Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 623, 21 February 1879, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1879.

Wherever else it may come from, we believe we must not hope to look for a supply of water from the Waiamata stream. Mr. Black has been up the river for a distance of some eight miles, but there is such a level flow that by gravitation tlu - ough pipes the water would scarcely reach the lower floor of any dwelling m Gisborne. Damming would be impracticable, because the steep banks on each side of the river are comprised solely of sand and friable earth which would make embanking operations impossible. We enquire of Mr. Morris's engineer whether he thinks it possible to secure a reserve of water by walling m between any two of the many spurs of the hills eastward of the town. We are informed this, also, is impossible, as the hills are composed of sand and friable earth. There is nothing by which an outward heavy pi % ess\ire of water could be sustained, Our hopes are raised by what may be done at lake Repongaere, near Ormond. This is said to be a large body of water collected m the mouth of an extinct crater. The lake is immensely deep • We have heard, unfathomable at its centre. The belief m thw may huve arisen from the fact that those who tried to plumb for the bottom did not give out sufficient line. Mr.

Drummond will take Mr. Black out to the lake, probably to-morrow. The surface water of the lake is said to be 130 feet above the level of the Gladstone Road. But there appears to be an opinion that the water is not fit for drinking purposes. This will, of course be a serious draw back. But if, without a great outlay, a rush of water through pipes can be brought into town sufficient to subdue a fire, and is useful for general purposes, then, and not being able to go elsewhere, we must just be content with what we can get. To keep a supply of water on hand for mere drinking, or culinary purposes, would not be difficult. We believe that if water is procurable around Gisborne of the right kind, and m sufficient quantity, that Mr. Black and Mr. Drummond will find it out between them.