PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1930, Page 13

PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY

MAINS FROM NEW PLYMOUTH. EXTENSION TO BELL BLOCK. A scheme for extending the New Plymouth borough water service to the Bell Block factory was confirmed at the annual meeting of the dairy company last night. It is hoped to have it in operation before Christmas. The factory uses an average of 15,000 to 18,000 gallons daily for eight months of the year, rising at the peak period to 20,000 gallons. The chairman, Mr. L. J. Rundle, outlined two previous attempts to obtain a suitable water supply. The first was to have come from the back of Mr. Cornwall’s property and the second from the installation of a pumping station on the Mangaoraka River. Neither was suitable.

At first a guarantee of £5OO was wanted for the New Plymouth scheme, but aftr discussion £475 was agreed on, with the proviso that all water used between Smart Road and Bell Block be used as a set off against the £475, thus bringing the cost down to about £4OO. It was the only solution as the present policy was no good. The new scheme was not cheap but the benefit to farmers in the future should bo taken into consideration. The streams were becoming smaller and the time would arrive when there would be an urgent need for such a supply. The price quoted was the maximum amount and at present there was no suggestion of the installation of a meter. The agreement was for 20 years. Shareholders should remember there would be no pumping costs at the factory and no fear of lack of water. He understood a six-inch main was to be laid to the Mangaone Hill and further on a fourinch pipe. Provision was made in the agreement for extension east of the factory. Trouble had been experienced with water at the factory at intervals over the past 25 years. The action of the directors in completing the preparations for obtaining water from New Plymouth was confirmed,