BIRKENHEAD'S WATER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19860, 2 February 1928, Page 12

BIRKENHEAD'S WATER.

NO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED. CONFIDENCE IN LAKE SUPPLY. An increased amount of water has been used in tho North Shore districts during the dry spell. The Birkenhead waterworks engineer reported to the Borough Council last evening that during the months of December and January the consumption of water in Birkenhead had reached nearly 250,000 gallons daily. This was abnormal, averaging 75 gallons a head of the population. The respective quantities were: December, 6,800,000 gallons; January, 6.580,000 gallons. Tho surface of Lake Takapuna had fallen from 2ft. 2in. at the end of November to Ift. 6in. at the end of December, and to Sin. above sea-level by the end of January. The Mayor, Mr. E. G. Skeates, stated that the condition of the water supply was excellent. Tho North Shore people had been fortunate in that they had not beon restricted in the use. of water for all legitimate purposes, including hose and bath. He was strongly of the opinion that the North Shore districts should continue to use the Lake Takapuna water supply. Notwithstanding the tremendous evaporation from that sheet of water, and the large quantity withdrawn, tho drop of only lOin. for the past, month was remarkable. The Mayor invited members oi the council who last week visited the Waitakere and Nihotupu dams to give their impressions. These members considered the scheme to supply the North Shore from the Waitakere source was most undesirable. Mr. C. E. Campbell said he felt the least said at present about the Auckland water supply tho better. It would at {his stage be well tx». defer coming to a decision regarding obtaining a supply for the North Shore from the city. Mr. P. C. Furley said he presumed the invitation to inspect the city sources of supply was with the object of converting the members of the North Shore local bodies to the Waitakero scheme, but the consensus of opinion of thoso who went showed that the inspection had the opposite effect.