NO RESERVOIR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12615, 18 November 1911, Page 7

NO RESERVOIR.

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, — Is it' a fact there are only two hills in the near vicinity of Gisborne which can. tbe considered uu connection with the much-needed reservoir? Surely . not. A little bit of hard thinking will show where there is a, hill. or two almost within the borough boundaries that canbe utilised for the purpose. Mr Metcalfe strongly recommends that a reservoir be provided, and it is up to the Council to use its united efforts to try and give effect to the recommendations of the expert they have called in. Grit is what we want, but not in our eyes. The average ratepayer really has intelligence, and is well enough- able to see ' where an expenditure is necessary. Until the town is put in a satis L factory condition as regards * its w_ter Supply, it must -.submit- : to remaining -about the' most . heavily "-fated insurance town in the Dominion; ,-I.say advisedly that the annual saying in insurance premiums alone- by the ratepayers would pay two or three times' over the whole of the interest required to put the town] pn an up-to-date basis in regard to its water supply. \ Again*, a reliable- supplyis positively essential no*\y ; - that the sewerage is to be art' accomplished fact, otherwise our last state wIR be worse infinitely than the first'.' I need scarcely enlarge. It must be patent to anyone who "considers the- point a 1 moment. Looked at from any point of view, considered as a business proposition, or as a matter of health, what sensible ratepayer would ever imagine an ample and effective water supply was anything but a good' investment?

I hope the- ratepayers will, if only for a few weeks, try to shake off thjot "deadly lethargy which" prevents- them even seeing Sphere .their own- advantage lies, and*-*, tiak^ a *" 'jjrjjctical interest . m municipal 'undertakings , in which they are so surely concerned ' through" their pockets. ,. Any; impcqv.emeuts in .the, town undoubtedly mean increased values in property -all ; round, provided such are carried out oh ■sound and economic lines, and, I feel, if only '"the- mass, of/ ratepayers had ample, 'opportunity to becomethoroughly well seized:' of this fact, we should see Gisborne f ' boost" along surely and^ safely. It is a magnificent district, 'endowed with practically every:

thing: that nature can ("jive, and it only -remains, to man to do the rest. Unfortunately, we seem to wait for nature to do all the "doing" in these parts. Let us take ; courage. All the other 'centres in the Dominion show a shrinkage in exports : on tn'e previous year's returns, with the L exception 'of Gisborne,' ,- which, shows an increase. Wellington and Auckland between them'* record- a" fall of a million' in their figures. Jn conclusion, Mr Editor, I^shbuld like to see* more letters' -in '"your paper on matters affecting the • welfare of our town 1 .. It' is to' the interest of of us to have carefully-reasoned criticisms, and I 'am sure, ( wh*i-e' you -carf.'you^ will always endeavdiv' to find ' space '.for such-— I am,- etc'.:. ' '*"' ■' ''."'■ ■• '■■■ :V ' RESERVOIR,