ASHBURTON WATER SUPPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, 8 April 1880, Page 2

ASHBURTON WATER SUPPLY.

It will be satisfactory to our readers to notice that the City Fathers have at last resolved upon calling for tenders for a complete and definite scheme for supplying the township with water for flushing the streets and for fire prevention. On Monday, Mr. Fooks, by the request of the Council, laid before them the plans of a well - developed and cheap means of bringing in a stream from Saunders Bros. ’ mill-raae, which, although not so perfect or of such high pressure as the one decided upon some eighteen months ago, has the merit of being cheap and to a certain extent effective. Briefly stated, the water supply for the municipality is as follows :—A dam, or weir, will be put across Saunders’ mill-race at the plantation on Mr. Donald Williamson’s farm, and from that point the water will be led along the gorse fence in an easterly direction for about 28 chains, thence along the cross - fence to Winter’s road ; a drain will be cut along that road to convey the water to the N. W. Town Belt, and then by a pipe led into the Domain, where by a light cutting soiue 20 chains

in length it will be drawn into the dry gully in the Domain nearly opposite the hospital. From that point the old water course will be utilised until the lower end of the Domain is reached, where it is intended to construct a substantial dam in clay, the surplus stuff on Baring Square on the west side of the railway line being utilised for the purpose; for the' protection of the wall against any possible wash during a nor-wester, a facing of boulders will be placed on the upper or west side. The water will then be conveyed in pipes to the post-office corner, which is the highest point in East street, and it can then by gravitation be brought to any portion of the town, at pleasure, through any street to the East Belt. As it is as necessary to get rid of a water supply as to obtain it, provision has been made for cutting an outfall drain along the East Belt, so as to divert surplus and storm water directly to the river. Tenders are now called for the work, and should the contract fall into good hands, we hope to see a good flow in the water channels within six weeks from this date.