LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3018, 14 October 1908, Page 5

LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY.

HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT. SURVEYS AND ESTIMATES TO BE PREPARED.

The report of the District Health Officer (Dr. J. P. Frengley) on the proposed scheme for supplying Lansdowne with high-pressure water from the Ruamahanga river, was read at the meeting of the Masterton County Council yesterday. The report stated that Dr. Frengley had, accompanied by IVlr G. Laing-Meason, traversed the route of the water supply race, and had the details of the scheme set out to him by the latter. The District Health Officer found that Inspector Hicks' report had been based on the scheme outlined in the report of Messrs Marchant and Meason in IJH)S, whereas several alterations, as outlined in the Wairarapa Age, just after the inspection was made by Mr Frengley, were included in the scheme now proposed. The District Health Officer expressed surprise that a scheme of such magnitude should have been voted upon and proposals to carry it out without plans and specification's having been deposited with the local authority. After describing the scheme Dr. Frengley stated that it had been fully considered by him, and he preferred to see, if such were feasible, the intake for the scheme located above the railway bridge. It was proposed by Mr Laing-Meason, and assented to by Dr. Frengley, that as soon as the survey was completed the latter should accompany the Engineer over the route to state what special precautions he would require to be taken to remove the possibilities of contamination of the water by stock. Dr. Frengley stated that he was of opinion that a supply of water —that was to say, a food within the meaning of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908—could be obtained fit for human consumption by means of the scheme as outlined by Mr Laing-Meason. The report concluded:—"ln conclusion, I have to say it has been pointed out to me that as Lansdowne is a suburb of Masterton, and probaoly will be in the course of time a part of greater Masterton, it is preferable that there should be but one high-pressure water supply system, and that the water of the Masterton Borough—as to the purity of which there can be no doubt— shouid be made available at Lansdowne. In this regard, hcw?Y?r, I am frfwrael that thfl proposed reticulation of Lansdowne Could, at any time, be connected with the Borough supply, and the Lansdowne supply be supplemented from the Borough and vice versa. The only ground for objection I could have to such a course would be that the Lansdowne supply would contaminate the Masterton supply, but as already implied I see no reason to anticipate that the analysis of the Lansdowne reservoir water will be unfavourable in character." Mr Laing-Meason,who was present at the meeting, aiong with Messrs A. H. Wrightson, V. Donalo and W. H. Cruickshank, members of the Water Supply Committee, answered various questions, put to him by Councillors, and stated that the scheme embodied,, in the Health Officer's report was the one he intended to adopt. In reply to Cr Harris, the Engineer stated that there would not be an appreciably large body of water discharged from the pumping station in flood time. This water would be carried down the water race, which he thought was capable of some im provement. A discussion ensued as to whether the Council was acting in a proper manner by sanctioning the raising of the loan before the plans and specifications were prepared. The Chairman stated that Mr Laing-Meason had given his assurance that the scheme outlined by the District Health Officer was the one he intended to carry out. It was not to be expected that the water supply committee would go to the expense of a full and complete survey before the loan was sanctioned. », Mr Laing-Meason stated that the whole length of the race, the water from which was for human consumption, could be fenced for an additional £l2O. On the motion of ithe Chairman, seconded by Cr Miller, it was unanimously decided to proceed with the survey and estimates for the work, providing the money is still available from the A.M.P. 'Society, who are advancing the loan.