DRASTIC MEASURES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 6

DRASTIC MEASURES

WAR ON HOSE USERS CONSERVING BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF LAST NIGHT Drastic measures are required at present to deal with a shortage of water at the source of the borough supply, and war is to be waged on hose users. In making this intimation to-day, the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, said that the use of hoses must be. prevalent in view of the remarkable manner in which the level of water at the reservoir lias 'been decreasing during the early evening. The level went down Bft yesterday, and Mr. Coleman claimed that the only way to deal with the position was to cut off the supply. Accordingly, the turncock at the borough boundary was instructed to turn off the supply last night. This was done at 8.30 o’clock.

Instructions were also given that, in the event of an alarm of fire, the water should be turned on immediately. This was done in the case of the fires last evening.

Had the supply not been turned off last evening, the Mayor claimed, there would have been insufficient water left in the reservoir to supply the town wants t.o-dav

He also added that the water was turned off this morning, but this was in order to make the connection with a new lino over the new bridge at Manutuke, and was in no way connected with the water shortage.

Tho utmost was being' done, to avoid ho use of the pumping plant at Mangapoike. which cost £ICO a week to operate ; it was all in readiness to come into operation when required. In order to postpone the day when it would have to lie used, inspectors would be deputed to make inquiries regarding Ihe use of hoses.

TANKS BECOMING LOW

PLIGHT IN THE SUBURBS COUNTRY BROWNING UP The plight of residents in the uniof undated areas of Gisborne is even worse than that threatened in the inner areas supplied from the reservoir.

The rapidly browning pastures in the country hear mute testimony to the urgent need of a good downpour. Stock is stifl well supplied from bores and wells, but tanks are becoming low, and in .some cases water has had to be taken from wells for house use. In the mi reticulated areas of the town, where wells are not so common as in the country, some of the households are experiencing a little difficulty in making the tank supplies eke out until a date no one can forecast. Yesterday, residents in these areas were taking advantage of the Sabbath to draw water from wells on other properties in order to prepare for to-day’s washing, while, if the dry spell t is not broken soon, water may have’to be carried for drinking purposes also. Many residents have now given up all idea of watering their gardens, for a tremendous amount of water would be required to do much good in the present powdery soil. Also, when water has to be carried some distance in hot weather like the present, residents are confining their attentions to house requirements only.