COUNCIL TURNS DOWN ARTESIAN PROPOSALS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6550, 6 March 1928, Page 8

COUNCIL TURNS DOWN ARTESIAN PROPOSALS

As Aid to Borough Water Reticulation CR. HANSFORD WANTS EEPOET Cr. A. E. Hansford put up a strenuous fight at tho Palmerston North Borough Council meeting last evening in an endeavour to secure from an engineer experienced in artesian wells, a report upon the possibilities of using artesian water to augment the borough supply. Tho majority of the Council were against tho proposal, however. ! Cr. Hansford's Case. ' . In opening his case, Cr, Hansford referred to a statement that had been made by the borough engineer, to tho effect that the suggestion was impracticable yet such a statement had not been borne out by his subsequent report Tho cost of land would not bo a serious problem because at Longburn they had 3 wells in an eighth of an acre. The engineer had also mentioned that the promised reduction of fire insurances would not eventuate under an artesian system yet the speaker had been assured that under any scheme of increased pressure, the insurance reduction would applyFurthermore. Hastings had a lower insurance rate than Palmerston North, and Napier had some lower while the remainder was the same as Palmerston North, and yet both these towns were dependent on mechanical apparatus to supply the their water. Cr, Hansford then referred to the Pitzherbert bridge, pointing out that with artesians, tho danger of the sup-1 ply being interfered with should the bridge be washed away, was effaced. Christchurch, Lyttelton, Lower Hutt, Hastings, Napier and Invercargill, I with a total population of 180,979, used nothing else but artesian water. Then again with the well-water, tho load would be taken off the filters at Tiritca. The dost. Getting down to figures, the speaker stated that a pump would cost about £420. and at Christchurch, a similar pump was delivering 39,000 gallons per hour against an average head of 220 feet. Four-inch wells would cost about £3OO, sunk to a, depth of 450 feet. The whole cost of an artesian supply from 4 or 5 wells should not be more than £IO,OOO and it would solve the problem of reticulation upon which the Borough Council had been prepared to spend £IOO,OOO. Tho saving in the interest of such a loan, after allowing for maintenance, would be something like £7,000 per year, For and Against. Cr. Tremaine seconded the motion but added that he was at present not in love with an artesian scheme owing to what he had heard about corrosion of pipes an<J; hardness of water. However, the carrying of the motion would not commit tho Council and any information they could get would bo of value. Cr. H. A. Eliott thought the proposal a waste of money. A report in his opinion would be so guarded that the council would not know any more than it did now. The money would bo better spent on roads. He didn't know of a town yet that had adopted artesian supply when there was a gravitation scheme at its back door. Cr Eliott then referred to artesian water as being useless for household and industrial purposes and that tho Bail way Department was paying the borough Is 6d per 1000 gallons for Tiritea water and neglecting its own artesian supply. Cr. W. L. Fitzherbert said he didn’t believe in experimenting with the borough funds There was plenty of water at Tirtea, if the dam was cleaned out and £2OOO spent in that direction would be of more service to the town. Cr H. J. Canton also opposed tho motion on the ground that there was a great diversity of opinion as to tho fitness of artesian water for domestic use. Cr. J. Hodgons supported the motion because he thought Cr. Hansford should be given an opportunity of showing what was in his suugcstion. Cr. C. N. Clausen urged an analysis of the water to be got from wells sunk inside the borough Ho know of excellent water secured from artesians. The passing of tho motion would not commit the Council. Cr. Eliott: The report will cod us I £2OO. i Cx - . Clausen: Can't our own engineer report? The Mayor: Tho motion states an i outside engineer. ! Cr. Clausen: Well I don’t agree 'with that just now. I Tho Mayor was also against tho j motion. The engineer had been boon j instructed to report upon the cleaning ■out of the dam and when that work was done, the town supply would be i improved. The time must come, however, when tho ratepayers would have to face a more adequate supply for | the town and ho would have liked Cr. | Hansford to have included in his

motion, a report from qualified engineers upon all possible sources of supply including the Pohangina. Or. Hansford Replys. Replying to the attacks that had been made, Cr. Hansford expressed surprise at the attitude taken up by those opposed to the suggestion. The cost would be trivial compared to what had been spent upon water reports already. As regards the quality ot artesian water, ho considered it was extraordinary that a number of dairy companies and others should

have sunk wells, if all that had been said was true. Ho reminded tho Council that the Tiritea water contained matters in solution. As regards tho permanence of an artesian flow, there had been wells down at the Longburn works for 30 years and they were delivering 2 million gallons per day. Cr. Hansford also answered other objections and considered the j report would not cost tho Council more than £SO. The motion was then put, the voting being as follows: For—Tremaine. Hansford, Hodgens. Against—Fitzherbert, Eliott, Canton and Clausen. Wells For The Square. Cr. Hansford then asked for a report from the engineer on the cost of sinking one or two artesians’ in the Square for the purpose of the gardens, lakelets and even for the use of fire brigade practices.’ Tho water thus obtained might be used to flush the streets. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr. Fitzherbert mentioned at this juncture that he believed the Hassey College authorities were prepared to allow the borough to use a portion Of the water secured from the artesian flow on the College property. He asked that the engineer report upon the practicability of accepting the offer. Mr Hughes: It is impracticable.