SPORADIC OUTBURSTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 13, 6 April 1927, Page 13

SPORADIC OUTBURSTS

XUE water proposal local bodies criticised “NOT ENOUGH TO DO” “This proposal is the result of one of those sporadic outbursts which always occur when local bodies have nothing else to do. In the above terms Mr. A. H. Johnstone who is representing the Auckland City Council at the sittings of the Fovai Water Commission, referred to the proposals put forward for the establishment of an Auckland Provincial Water Board. •Mount Eden,” he added, “evidently could not have had much to do, not only their mayor, but also their town clerk and engineer, finding time to busily interest themselves in the proposals.” PESTILENTIAL FLUID A great deal had been said by supporters of the water board scheme concerning the Quality of the City Council’s water, continued Mr. Johnstone, but he would submit that at no time had there been any question of impurity. At the Auckland Hospital the water was tested every week and medical evidence on that point would be forthcoming. The sponsors of the Taupo and Waikato schemes, however, had gone to the trouble to obtain an analyst’s report, which stated that sample No. 1 was unfit for human consumption and that sample No. 2 was five times as bad and totally unlit for any domestic purpose whatsoever. In view of that very startling report, remarked Mr. Johnstone, it is very interesting to note what action the Mount Eden Borough Council took In the matter when they received it. Did they report the matter to the Health Department or to the Auckland City Council? Did they warn their consumers against drinking it? ‘No,” said Mr. Johnstone, “they kept the report up their sleeves and kept pouring the pestilential fluid down their throats.” MEDICINAL PROPERTIES In support of his contention that there was nothing wrong with the water excepting its colour, and which would soon be rectified, Mr. Johnstone instanced the experience of the Mount Albert Borough Council. "When the plague or whatever it was occurred in Mount Albert,” said counsel, ‘‘they called upon the city for water. In 24 hours the life-giving fluid was pouring through the pipes, and the plague immediately ceased.” (Laughter.) QUALITY OF WATER Questioned regarding the quality of the water, Mr. Bush stated that a contract for the installation of a filtering plant had been let to the Candy Filtering Company, the work to be completed in July next. When the plant was in operation it was considered that the water would be practically colourless. The contract was drawn up In very stringent terms, and the clearness of the water was practically guaranteed. One of the tests included m the contract was the ability of a person of normal eyesight to observe a Platinum wire placed at a depth of tour feet. He placed that clause in the contract as he understood that Mr. Gray had said that lie could not see a razor blade after dropping it in his bath. Mr. Rogerson: It was not a razor blade, but a complete razor. FUTURE SUPPLIES On account of the probable increase 2 Population in the eastern districts, said that he would recomthe development of further supPlies at Mangatangi and Maungatahin, where, at the latter place, catchareas were estimated to yield a. 000.000 gallons a day. In the development of water supplies it was conomically sounder to first develop supplies that lay close at hand. In tner words, the capital expenditure as uiore quickly returned. In later jars an investigation was made by a ember of his staff of Lake Taupo and ' ner schemes which might be needed e development of the other two With the Waikato River th!^ Parat * vely handy he did not think thn. u Was any cause of anxiety, altn in his opinion it was desirable Fnii • u ** y the upland sources. ha*5 W J ng: the Tau Po investigations he not ln^orme d the mayor that he could recommend such a scheme, his estirunning into £4,000,000, and to H%n ® er t a * a ly hesitate to undertake com?* a ten “ rnile tunnel to the Tapuo s.'ho ry * Unless no other suitable r _ me wa s available he would not mmend going into the thermal ant ?J 8 ’ and such, he submitted, was n °t the case. (Proceeding.)