WELLINGTON RESOURCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 February 1908, Page 3

WELLINGTON RESOURCES.

AUTHORITIES NOT APPREHENSIVE. The Wellington Municipal authorities, says the "Post," see no cause for local apprehension in the disastrous fires which devastated Christchurch this week, for they feel that Wellington is more fortunately situated as regards fire prevention resources than Christchurch is. There the water supply was never sufficient, whereas in Wellington it is ample for all occasiou:, if no accident occurs to interrupt the continuity oi the mains. Such a m^fortune certainly did happen once, but on the principle that a shot never strikes twice in the same place it is hoped that a break in the water mains and the occurrence of a big fire wiil not again be simultaneous. There are, however, obvious advantages in the existence of a duplicated main, and this fact is recognised by .the municipal executive, but the work of putting down the extra lins of pipes required by the scheme of duplication cannot be gone on with (as the City Engineer exolained to a "Post" reporter some weeks ago) until the Government completes the scheme of straightening the railway and road to the Lower Hutt. This scheme, it will be remembered, was commenced several years ago, and by its present rate of progress it does not seem likely that it will be concluded for some years. There is, however, an ample supply of water on hand to cope with all fires likely to arise in Wellington, and it is claimed that the pressure is such as to practically obviate any of the deterrents from effective work which made the endeavours of the Christchurch firemen comparatively ineffective. Such a catastrophe as that which occurred in Christchui'ch, it is said, would barely be possible here, while the present main continued intact, and, as he breaks that have occurred in it have been due to earthquakes for the most iart, there would remain a possibility of the mains being interrupted by such causes even when two were in existence. It is pointed out that in Christchurch this week a huge fire raged in a lot of inflammable buildings, and the brigade had to cope with it as best they might with a bad water supply, whereas in Wellington there is, in addition to the excellent pressure Sn the mains, an unlimited supply of sea-water close at hand, and engines kept ready for emergency pumping whenever it might be required.