THE BOROUGH OF PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 43, 24 October 1891, Page 504

THE BOROUGH OF PICTON.

BY

‘N.Z. GRAPHIC’S ’ TRAVELLING ARTIST.

Borough of Picton received its charter of Corporation on August 11th, 1876, Mr 111 " at th* l4, time owner of the Picton Brewery (now of Timaru), being elected first Mayor. The Borough Council members are elected and retire in rotation every three years. The present Mayor, Mr A. G. Fell, one of the best - known and most respected men in the Marlborough Province, has retained oftice during the last three years, being returned unopposed on each occasion of reelection. Mr Fell, who was

ivuiiciiy ivxayur 01 iJituiieiiii, owns one of the largest malting establishments in the colony, his malt house in Picton being second only in point of size to any in New Zealand. Mr Fell is also agent for several companies—shipping and others. It is in a great measure due to his untiring exertions that the waterworks (opened this month) is a completed fact. The members of the present Council comprise Mr A. P. Seymour, formerly member for Waimea, Picton, and also the Wairau constituency, his brother, Mr Herbert Seymour ; Mr Falconer, the popular proprietor of the Terminus Hotel ; Mr Philpotts, one of the largest storekeepers in Picton ; Mr George Harris, of the George Hotel, Highstreet, and Messrs Webster, Blizzard, Cragg, and Summerville. Thn olcxi'b," tn n will nr*rl

Inspector of Public Works is Mr Younger, which position he has held for some ten years past, having formerly been town surveyor and secretary to the Board of Works in Nelson. THE NEW PICTON WATERWORKS.

Though highly gifted by nature, Picton has long felt the absence of an adequate supply of water for the township. In the effort to le nedy this defect the Borough Council entered into a contract with Mr Carr, of Blenheim, for the construction of a reservoir in Esson’s Gully, which was

formally opened upon the 2nd of last September. The following description will give our

readers some idea of the nature of the new works: —The cost of these will probably amount in all to about £6,200. For this purpose, £5,500 was borrowed from Government under the Local Bodies Act at the reasonable interest of 5 per cent. As the Mayor pointed out at the opening ceremony, this sum also pro vides for a sinking fund, and that the principal and interest of the Loan would be entiiely made up in the course of twenty-five years, after which time the waterworks would become the absolute property of the town free in perpetuity. The reservoir is constructed about three miles from town on the Waitohi stream, the bed of which is composed of solid rock, and by the construction of a concrete dam a pool is formed with a capacity of about 27,000 gallons of water. A weir has

been cut out of the solid rock to pass the superfluous water (see illustration). The dam itself is situated at a very pretty spot, and, indeed, the track altogether which winds by the side of the Waitohi, crossing it no less than seven times, forms a very pretty walk, overhung as it is by the thick bush trees on the one side, and accompanied by the winding stream on the other. The dam is about 278 feet above sea level, and the water is conducted

by about three miles of main piping, six inches in diameter, to the town, where the pressure varies from 70 to 1201 bs. to the square inch. About fifty fire hydrants, sufficient for existing needs, have been erected in Picton. Great S raise is due to MrDarnall, C.E.,of telson, the engineer, and to Mr W. Can, for the promptness shown by him in executing the contract to time, and with every detail of work faithfully done. As to the utility of the water service, it will be found of the greatest benefit and convenience to the Borough, and will do much to immediately advance the port of Marlborough. There is the convenience of water laid on in every house, then reductions in insurance premiums through facilities for lire prevention ; again the electric light will be available for household use

at little expense, and the advantage of hydraulie engines and hydraulic lifts, cannot fail to be of advantage to a rising trade centre such as I’icton. Altogether, the £1,241 paid to Mr Carr, with the other outlay on pipes and material has been well spent. The inaugural ceremony was performed by the Mayor, Mr Fell, in the presence of the Borough Council and some three hundred spectators. Mr Kell opened the proceedings

with an address as follows :—‘ The importance of providing a sufficient supply of good pure water for household, manufacturing, and fire extinguishing purposes for the township of Picton has been before the Borough Council for a few years past. Hitherto the inhabitants have depended for their supply on rain water stored in tanks and wells, which at some seasons of the year became low, or nearly dry, and besides being unsatisfactory in quantity, and quality did not provide any pressure for extinguishing fires. This state of things has now been brought to a successful termination. The source from which the supply is taken is the Waitohi

Creek, a clear stream of pure soft water which flows down the pretty wooded precipitous and rocky gorge of the valley, passing under the railway viaduct. The water is taken from the stream at a point about 2| miles from the wharf, and about 278 feet above the level of the sea, where a concrete dam has been constructed in the creek ; the banks and bed of which are composed of solid rock, and the stream above this point is backed up for a distance of 6 to 8 chains, thereby enclosing a body of water equal to 270,000 gallons. This has the effect not only of raising the head of water, but the body of water thus impounded also acts as a settling pond in time of flood. A bye-wash, or waste weir, has been cut out of the solid rock at the side of the danr for

