire hose had been taken into consideration in the calculation. I know It was not. Now, suppose a fire to take place at any time during the day, and only four jets are brought into play, which, with a mgh pressure constant supply, and hydrants judiciously placed wouldbe used, 600 gallons per minute would be required to supply the jets alone, leaving only 9o gallons per minute for the use of the inhabitants. It is simply impossible for the 15in pipe to deliver more water per minute than 696 gallons with the bead provided, and as calculated by MrOlarke; consequently, if this scheme he adopted we know what we may expect, and I defy anyone to contradict the truth of my statement. I have been applied to by several of the leading citizens of Christchurch to call a public meeting of the ratepayers, in order to give them an opportunity of hearing my views upon the matter, as a great number possibly have not read my communications from time to time. It has been suggested that a vote of the ratepayers shall be taken, ss the gentlemen before alluded to agree with me that, upon principle at least, to say nothing of the presomptuousness of the Committee’s proceeding, it is wrong to accept the decision of a Committee composed of various tradesmen, acting without any professional assistance as they have, and involving the expenditure of so large a sum. I can only b&j I shall have pleasure in attending any meeting, but I can do no more than point to the farce of the undertaking contemplated as illustrated in the preceding paraj graph. I would add that by the last Brindisi mad I wrote to Mr Clarke, C. 8., calling his attention to the foregoing facts, and asking for his opinion. Probably the Councillors will listen to an opinion from him, if they will not from me, and the eminent hydraulic engineers before referred to, who quite coincide with me j and I would respectfully ask the Council not to decide upon such a ruinbus scheme, at least until that reply be obtained.—l am, &0., W. P. HUBBARD, Hydraulic and Civil Engineer.