The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1911. THE RETICULATION LOAN.

Southland Times, Issue 16843, 20 September 1911, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1911. THE RETICULATION LOAN.

The proposal which Councillor Andrew Bain will submit to the Town Council at its meeting to-morrow evening has much to recommend it. The preliminary enquiries in regard to the pumping scheme may consume a good deal of time. It will be necessary to obtain a report as to the best means of increasing the supply up to the required minimum. No doubt the plant at present in use will be scrapped and replaced by machinery of a more modern type, driven by power economically developed. The Council will have to decide whether It Is better to instal a suction gas plant or to utilise electric current from the tramway power house. All these matters will be the subject of thorough enquiry and will probably excite discussion. The meetings of the Council are a fortnight apart, and

in such a matter as this two or three months may easily pass before agreement is finally arrived at. Why not, therefore, take up that part of the work in regard to which there is no difference of opinion and put it in hand at once? Whatever the, source of supply may be the pipes for carrying the water have to be put in in the same way and in the same place. The outlying parts o ( f the town, formerly the suburban area, are impatiently awaiting the benefits which were promised as the fruits of amalgamation. The first of these in importance is probably an adequate supply of pure, wholesome water, and the Council really lies under an obligation to give residents in the old suburban districts a plentiful supply of water without further loss of time. There is no question, therefore, but that that part of the town which is not already supplied with water has to be reticulated, and a poll on this question would be a mere matter of form. The immediate reticulation of the old suburban area would be approved unanimously by the ratepayers, so that if Councillor Bain’s motion is adopted the Council will be able to proceed at once with the work and to carry it out while the pumping scheme is under discussion. Thus the loss of time will be prevented, and when the best means of raising the water from underground has been decided it will be a simple matter to instal the plant and turn the supply into the pipes already laid down. Householders will be able to'get thenwater services laid, and even If the discussion of alternative pumping and power schemes should occupy a month or two the delay will cause no hardship the laying of the pipes and services will be in hand. Councillor Bain’s motion promises to facilitate the extension of the water service at the earliest date, and unless there are objections to it which are not apparent at the first glance members of the Council may be expected to give it their support.