THE WATER SCHEME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 24 September 1913, Page 5

THE WATER SCHEME.

DISCUSSED BY BOROUGH CIL.£16,500 TO BE RAISED. A special meeting of the Mastertoa Borough Council was held last evening to receive the completed report of the Borough engineer (Mr J as. Archer) on the question of extending; and improving the existing water supply. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) presided, and there were also present—Crs. R. J. King, W. E. Winzenberg, J. C. Ewington, W. Candy, E. Flanagan, F. W. Temple, G. W. Sellar, H. J. O'Lear.v and W. G. Kemball.

The engineer explained that he was calied upon to report on the difference in cost between laying a 10inch and 12-inch main from the work* to Railway-road. The cost of 12-inch Manisman pipes to Railway-roa4 would cost £7266 and an additional £3500 to carry the pipes to town. The cost of 10-inch pipes would cost £5200 to Railway-road and another £ISOO to carry them $0 town. The cost of spiral 12-inch pipes.would he £SOOO, while to lay 12-inch iron pipes the cost would be £9427. with' «n additional cost of £2OOO if carried* to town.

The Mayor* stated that he had interviewed Inspector Hugo, of the Fire Board, and asked his opinion on tho report brought down by the engineer, and Aad received a cdmmunkatioji from Mr Hugo in which he stated that he approved of the scheme in general, but suggested the utilising of bigger pipes in certain parts of the scheme. Continuing, the Mayor stated he was of Opinion that it would be a mistake to undertake any scheme which would not give adequate pressure for fire-fighting purposes. As far as the supply for domestic purposes went, he thought the present supply was a very satisfactory one, and in considering any scheme 'improvement the question of fire-fight-ing should be considered. He. in, company with members of the Council, had visited the head works, and the conclusion they had cdme to was that there was an unlimited snpply of water there. "The question had been raised was whether it would bo possible to "take a supply from tho river and have it filtered in the same way as was done with, .the Jsprinjr, water.

. The engineer explained that it would be possible to draw a supply from the river and use the present filtration area for purifying purposes. This could be done '%i very little cost. Or, Temple' said ie would, like to know where all the water that came from the works, went to, a s the rsr, port of Mr Leslie Reynolds showed that over a million feet of water was delivered from the head works. If this quantity' reached town the supply should be sufficient. He would like to know where the waste came in.

•The Mayor said that the supply had been tested and was proved that the delivery was equal to the estimated supply of the engineer. Ur. Temple: 1 -am quite convinced that there is considerable waste -oinon, and those people who "use the water should be made to pay for it. I would favour raising the ratios. The Mayor: I caa'.t see the point Or. Temple is ple do not pay for the writer, I would like to know who does. In answer to Or. Ewington, the engineer explained that if. the suggestions made by Inspector Hugo were added to the original scheme, the to-, tal cost, if Manisman- 12-inch pipes we're used, would be about £13,200. If spiral pipes were used the cost would be £12,500. The cost of reticulating those streets' at present having no supply would entail an additional £4OOO.

The Mayor considered it would be a bad policy to lay pipes in those streets which at present had no houses on them. The work could be done in those .streets as required. Cr Flanagan favoured Raising £2OOO instead of £4OOO for the" latter pur-, pose. Cr Candy thought the full amount should be raised, although the money need not be used until required. , ~ The Mayor said that'the entire scheme would entail the raising of £16,500, and he thought the loan should be floated for this amount. It would not be necessary to take the full amount up. The Mayor then moved that "This council approve of" the, scheme submitted by the engineer (Mr Archer),, with the additions contained- in .In-' spector Hugo's report, and that a poll of ratepayers be taken on the question of raising £16,500 to carry the scheme into effect."

Cr Ewingfcoii, in seconding the resolution, said, he was pleased that the matter had been brought to a head; He had no doubt that the scheme would be a success.

Crs, King, Flaiuig'K and O'Leary spoke in favour of the resolution. Cr- Temple said he considered the sum of £16,500 too large, and would frighten the ratepayers. ■ He considered that £15,000 would be sufficient to cover the work, and he would move as an amendment that the sum of £15,000 be raised; to carry out the scheme outlined by the engineer. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. The Mayor, speaking in reply to the contentions of Or Temple, said he also thought that £15,000 would probably be sufficient ta carry the scheme through. If, however, this sum were raised, and afterwards it was found that -this would not be sufficient, it would be necessary to go all over the .business- again. For this reason it would be safer to ask the ratepayers to empower them to raise £16,500. This sum would not need' t- I>e taken up unless required; The Mayor's motion was then put meeting and carried unanimously. ' . : '