TAKAPUNA WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19486, 16 November 1926, Page 10

TAKAPUNA WATER SUPPLY.

Sir, —Takapuna needs an efficient water supply, let who will carry on the transport service. Our end and aim should be to prevent another catastrophe, such as that disastrous fire in Bracken Avenue on Wednesday last. Trams and buses may be interesting to those handling huge sums, especially if the money is the other fellow's, but what about the lives of women and children, or again, homes and treasures, 'the gatherings perhaps of a lifetime, irreplacable and consecrated by association with all one holds dear and which might be saved with the help of an adequate water supply. 1 understand some time ago the council bought Grown Hill for the site of a reservoir. Why not use it for water? It is safe to say there will be no peak or other loads, excepting rates, unless we can offer water and drainage service fit for a white community. LAtntBETTE Cambridge, Sir, —On Saturday night, November 6, a fire broke out at the residence of Mr. Rudge, in Turnbull Road, Devonport. Within four minutes after the alarm had been given the local fire brigade was on .the scene and their gallant efforts succeeded in confining the dread enemy to two rooms only, the kitchen and dining room, which were gutted, while the rest of the house remained undamaged. On Wednesday night, November 10, Mr Moore's house in Bracken Avenue, Takapuna, was in a similar condition, and the Takapuna fire f brigade was as promptly on the scene of disaster, but, alas, the ending was .vastly different. The Takapuna man—-no 6hame to them—were forced to stand by among the spectators and witness the total destruction of Mr. Moore's home. Why this difference ? Beiduse the Devonport brigade had at its command an adequate water system, while the Takapuna men were at the' tender mercy of an in.'h water pipe, which was not even fitted with . hydrants., , Other streets ; n the Takapuna Borough have no better protection against fire, yet instead .f providing a remedy,-or even attempting to aitei this disgraceful state of affairs, we find the Mayor of Takapuna and the majority of his council wasting th?ir time and energies (to say nothing of the money) in trying,to force a loan of £175,000 for the purchase and electrification of a non-paying tram service on the ratepayers. This conflagration in Bracken Avenue is only on® of several which have occurred recently in the Takapuna Borough, and I ask which should be the first consideration of any sensible man or woman—the purchase of , a non-paying tram contraption, or the provision of an efficient water system to render some security to the home? Vuican.