THE WATER QUESTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 16 August 1910, Page 6

THE WATER QUESTION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Referring to your leader dated 12th inst.. re Xelson water supply, your statement of the ease, i consider, is not a fair and accurate statement of the position, and in view of the grave necessity for action I beg of ivou space to represent the case, and 1 trust you will see your way to follow the example of such papers as the ''Dominion'' and ''Post/' viz., publishing without mutilation all that those opposing you have to say. If you will do this, and play the game, then you can fire at me to any extent you think'fit.

In the first place, you refer to the big dam as "Langland's Dam." I wil'i keep to your designation, and so as not to confuse the ratepayers, let me first make it clear that there are three dams. First is Lanirland's dam. cost over £II.OOO, be-ides a weekly payment of £9 in interest; capacity, 90 days' supply- Second, the middle dam —we will call it "Piper's'' dam—cots paid in cleaning out £G00; capacity, at most, two days' supply. This dam was cleaned out instead of repairing the Langland's dam. Piper V dam is now practically up, and the £OOO lost. Third, the weir; cost. over £2400. probably, in all, £2SOO; capacity, at extreme, 12 days' supply. The weir is now partly silted up, reducing its capacity to an extreme limit of uine days' supply. The Consulting Engineer advised a storage dam with' capacity to carry Nelson over a 90 days' drought; the ratepayers, with the wisdom born ot experience, sanctioned the construction of such a dam—mark, a 90 days' supply. Now, Piper's dam and the weir combined was at most a 14 days* supply. Langland's dam was in course of construction when a huge flood occurred, brin'ging in great quantiti»of deibris; however, in due course the dam was finished, and then there came the question of cleaning out the basin. The Maj'or, Mr Piper, said we could get it sluiced out at a moderate cost, lien took on the job; but abandoned the work, and time was lost. Another lot of men took it on; but abandoned it again, and further time was wasted. The Council then instructed City Engineer Henderson to go and clean it out, and much was done; but ou the Engineer representing that nut civ time had been lost, and the dry weather wa- close upon us, the Council, fearing delay might result in no water to put in the dam, said: "Let it go—fill it r:p; and we can clean it out at another time.''

I have stated this at length to bringout clearly one point urged against the water from the dam. We experienced such- a drought as we have not known since. During the closing days of this drought complaints were made about the quality of the water. Mark, could it have been expected that the water could possibly be equal to our usual very high quality when we had put it into a dirty receptacle to start with? Plainly, at th'e close of the drought it could not be so pure. But to what extent was this objection? J say, Sir, you are most unjust and unfair in your endeavour to exaggerate this point in order to avoid facing the enly right course. You say it was condemned by medical men. Was it? I can prove from the Council documents, from your own paper, that vshen the water was at its worst a sample wa? sent to the Health Department, th'e highest authority, whose report ran thus: —"The water is good average domestic water; not quite up to Nelson's high standard." We now have a pressure of watei by which we can fix on hyrants at, I think, three points, thanks to the weir. W e can sluice out all accumulations in thi-> Langland's dam—cut it out to clean rock and gravel bottoms so does it not stand to common sense that, given a clean receptacle to start with, we could weather the worst drought ever known in Nelson, and in the end supply a quality oi water as good, if not superior, to the best that some New Zealand cities supply J

Let it be here understood that this water is only required three or four months in the year. As soon as the drought is past the gates are opened, and the remainder passes out; then, if it is found necessary to fix on the hydrant = and sluice out. it can be done at very little trouble or cost.

'Sir, what has been the course followed bv the Council? Lanigland's dam was proved to be leaking. If there trad been no other consideration other than the weal of the city, would not the Engineer have been instructed to locate the trouble, and repair it? Just exactly—the common sense course followed in all, absolutely all, cur unforseen difficulties that arise. Why was this ease treated in the wicked way it was? You. Sir, say in vour leader: "There is an inclination by all sides to set aside local polities." I ask. Sir, "why ever were they Introduced in such a matter as the safety and health of the city? It is :ecognisedofar and wide that this is at the bottom of the whole affair. I hate the thought of personal prejudice and political animosities being gratified at the cost of the city. I care nothing for individuals' personal quarrels and bitternesses; but I do care, as a Councillor, when these personal attrrtt have ob-trneted the common course of duty. Why not tnrow tliem asid e jnce and for all, and face the question now right square on its merits? Throw away that haunting fear that to repair the dam will prove a success and show the mistakes in the past. I put it to the ratepayers, had tlv're l.M.eu no personal feeling at the bottom of thi:, do you consider any man would have, spent £6OO on cleaning our a dam that a;t most would only hold a two days' supply—and note, fli'at hole is- now silted up. ai»d the £6OO for ever gone—rather than have spent the money on a darn giving 9U days'"

supply, and upon which £1.1,000 had been expended? Never!

r am plea-sod to note one surrender. We argued it n:jt possible that a 10 or 15 days' supply could avail anything in a" drought; we argued there would be more water required for drainage. We were met with the constant reply in the Council that there would be plenty in the weir. Now. Sir, the -.ame Councillors admitted the truth of our arguments. What are we faced with to-day? Total prohibition of tihe hose, and no water for fighting fire; that is, of course-, if this proves a droughty summer.

You, Sir, suggest spending money again on Piper's dam. This is quite a useless suggestion. We are at present able to show at most a nine days' reserve; with your suggestion we should have another day, perhaps a day and a half. Is it worth a morn emt 's Uliought? No, not a moment? When wc started to draw upon our reserve in eleven d:\y- vrc> should bo 'lone; then simply down to the daily inflow. There would not be a drain for the high-levels; and it is as clear ns the light it i s useless to spend monev there.

Now. come at the quesfion right i>iit in the open; judge it every business iran in the Council ha? .judged it; judge- it in the same light as you would were you spending your own monev.

T dislike being prominent, and it is not that I have done any more- t n ~n ve the position than other Councillors, such as ox-'Conneillor Robertson. Councillors Bisley. Field. ■'riimp--on, the Mayor, all men of business experience, besides Cr. Harrison—nil men judging they would do with their own money—men that would not gamble on the chance of a wot r-umnier: men that would never '•jsk the good opinion of their fel-low-citizens by risking like and disaster. T am. etc.. THOMAS NEALE.

(.Inducing from the remaa-ks made in his ipenm.sr paragraph the correspondent ap_ •ien,rs to he much mistaken in regard to journalistic practice in dealing with correspondence, a.nd no doubt the "Dominion"' and the "Post" will bo amused 'o learn that they publish without tmutilation all thit those opposing them have to s.a-v. The custom followed bv l hese papers, -a.nd all others of repute, is certainly to give those opposing them •2 very opportunity of stating their ~ase as fully as possible; but the correspondent array rest assured that if other matters are ii'troduend. if personalities are induk r ed in. or if .libelous statements are made, let- ' ers to these papers will receive the name blue pencil treatment as that 'n them by the "Mail."—Ed. N.E.M.)