WAR MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27082, 17 May 1949, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL

FOUNTAIN SUGGESTED

DETAILS FROM NAPIER

An illuminated electric fountain is one of the suggestions made for a war memorial in Dunedin, and a citizen has obtained from Napier some interesting information about the fountain on the Marine Parade there. The electrical equipment for the Napier fountain was purchased from America in 1936 for £llOO. The bronze lip and trough for lamps were made in New Zealand and cost approximately £ 160. The concrete structure, which is the body of the fountain, and which houses the plant inside, was built at Napier. The total cost of everything, including the surrounding basin, was £2448. At a further cost of £llOO, a concrete semicircular “ bay ” was built on the seaward side. This is approximately nine feet above the beach level, and has space for bathing cubicles underneath. If the surrounds were all level, this extra expense would be unnecessary. Operating costs, it is explained, are negligible. The monthly consumption of electricity is approximately 1200 units, and the water used is pumped up and kept in constant use. The height of the octagonal altar is Bft 3|in and lift 3in acrqss. The bronze octagonal lip is 12in' across. The 15 lamps just under the surface of the water are from 500 watts to 1500 watts. The total electrical load is 18 kilowatts. The colours are blue, green, amber and red. During the technical cycle of changes, the jets play in varying sequences in a variety of colour combinations. The surrounding circular basin into which the water falls is approximately 50ft in diameter and 2ft deep. It is sunken so that the water is at the same level as the lawns. The switching on and off of the electricity is by remote control. Mention is made of the need for the fountain to be situated in a comparatively sheltered position, because the display is not as effective in a heavy wind

Because there was a possibility of plastic shorts becoming transparent In wet weather, Rugby League footballers under the jurisdiction of the Board of Control of the West Coast Rugby League have been forbidden to wear them. This de- i cision was made at a meeting of the | .board.