SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13927, 8 December 1908, Page 5

SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND.

Br .Telegraph.—Press Association Copyright / (Received December '7, 11.30 p.m.) ';"} , ■ LoniJon, December 7, Mr. James M. t Dodds, Assistant Under-Secretary • for Scotland, has succeeded Sir Reginald MacLeod as Permanent Under-Secretary, the latter having resigned.

WATER FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

AN IMPROVED SUPPLY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] - '* ; '' CHRistCHtJRCH, Morday. -'■ During the past few weeks 120 navvies, aided by a road plough and a traction engine, have been tearing up a number of the main thoroughfares in the Central Ward for the purpose of putting down the mains for the high-pressure water supply. Some 60 chains of pipe-laying remain yet to be completed, and by the end of the month the principal I2in mains will have been laid through the city. The intermediate connection will be made by a network of 3in and 4in iron pipes, the principal mains being of special steel and made in New Zealand. ' Fire plugs are being inserted at intervals of four chains, so that when the whole scheme is carried out a fireprevention system of very high efficiency will be at command. /Nothing is being done yet in the direction of connecting up domestic services, as the number of pro-perty-owners • desiring to have the highpreEsure supply laid has not yet been ascertained. It is hoped to have the water in the Central Ward within three months. Tenders have been invited for the plant and material necessary for the reticulation of St. Albans and Linwood Wards, and it is anticipated that the work will be put in hand by March.

" So far, the pipe-laying has been carried out without a hitch „of any kind and although the busiest parts of the city ; have been operated upon at no time has traffic been seriously impeded. . Victoria-street bridge has proved a particularly hard nut to crack; it has been found necessary to carry the main through the foundations on either side, and suspend it underneath the bridge. The plan of the structure has been mislaid, arid* it is difficult to determine what thickness of bluestone and solid concrete the designers put into the foundations. It has been : found impossible to drill a ; hole through by ordinary mechanical means, and so an appeal to dynamite has been necessary. .■■■''■