SHANNON'S WATER SUPPLY.

Shannon News, 10 July 1923, Page 2

SHANNON'S WATER SUPPLY.

(To the Editor.) Sir—will youi please allow me a little space in your paper, .which has a large circulation in this, district, as, I want to try and find out- about something which is of the. greatest importance to me and also to all the people of Shannon, viz., the water supply, or proposed water supply, for I must admit I am a good bit tangled up with regard to this matter as I will try and explain. in your paper of the 29th, June last I read the Health Officer’s report regarding the proposed site for a water supply for Shannon and I was very disappointed to see that he had condemned all the four sites chosen by the Mayor 'and councillors of Shannon. Then again in the last issue of your paper on the 3rd inst I read where the Shannon Borough Council had accepted tenders for pipes for the water supply, 'and then right underneath I read “The Council has not so far discussed the Health Officer’s. ' report, which is reported in'last issue, states the Mangahao dam water will not be fit for use for two years, after the dam is completed.” No,w', Sir, I would like some explanation as I feel sure a mistake nas been made by somebody and I don’t know .whether it is. a misprint, or whether your reporter has erred in his report or what is wong. And, I do not think the Council would accept tenders for pipes for a water supply if there 1 was no place to get the water from, seeing that the Inspector had condemned all thp: proposed sites as stated. I always, considered Mr Murdoch, th© Mayor, a perspecacious man and I cannot understand how he could give orders for or accept tenders for pipes if he did not or could not knew how many pipes were wanted or what distance the pipes had to be laid, because the water may no.w be got from a shorter distance than was anticipated previous to the Health Officer’s report, and that is why I write this letter as I feel sure a mistake must be made somewhere and I want to understand. If the pipes have been ordered and no site chosen to get the water' from, then that is putting the cart before - the horse with a vengeance. Or perhaps the Council means to go on with the first scheme they adopted, viz., the overflow from the Arapeti dam, but I cannot see how that can be as the Health Officer says the water from that source would be very much .polluted (we do not want to be poisoned with bad water), and in any case, as appears in your paper, the water will not be fit for use' for twp years after the dam is completed (whenever that is). And in the meantime how are we of the rusty tank getting on Why should we not have a water supply long ago. Foxton, Levin and other less important towns have a water supply, I have two tanks and I was hoping they would hold up until this proposed, water supply came along and I do not like to go to the expense of putting up new ones if I can help it, for as you know and everyone knows, money W scarce now. And I can tell you it is very hard 1 to live in a town where there, is no water. I will give you one instance. It was only during a short drought last year my two untrusty rusty tanks went dry and I ha,d to get two kerosene tins and: carry water for half a mile from, Plimmer Terrace through the streets with the thin wire handles cutting into my calloused hands.

As I said before, this is an important matter and we want water and good water and wef want it soon. If I would be right, in doing so, I would suggest to the Council that a supply be got from the Otauru stream near the main Palmerston North road. Tt looks good clear water and there is plenty of it, and further, the distance is shorter than the other sites proposed and would not need so many pipes, but as I am not an engineer I am not qualified to give an opinion of the engineering difficulty if there is any. I am anxiously awaiting something done in this matter.—l am, etc.,

DIOGENES (Without his tub)