WATER SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23817, 19 November 1940, Page 9

WATER SHORTAGE

NEW SOUTH WALES EPIDEMIC AT NEWCASTLE RAIN FALLS IN SYDNEY [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Nov. 16 A plague of flies during the past week has caused an epidemic of gastroenteritis among children in the Newcastle district. Already there have been two deaths, and many children have been admitted to hospital. The outbreak is attributed to the persistently dry weather, but it is hoped that the rain of the past two days and the lower temperatures accompanying it may check the breeding of tho flies. Prospects nre good for rain along most of the coast, in iho north-eastern districts of the State, and iu the southern highlands. Low Milk Yield Sydney was drenched by torrential rain last night, for the second successive night. Hail carpeted about two square miles of the eastern suburbs. There was no rain in western areas yesterday, nor is it expected in the near future, but good falls wore fairly general on most of tho north coast. "The rain will be a godsend to the coastal country," said a dairying authority. "Feed has been so scarce for months that the milk yield, which should now be approaching the season's high level, is so low that tho metropolitan supply is being maintained with difficulty. Ihe production of butter is so far behind that a bumper season would be necessary to enable us to meet Britain's requirements. Much more rain will be necessary to bring on feed." No Flowers in Parks The Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Taronga Zoological Park, and city parks and playgrounds, usually a blaze of colour with flowers during the summer, will he dull this year. No annuals aro being planted because ol the water restrictions. Sprinklers have been banned for many months, and hoses for several months, and the uso of watering-cans is limited to five hours a day. The grass in all parks in the city area remained green up to last week, but is now showing signs of burning. One immediate consequence of the water shortage has been a rush to engage tho services of professional water borers. As a result owners of many largo garden properties in tho Roso Bay and Botany districts are using sprinklers supplied continuously with water drawn from inexhaustible underground reservoirs that give from 300 to 2000 gallons an hour. One firm of boring contractors recently tapped underground reservoirs on tlie links of six suburban golf clubs. Sydney Supply System The Legislative Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a motion by Mr. Concannon that the Government should immediately constitute a committee of experts "to devise ways and means of preventing a repetition of the failure of the Sydney water supply system, and to investigate the question of using the waters of the Snowy River." Mr. Concannon strougly criticised the Water Board and successive Governments for ''their failure to make adequate provision to meet the present drought."