WATER SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23023, 28 April 1938, Page 12

WATER SHORTAGE

AREAS IN SOUTHLAND URGENT NEED FOR RAIN SITUATION MORE ACUTE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL, Wednesday The prolonged period of dry weather in Southland has caused a serious shortage of water, and in many country districts, where the supply is drawn from rain water tanks, householders have been carting their water. The position has become more acute in the past week and there is an urgent need of rain to relieve the situation. Except for a shower early on Monday morning and a fairly good rainfall the previous Wednesday, there has been no rain at Winton for several weeks, and business people there have been compelled to obtain water by means of a fir© brigade pump from the borough well. However, the pump has now broken down and those who have no water draw their supplies from wells.

Even that source is not reliable, as some of the wells have become dry for the first time in the history of the district. A man who has lived on the bank of the Oreti River for the past 40 years states that he has never seen the river as low as it is now. The Winton Creek also has practically dried up. Invercargill is not yet faced with any serious shortage, although there is a reduction in the levels of the water in the city supplies, with the result that the pumping costs are higher. In the meantime it is not proposed to impose any restrictions.