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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7903, 23 March 1887, Page 4

In another column will be found reports of the analyses of the city water supply, made at the request of the City Council by Mr. Pond, public analyst. When this instruction was issued, it must have occurred to others, as it did to us, that it was somewhat strange that the analysis should have been delayed to so late a stage in the season. During the long period of drought which prevailed towards the close of last and the beginning of this year, there were numerous complaints about the smell which emanated from tho water supply, and the large amount of insect life which it contained. This must have been due to the Quantity of impure matter which during that period was deposited in the collecting ponds and found its way into the pipes. The order for the analysis was given on the 4th of March ; but, before that date, a considerable fall of rain had occurred, which, of course, would cause an overflow in the collecting ponds and a diminution of the impure deposits previously gathered. Even as it is, however, the analysis shows the presence in the pond near the pump well of a larger quantity of algae and of moving organisms than existed formally. The remedy suggested for this by Mr. Pond is either to discharge the water from the collecting ponds or to secure a more perfect mode of filtration. There is also a suggestion to the effect that the cemetery at Mount Albert should be closed, in consequence of the drainage therefrom threatening the purity of the) water supply. There ought to be no difficulty in carrying out any one or all of these suggestions. And, seeing that the health of the city is so closely allied with the purity of the water in daily use, anything tending to secure this quality should be attended to with promptitude.