WATEI v. FIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 642, 5 March 1879, Page 2

WATEI v. FIRE.

[To the Editor of the Evening Herald.] Sir, — I don't see why I should not air my little plan of waterworks for prevention of fire m the Borough, if you only permit me to do so m your paper. It is this. Make any required number of brick or concrete wells m most convenient positions m the streets, somewhat of the dimensions of those for ordinary pumps, to allow of their being cleaned out when necessary. ; sink them to a depth of four or five feet below low water level of the river ; lay therefrom to low water mark m river pipes of 12in. diameter, protecting their mouths against the entrance of silt, and the exit of water from reservoir or well, by some of the thousand and one contrivances fur such purposes. You have thus an inexhaustible supply at any and all times as high as high water mark, say 10 or 12 feet from surface of street. Being possessed of a small steam power fire-engine, you may water, or, m fact, flood your streets, going from well to well. There is little enough fresh (?) water under the town for household purposes. Laying pipes m our sandy soil, and putting down wells would be very inexpensive, and maintenance of works would be also trifling. — I am, &c, Viator.