THE WATER SUPPLY.

Southland Times, Issue 3294, 10 January 1879, Page 2

THE WATER SUPPLY.

» — - , •:;■■.-.'■ Editoii Times,— The ratepayers decide to-day whether . the- Council' shall borrow for water supply £100,000. In their hands is left the decision of one of the most important matters that has yet -come; before the to \vn. It will, no doubt, be looked at in a different light- by different people. For the extinguishing- of fires, and'f or sanitary and domestic purposes,'it has become a necessity to have a plentiful' supply of good water. On these grounds, without much close calculation, many -will doubtless give this Yes. There are also narrower reasons will influence others: one very common one is, that a' large amount of money will be spent in the place "on works at once. This is to some extent a mistake, as the imported material will cost £60,0Q0. Apart from the question of, " Will anyone lend on the security we have to give ?" are we justified in borrowing so large an amount? Two thousand five hundred pounds may be taken as a fair estimate of innual water revenue, taking as a basis the valuation roll 1878, and there will undoubtedly be an annual increase, but not enough to pay working expenses,, contingencies, and an annual charge for interest of &7000 besides providing a sinking fund. , The town already owes £30,000 on general account, and £30,000 on gas account. The proposed addition would mean a tax of £2 10s per head per annum of the whole population. On the grounds stated, I say, then, we are not justified in borrowing this large amount. There" is also an other consideration, equally important — it is the probability that a full and goo.d supply can be obtained at less than half the cost necessary for the Dunsdale scheme. Those who came in communication with Mr Gordon on his visit here could see plainly that he had set his face against an underground supply. -His experience in .Victoria for many years had -been entirely in connection with gravitation supply, and he appeared unwilling to pay much attention to experiments that had been commenced here — so much so indeed" that he did not order an analysis of the water obtained hy boring', or make any attempt to ascertain what quantity per hour the two inch pipe would give by pumping from it. There is now a pipe down 200 ft. from the surface. At an insignificant cost, water could have been taken from the bottom of it, and both quantity and quality tested. Had this been done his j-eport would have contained the interesting in--1 formation of - supply per hour from a t\ra> inch pips 200 feet deep, and with it might have been probable supply from a 6 feet avcll or shaft 200 feet \ Seep. Mr Gordon in his report (appendix C, esii - mate No. 1) gives a rough estimate of cost of putting down 20 bores 250 ft. each — What for? Bores have already been put down in the town, and ten, twenty, . and thirty miles from it, with the invariable result of finding a heavy pressure of water. Does not this fact suggest, that we should take advantage of these favox*able local circumstances, and for a time, jit any rate, turn our attention to a ' nearer and cheaper supply. — I am, &c, . ■■ ■ . 3^ -GIXIZEtf,