the purpose of passing the surplus water. The water is first let into a vertical standpipe (composed of cast iron cylinders 3 feet in diameter) by means of inlet valves 7 inches in diameter, placed at the centre and top of the water ; and the outlet or delivery valve to the town by means of a 7-inch valve placed at the bottom of the standpipe. All these are covered with copper screens to prevent leaves, fish, or other debris from entering the pipes. These screens can be let down, or drawn up the slides to the top of the standpipe at pleasure, or whenever it is necessary to clear them from leaves, iron covers being provided with chains attached to replace the screen in the interval. Should the inlet or outlet valves require repair at any time, the inlet valves can be closed and the vertical standpipe will soon empty itself, when the workmen can descend by an iron ladder provided for the purpose ; or if the valves do not act, the iron cover can be let down the slides and cover the entrances to the valves, every facility being provided for contingencies of this kind. All the valves are opened or closed from the top of the standpipe by small horizontal wheels, neatly placed in a well-finished cast-iron column ;

and the top of standpipe is covered over with two cast-iron plates, removable at pleasure. The outlet pipe to the town is passed from the standpipe through the concrete dam by means of a circular culvert 2ft, 9in. in diameter, formed in the concrete plug at the upper end, enclosing the delivery pipe. This arrangement will permit the enlargement of the pipes at any future time without breaking up the concrete dam, and it also served a further purpose, viz., of enabling the contractor to get rid of the flood water during the construction of the dam. To provide against any sediment being lodged in course of time inside the drain, a 15in. sluice pipe has been piovided with a sluice valve at the other side of the drain. By this means access can beobtained to it at all times, and the impounded water can be passed through this sluice in about an hour if the stream is at its summer level. It is not anticipated that this will be required often, as the bed of the creek and mountain slopes are composed nearly all of solid rock. In order to make a safe bed for the water pipes as well as to provide a means of conveying them up the precipitous winding and rocky gorge, a sledge track 5 feet wide has been made, chiefly in the solid rock ; and the. water mains are laid on the inside of the track, trenched 15 inches into the rock. The sand and Portland cement for the concrete dam and cast iron sluice and standpipe were also conveyed up the narrow track by means of threewheeled trollies with tires 6 inches wide (somewhat on the principle of the Railway dobbins). As much as a ton was taken up at one time with one horse by Mr Gomez, who showed eminent ability and perseverance for the work. On the pipe and sledge track there are seven substantial bridges over the streams and gorges, planked 7 feet wide, having a third separate beam placed at the side, on which the water main is bolted, planked at the sides, and covered over the top with galvanised iron ridging. The water mains are 3 miles in length, of the spigot and socket pattern, 6 inches in diameter, caulked with yarn and lead, and the distribution pipes are 3 inches in diameter and 4J miles in length, all covered with Dr. Augur Smith's patent coating to preserve them from rusting, or accretions in the pipes. The house services are of galvanized iron with high pressure screw-down stop cocks. Twenty-six valves are provided in the larger pipes for the purpose of cutting oft or diverting the water during repairs or attachments. Forty-nine fire hydrants are also provided, and so placed as to cover the buildings at present erected. The dwelling houses at Picton number about 180, occupied by 814 inhabitants. The plant for the waterworks, about 390 tons, was supplied by Messrs W. Briscoe and Co. of Dunedin, made by the firm of Messrs Laidlaw and Son of Glasgow ; and although plans of the ironwork, and schedules of the material were made by Mr Dartnell, the Engineer in New Zealand, he states that everything was made carefully and satisfactorily throughout, and no hitch occurred in carrying out the works. The sledge track was constructed by Mr G. F. M. Fraser, but the pipe laying and concrete dam was carried out by Mr W. Carr of Blenheim. Mr Johnson acted as overseer of the pipe-laying contract.. The pressure of the water is from 100 to 120 pounds the square inch, according to the level of the outlet. The pressure on the higher terraces, viz,— at Mrs Speed’s and Mr Johnston’s —is 70 pounds to the square inch ; and at the top of Wellington street, near Mr Conolly’s 80 pounds. A one-inch muzzle placed at the corner end of the town will throw a column of water. 100 to 130 feet in vertical height. It was feared at one time that many of the pipes would be broken or damaged in transit from Glasgow, in consequence of removing them hurriedly to stop a leak in the vessel caused by striking a rock near Bahia, whither the captain had to put in for a fresh crew. On arrival, however, there were only 4 to. 5 per cent, damaged, and most of these were cracked slightly at the ends. The track to the dam will be a favourite promenade, and place of resort during the summer months, as a more lovely and picturesque walk can scarcely be found. When the Main Trunk Railway connects Christchurch with Picton via the Tophouse (a work which should be hurried on by the Government and Commissioners with all speed), it is confidently asserted that the varying outlines of the mountains, the famous Sounds with their deep, clear-blue waters, and the magnificent sunsets, will all contribute to make Pieton a favourite resort for tourists and health-seekers from many parts of the world.’ At the conclusion of his speech, Mrs Fell formally christened the dam, and set in operation the works by turning on the water and breaking over it a bottle of champagne. The day concluded with a social re union at the Public Hall, which passed oft' in a manner agreeable to all those who participated in it. We have to acknowledge photographs from the following firmsWrigglesworth and Binns, that of Mr G. Harris; Mr Thos. Fall, that of the Mayor (Mr A. G. Fell).