Proposed Waterworks Loan.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8071, 23 August 1905, Page 7

Proposed Waterworks Loan.

Comprehensive Proposals.

The particularly inclement weather prevailing last night materially affected the attendance at the public meeting held at the Municipal Hall List night in connection with the amended water service proposed to be instituted in the town at a cost of about £26,000. The Mayor, in introducing the' subject, said water was. an essential to good health, in the protection, of one's property- and also in connection with the effective sanitation of the town. The necessity-for enlarging the present water supply had commended itself to the old Council, who had propounded a pretentious scheme that the. town had not approved of, no doubt owing to its cost. The present scheme had followed largely upon the lines of the last one, but with several important amendments. Mr Jickell, in response to the Council's desire, had submitted a scheme at a very moderate cost, and providing all those people at present without water with that very great necessity. The Mayor then read the scheme, and a comparative analysis of the present scheme with the one recently rejected,, also the proposed reticulation with the present service and the one~ suggested under the d£56,000 loan proposed. They were as follows : —

A roaaonry dam. is to be constructed in the Tiritea Gorge about 15 chains bel&w the present intake, this dam, on. which a sum of JEISOO is to be expended,, will have faundations of sufficient width and strength to allow of it being eventually raised to a height of 30 feet, when it will back up about 15,000,000 gallons of water, the low dam to be erected under the present scheme backiug about 1,000,000 gallons. A suitable by-wash will be provided clear of the dam proper so that the latter will not suffer from scour. All necessary wells, screens, valves, scour pipes and other accessories will be provided and fitted at the dam. From the reservoir formed by the dam a 15 inch cast main will be laid above flood level to a • distance of about ono mile down stream, where it will be connected directly to the present 12 inch cast main, thus taking the place of the present unsatisfactory 12 inch earthenware pipes. On the new 15 inch main at 5 chains apart, hatch boxes will be inserted for the purpose of admitting a machine scraper to remove any corrosion which may collect on the inner surface of the mains, thus overcoming the defect in the present mains, which are much corroded, thus retarding the flow. It is not proposed in this scheme to interfere with the 12 inch main beyond Kilsby's Hill or the two 7 inch mains from the latter point to the service reservoir, it being the intention to replace these at a future date when the necessity aiises by a 15 inch main, and when this is done the works will be capable of well supplying a population of 20,000. From the Tiritea side of the service reservoir hill a 12 inch main will be connected to the present 7 inch mains, and this main will be carried on towards the town, ending at College-strett, where it passes the service reservoir. It will be suitahly connected thereto by three valves so that the supply may either be sent direct to town (which will be the usual supply) or ;hrough the reeervoiv as maybe required. The present 9 inch main leading from the reservoir to the Square will remain in position,.and with the -ibove new 12 inch main will be equal in sectional to a 15 inch main, and therefore suitable without alteration for extending the supply for a population of 20,000. The new 12 inch main is to be suitably conrented at College street to two 8 inch mains which will L lead north and south along that street to Cook and Scandia streets, and thence on to Cuba and Broad streets respectively,.there to be connected with the ordinary reticulation of the Borough, thus forming a perfect circulation from the source of supply to all streets, both for fire and domestic purposes. It will be noticed that She water supply system as at present installed contains 37 93 miles of street mains of which 13.8 miles are of 1 inch, and 11.53 are 4 inch diameter, whilst the proposed scheme provides for 47.62 miles of mains containing 1.77 miles only of 1 inch and 28.63 of 4 inch mains, the remainder varying from 2. inches to 15 inches in diameter. Owing to the rapid progress of the Borough during the last few years and the erection of much loftier and more extensive buildings, it has been found that the pressure available from the present supply is quite inadequate for fire ■ extinguishing purposes, hence in the proposed scheme by connecting up direct to the head-works there will be at the command of the Fire Brigade a pressure of 13&1b5.. per square inch as I against 841bs. Tinder the present system. The proposed scheme will supply a population of 12,000 with 75. gallons per capita* over the 24: hours of each day. whilst the present system supplies indifferently a population estimated, at 7500, the remainder of the inhabitants being unable to avail themselves of the service owing to the circumscribed character of distribution. Revised- SeHKME of £26,000. Heaclworks (dam to be eventually raised to 30ft high). £1,500 15-inch main (new) from dam to present 12-inch main ... 4.250 12 inch main (new; from Reservoir to Colleger ..." .„ 5,460 8-inch mains College - st , and , Cook-st to. Cuba-st and Col-lege-st and Scandia st to Broad-st ... 2,421 Laying same complete 547 Valves, fire plugs, etc. 630 4-inch reticulation ... ...... 8,942 Engineering and interest first year 2,250 Total .... £26,000 £5.6,000. Scheme. ; Headworks (dam and storage) Reservoir ... .... ...... £6,750 15-inch trunk main ..... .... 20,450 Mains 8, 6 and 4-inch ... .... 9^190 Hydrants, valves, etc. ..... ... 2,538 Caretaker's residence „... ..... 350 Telephone ... 100 Lifting and relaying old and laying new mains .... 7,183 Increase present service reservoir .„• ... . .-.„. 5,589 . Engineering and contingencies. 2>slC Interest first year and cost raisI ing loan ...;. .... .... 1,34 C

Total ... „; _ £5,6,000 Continuing, Mr Cohen said that in referring to.the cost of the service, if ho told them that it would not cost, ho Ihought one half-psnny, he imagined ihey would not be disappointed. The }ast Council in its wisdom had reduced the cost of the water rate. They were making a lot of monoy,and they thought it right and proper not to take more from property owners than was neces^

eary. Under the present'reduced rate income was about £2500, and with the added reticulation of the new scheme it was thought fully £400 per annum would be added giving ajiotal of £2900 per year. It had been the very proper procedure of the past Council to debit the water works account with 41000, its share of the i-513,000 loan; a continuance of this practice would, leave a balance of £1800. Interest on the £26,000 loan at 5 per cent equalled £1300 as against £1800, leaving a balance of .£SOO. The proportion of other charges would bo about £250 per year. He thought the Council would have every penny of £400' to come and go upon. This sum could be expended in extending the reticulation, and therefore it would not be long; before the system of four inch mains decided upon could be completed. It was the- ambition of the Council to see every man in the: Borough with the conveniences he paid for. (Applause). Replying to Mr Jack Mr Jickell said filter beda were not provided in the present scheme1 and he did not know of a single filter bed in- the colony in connection with any water supply. Mv Jack expressed the opinion that the water supply would be much clearer and better if the beds were provided. No further questions being forthcoming,. Mr REdwards said he had pleasure in moving, that the meeting agree to the suggested! loan of £26*000 for the extension of the1 water supply and that a poll be taken at a date to' be fixed according to law. Mr Edwards said he entirely approved of thepresent scheme though he had strongly opposed the £56,000 scheme, .though, at the same time, those residents without the convenience of the Borough water supply had his sincere sympathy. Still he had thought the big scheme an unwise one and bad therefore been against it. He eulogised the present scheme and justified* the retention of the two seven-inch mains, at present on the score of economy and without in any way impairing the present and future efficiency of the scheme.

The motion was seconded by Cr S. Abrahams who also expressed his approval of the scheme.. He added he had always advocated a bettor water supply for the town.

The motion was carried without dissent ana the meeting terminated.