SUBURBAN WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9831, 28 May 1895, Page 6

SUBURBAN WATER SUPPLY.

The report of the Committee of the Parnell Council appointed to confer with the Newmarket Council and Mr. Metcalfe, C.E., relative to the proposal to supply the two Boroughs with water from the Onehunga springs, was brought up ab the ordinary meeting of the Parnell Council last night. lb referred to the conference held ab Newmarkeb, particulars of which have been already published. The Committee, in company with the Mayor of Newmarket and Mr. Metcalf, C.E., visited Onehunga springs on the I7bh instant. They inspected the spring from which Onehunga is supplied, and the Captain's spring, near Te Papapa railway station. From this they followed the proposed course of the pipes to the proposed site of the reservoir, and thence to Newmarket. It was evident that there would be no engineering difficulties in the way of erecting the machinery and providing the plant, bub there would not be any considerable saving by adopting the proposed scheme in the cost of water to the two boroughs as compared with what they are now paying the city, but ic would be a great advantage to have the control of their own water supply, and a greater pressure on their higher levels, and a revenue would probably be derived from supplying neighbouring districts if the outflow supply was sufficient to permit of this being done. Having fully weighed the terms' of the proposed scheme, and the conditions surrounding ib the committee was of opinion that the Council should nob arrive ab any decision until it had an opportunity of considering the proposal which it is reported the city will shortly make for providing a general water supply in which all should join. In moving the adoption of the report Mr. Kissmkg said he did not think ib necessary to go into details, for all the committee recomraonded was that they should take no steps until they saw what the city intended to do. He was nob, however, cerbain that the Onehunga supply would be sufficient, nor was he satisfied as to its purity. The springe were situate in a crowded district, and there was necessarily a good deal of sewage. Ho felt the same with regard to the Western Springs, and he thought the city authorities felt in the game direction. In Epsom, Mount Roskill, and obher districts there was no drainage system, except through the rock, and the sewage must eventually find its way to the springs. His own impression was that to have pure water they musb have ib from a running stream, not from Lake Takapuna or any other pond. Mr. Thornes seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, and it was carried.