THE WATERWORKS.

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 9

THE WATERWORKS.

To the Editor. Sir, —The majority of the ratepayers will conclude it is myself who is referred to in this morning’s editorial. Such is not the case, as it is Mr R. T. Stewart, of Dunedin, who has been appointed adviser to the council on the water supply. This gentle man is the brother of Mr J. M. Stewart, who should have been asked, as it was he who did all the boring at the waterworks When the first twenty-two inch bore was put down it was by the two brothers. After this was completed Mr R. T. drove a pipe through the bottom of the seven-foot well anticipating a good supply from that source, but it was a complete failure as predicted by myself verbally to Mr Clapcott and through the Press to the ratepayers. It was proved conclusively before the well was sunk by Mr R. W. Jones and agreed to by Mr Halliday that owing to the compact nature of the ground under the well it could not supply the quantity of water required. Now, with regard to the new pump, I think a great mistake has been made by the Public Works Committee deciding such an important question, seeing we have a qualified mechanical engineer in charge of the waterworks who so far as can be ascertained has not been consulted in the matter. There is also another anomaly in the Special Committee not getting Mr J. M. Stewart's advice, in addition to his brother’s, as to the method he would advise to increase the present supply, for he of all men knows the ground thoroughly. In conclusion, I wish it distinctly under stood that the brothers Stewart are not connected with me in any way. and further, I have only spoken to Mr McCarthy, the waterworks engineer, on one occasion for under half an hour, and this was some months ago.—l am. etc., JAMES STEWART. 99 Bowmont street.