INCREASED WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume XLII, Issue 10683, 11 August 1905, Page 4

INCREASED WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

HOW CAN THE WAFER BE CONSERVED. OEFICIAL VISIT OF INSPECTION. CONSTRUCTION QF SECOND RESERVOIR ADVOCATED. NEW FIRE BRIGADE STATION AT SHORTLAND

In pursuance of a resolution passed by the Thames Borcugh Council a* its last meeting, and as the result of discussion on the necessity of augmenting and improving the Borough ■water supply the members, of the Council yesterday paid a visit to the reservoir; ait: Parawai and the intake up the Waikikie Creek. The question of providing a. new fire brigade ehed for the Shortland section of the Brigade tad also, been discussed, and it was therefore decided to inspect the buildings en route. Accordingly the members of the Council were yesterday conveyed in brakes to Parar tvai. THE: "ROLL CALL." There" were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. Burns), Crs George Comer, W. Taylor, El. Deeble, George Graham, E. J. Milnes, and H. Lowe, the Town Clerk (Mr Albert. Bruce), the Borough foreman. (Mr H. Simmonds), while the Borough turncock (Mr Wm, Newman) was at- the reservoir when the party arrived. THE RESERVOIR. Regarding the reservoir it was of. course found full, for the water supply at this time of the year is ample. The water in the fluming was running about 3J inches deep and 15 inches across, quite ample to. keep the water in the reservoir up to the proper level, but only about one-fourth, or less, of the carrying capacity of the flume at this particular point. As showing..the difference that the summer season makes in the water supply it may be stated that last year the water was only running over 8 inches ■wide. The water falls into the first receptacle, where a screen holds the debris, while a second pit- and another screen still further clear the water. THE INTAKE. A' visit was then paid to the intake, or source of water supply, and en route it was remarked that the fluming had almost corroded through in places, entailing .a-good deal of attention. Tni the course of an informal i discussion it was suggested that pipes might prove more advantageous, but against this it was pointed out that there^would be considerable difficulty in keeping them, clear. "Would not screens at the point of intake?" the Mayor queried, but whether the Foreman of Works or the Turncock approved could not be gathered from their non-committal replies. The intake is a most primitive affair —in fact their ain't, none! A. small excavation, a wooden barrier, and with the fluming--these are all. As stated there was an

AMPLE FLOW OF WATER, but it was pointed out" that this was the time of the the year to see the water supply at its best. Just here another little discussion took place, it being casually mentioned that the statutory supply of water that the Borough Council could take from the County Council was equal to 30 gal- . lons per day per head of the popular tioni of Thames, which may be taken at 4000r. This would give the Borough Council 120,000 gallons of water daily, but ithe difficulty is that though the water may be available the Coun- . cil cannot manage to store it. It was this and other matters that were briefly discussed. SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. The supply of water to. be- thus obtained from the County Council in one week would therefore be 840,000 gallons, while the required supply: would amount to 1,750,000 gallons for seven days, this being at the rate of 250,000 gallons per day, or "63| gallons of water per head. This leaves 130,000 .gallonsi to be made up daily, even when the statutory quantity is being taken from the County race, and this, it is submitted, is not sufficient for the purpose. But the Council apparently are anxious to AUGMENT THE SUPPLY,, so that it may be of even greater financial assistance to the borough thami iti is at present—and this is saying a good deal, for the Borough revenue benefits ccrsiderably from, the water surpluses, and while the charges are only what may be expected, it enables the borough to continue its operations with a minimum of general rates. It has been held that the water account has no. right to show a surplus, and that the charges should be levied equally, but this is merely splitting a straw. If the water rate be reduced the general rate must be increased proportionately, so that the RATEPAYERS WOULD RECEIVE NO ADVANTAGE; .But this is by the way. Some members of the Council believe thai by augmenting the water supply the finances of the- Borough would be improved, that the interest and sinking funci on the money required to effect these improvements would 'be more than met- by tfo: increased revenue. It is anticipated that were the water available in the borough a larger number of peltons would be in use, industries would" b& -established,- as the cost for motive! power ..would be co low, and generally'-'the Thames would prosper, an. oap&N'Am msaap^M Such was the trend of ph&jadotmal discussion that ensued at intake, the Mayor taking the place of honour on a disused portion of the fluming, and the councillors balancing themselves on more or less accommodating stones. The Mayor said: Well, gentlemen, wKat'eyer ; we T do will dost money, and

the point is what will the extension or improvements cost, and whether the additional revenue secured will be sufficient, or more than sufficient, to cover tbe additional cost incurred? The Town Clerk: Well, there is the County supply—that can bs included. Cr. Taylor expressed the opinion that it would be a good move, financially for the Council to undertake some such work, though he was not acquainted with the expert details. In the summer time the water at the intake was only a dribble. He thought the storage facilities should be increased. Crs. Milnes, Lowe, Deeble, Comer, and Graham expressed the same, opinion, and thought that the matter was one of considerable importance, and should be considered by the Council at the earliest opportunity, that some action should be taken. AN ENGINEER'S REPORT The discussion then turned to the report submitted to the Council !y ■ Ma- P'erhaan, ithe Government, engineer, who was asked to report on the question of extension, of water supply. (This report, which has already been published in our columns, will be referred to in a future issue.) The report- dealt with the forming of a second res%rvoar, about half a mile up stream. "Let us go and examine the points." suggested Cr. Lowe, who was evidently bent on exploration. The Council rose solemnly and proceeded £o> make its way to a: point indicated, some of the pegs marking the Government engineer's route being met with. Arrived at the point indicated, it was admitted that by the erection > f a dam. a large quantity of water could be - stored, but other councillors opined that lower down a larger quantity of water could be conserved with a smaller expenditure, or even if the expenditure were the same, the fact that this body of water would be a quarter of a. mile nearer the reservoir was a strong point in its favour. There was a minute examination of the locality, and COUNCILLORS! SHOWED THEIR EARNESTNESS in the matter. Crs. Lowe and Taylor disappeared in the prosecution of inquiries and personal examination of another suitable locality, and were absent so long that the remainder suggested the wandering ones had been attracted by the qualities of a herd of plump merinos feeding on the hill slopes! When a return was made it was unanimously decided that the matter should be brought up for discussion at an early date, and it was also agreed that the report of Mr Perham should be considered at the same meeting.