THE NIHOTUPU DAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923, Page 8

THE NIHOTUPU DAM.

Completion of work at the Auckland City Council's new Nihotupu dam, which is being celebrated today, will, for years to come, assure a plentiful water supply for 'he city. With this vast reservoir, the driest summer should not cause any diminution of the flow for domestio or industrial use. An abundance of good water is an essential to the well-being of a city for many reasons, that of public health being the most important. Therefore, the completion of this work is a memorable incident in the history of Auckland. The success of the efforts which have had to be made since about 1870 to supply the needs of the people are an index of civic growth. With' the passing of the years the council has gone further and further afield. Works of increasing size and greater elaboration have been successively necessary. Even now, with an appreciable reserve to meet the inevitable multiplication of consumers, it is not claimed that the work is finished. Before .very long, as the lifetime of cities is computed, Auckland will certainly be reaching out still finther to tap new sources. No Aucklander doubts that the growth of the past decades will continue; civic wants will wax greater with the natural expansion. Therefore, to those confident in the promise of the future, to-day's ceremony will mark a step forward, not a goal reached. That qualification need not minimise the importance of the step. In its water supply, Auckland is now ahead of requirements, the only safe position for a vigorously growing city.