THE LEITH WATER SUPPLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 15

THE LEITH WATER SUPPLY.

The sources of the proposed Water supply from the Leith end Waitati Streams were inspected by several members of the City Council on the 13th. The exploring party concisted of Councillors Eeeves, Fish, Barr, Gore, and Davidson, Mr Barr (Mayor of MorniDgton), and our representative. At about 9.30 fa.m. '> the party left town, and, being well mounted,-/ were soon riding up the exceedingly picturesque >> Valley of the Leith. The course of, the Water ' Of Leith was followed for a dia-tt tance, and Councillor Barr pointed out •the*' level at which he proposed to intercept : the'^ stream, in order to obtain 'a full supply ofwater for the city without delay; bye taking' 11 the water into the present reservoir. 'He also 1 : indicated the site for a larger reservoir, from J which a permanent water supply ,f or Dunedin ; might ,be obtained. „ Having . reached^ the 't Saddle, it was proposed,tp ride over the;ran°« tojviewthe Waitati streams' and thenjto.go'oa. to'Blueslan and return tp^tdwK by,' the main"' .road.' 'This'propbsal was" unanimously' agreed : to, asit was considered "very" .desirable W'iee'' the'Waitsiti streams, at-'the^ptfirit a^whicli' 1 they 1 might be'intercepted' for the purposeiof 'a" J to .£ n ■ Something tmgr'e than -• diniculties,(; l were^,- however, « experienced • ia carrying the^programme-intceffect.^ Theibush)-. .track was steep anclro 4 ugb, and in places boggy« A good number octrees, had. also. fallen across, .it, and their trunVs' formed', no small .obatacle ;tp'',the progress of^ the J party.' u "Most 'pfiflie'' h,ories jumped' well arid- gave' no n troub'le'' bufc "' others haft'td be coaxed and " cralcke&" r int'o" a l n <Jl .understanding- thataheirridera.meant'to Seethe: [' WaitatLstreams,aind togoasfar'aßthetioWnaKip: ■' After a ; goodideal> of • rathem dangerous'" riding ' 'theparty arrived at onelofitheibranchesof-the'' ) Waitati ; stream., To cross ithisithe horses Jiad to' I go.down a very steep aud, dangerous, place.ibufc* they, behaved splendidly and.passed over, it in , -safety/ remainder of the. jpumey was al- • ,most as v aangerous,' but iii;wa9 fperformeiwith'-' out accident, much to the' surprise' 1 of "some of 1 the horsemen. shed and of the second branch . of tbe-Waitati was obtained, and r at J l.3o> m . J 'the parJ;y,ivearied ! and hungry, arrived atthe "township of v Waitati, where" much' needed 1 .refreshment was ob-itamedfor-'mWana bafit^Aftiai" T'esting^for ' sometimb'the"horpes' > were again'motuked and" ,the party returned to town' by 'the "mam road- i% satisfied that J "they"J had- g'een is" much 4 of 'the ' ..locauty.'frorfi; which if'is" proposed^to, ob'tairi a water supply for the city as they could reasonably expect for the J labour" and dirigbr 'of- one ' -day's travelling over rough^bush country. '' , " : '