SOUTH OTAGO,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21199, 3 December 1930, Page 4

SOUTH OTAGO,

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.’ BALCLUTHA, December 2. NEED FOR NEW RESERVOIR. In consequence of trouble developing in the 40 horse-power motor at the local waterworks power house, a special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, with the object of possibly initiating a water scheme on a much larger scale that would provide for the town’s needs for the next 50 years. Cr W. Kean, of the Waterworks Committee of the council, had been devoting considerable time to the subject of water improvement for the town, and it was he who suggested the larger scheme, involving a- new open reservoir on top of the liill on the main road at North Balclutha.

Speaking on the subject at last night’s meeting; Cr Kean suggested importing a new motor attached to a centrifugal pump capable of delivering 200 gallons a minute, or 60,000 gallons an hour, into the present tank at North Balclutha, in preference to repairing the damaged motor. If, on the other hand, council decided to go ahead and build a new reservoir, it should now install a pump capable of lifting 25,000 gallons an hour to where a reservoir might be placed 1100 yards from the present tower, which would give an elevation of 90ft above the tower, or to a reservoir site further on, which he considered even more suitable. 'They could call tenders for a centrifugal pump direct coupled to a motor to deliver 25,000 gallons against a 280 ft head. If filter beds were used they could do away with the 20 horse-power motor used for driving the compressor at the works now, if -the filter beds were supplied by gravitation, say from the river. The cost of filter beds to deal with 150,000 gallons of water a day would be £970. The highest point he had recommended as a site for a reservoir was 280 ft above the town, which would give sufficient pressure to send the water where required at Rosebank. In response to questions, Cr Kean quoted figures showing the total cost of a reservoir at the highest point he had mentioned as £SOOO, including iron piping and filter beds, and the total cost for the nearer site would be £4300. The further site would require no less than 1160 yards of iron piping. Such a reservoir would hold a million gallons of water, and would have a surface area of 21.200 square feet. From the more expensive ■ site they could supply Benhar, Stirling, or other places in the neighbourhood. In Benhar, however, owing to the small number of houses, the cost would be somewhat high (£6 per house per annum). If the council decided to raise a loan for the scheme the interest would amount to £350 a year, but £72 would be' saved in power and £IOO in wages, leaving £l7B interest and sinking fund for the council to find, and 40 extra consumers would provide the money. First of all, the council should select the site lor a reservoir, call tenders for pump and motor, and get an engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the reservoir.—Cr Gormack said the motor for the pump was urgent, ■ but whether the council would he justified in going up the hill at North Balclutha for a reservoir site he was not prepared at that stage to say.—-Cr Hunter thought the time had arrived to go into the reservoir question.— Cr Copland agreed, and said that the reservoir should be placed on the highest point available. Any growth in the town would be bound to be on- the bills, and there a good pressure was necessary.— Cr Little endorsed, but said he would like to know what kind of filter beds were contemplated.—Cr Gormack. eaid there were very few filter beds in New Zealand. One in the North Island and one at Sumner were all be knew of, and it might be hard to decide what was best. —Cr Little said he considered a settling tank would be preferable to filter beds, and not nearly so expensive. -Cr Kean considered that it would be worth while procuring a report on the water of the Molyneux as a possible town supply.— Various opinions were given as to the quality of Molyneux water, and the town clerk stated that Dr M’Kibbin, now head of the Health Department, had been strongly of opinion that Molyneux w a * : ®r was suitable for a town supply.— Cr Copland said they would have to get a new motor and countershaft while going ahead with the new scheme, which would take 18 months to complete. ■' After further argument as to the class of motor to be procured it was decided to leave it to the Waterworks Committee to make the best arrangement possible, and to decide whether the equipment should be for the present only or to fit in with the larger scheme. On the motion of Cre Copland and Watt it was agreed to pursue investigations into the proposal for an improved water supply, with a new reservoir, and to secure the services of an engineer to prepare plans and specifications.—lt was pointed out that it would be necessary to apply to the Local Bodies Loans Board for permission to raise a loan, and to secure an option' on a site for a reservoir. It was left to the Waterworks Committee to engage the engineer. Cr Kean was heartily thanked by the Mayor for the part he and the Waterworks Committee bad played in drawing public attention to the need for a better water service. SHOW GATE. ' The gate takings at the Clutha Show on Friday, it has developed, did not constitute a record, as stated by officials, but were exceeded by those of last year. The correct figures were:—lo2o. £238 12s; 1930, £224 18s. NOVEMBER RAINFALL. The rainfall locally during November measured 3.31 inches/ as compared with 3.05 inches for the same mouth last year, and 1.05 inches in 1928.