City’s Water Supply

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 2

City’s Water Supply

SUGGESTION THAT EXPERT SHOULD REPORT ON SOURCES A proposal that Professor li. A. Campbell, of Christchurch, should asked to furnish a report on the best available water supplies for Palmerston North, special attention to be given to a scheme of sand and gravel filtration adjacent to the Manawatu river, was made by Cr. J. T. J. Heatley at last night’s meeting of the City Council. Moving to that effect, Cr. Heatley urged that it was necessary that the council should be in possession of all the information available. The cheapness and simplicity of the apak well scheme appealed to him. Cr. W. B. Cameron said he objected to the wording of the motion, because the council had voted against soak wells. Soak wells, said Cr. W. B. Tennent, had been proven to be dangerous to public health. Pointing out that the council had plenty of information regarding its present sources of supply, the Mayor said the suggested report would be of value only so far as soak wells were concerned, and he would never agree to soak wells in Palmerston North. Asked by the Mayor if he suggested that the report should also include the Pohangina as a source of supply, Cr. Heatley replied in the affirmative, and added that, if the council would agree to Pohangina, he would drop the soak well scheme. Cr. Tennent doubted that the ratepayers would carry a loan of £500,000 for Pohangina. On the motion being put to the mealing, it was defeated on the casting vote of the Mayor. Those voting for it were Crs. Heatley, Hodgens, Tremaine, Stevenson and AitchisoD