HUTT WATER. SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 129, 24 February 1908, Page 7

HUTT WATER. SUPPLY.

OPENED ON SATURDAY. AFTERNOON. Tho Hutt is .progressing at last. It, is only during the past fire or -six 'y.ears, that the 'Borough,, tho demesne' which includes a wide ..'belt, of -valley,\lias awakoned to ; tho of its contiguity to the .'.most flourishing ceiitro in New Zealand. One of the "mostimportant'and beneficial works which' hasi)een (iecided uponhas been tlio provision of-.aiiradcquate water., supply. This has been accomplished by tlio erection of a reinforced concrete 110 feet abovo the level of the-Hutt bridge on-the Western Hutt lload, to'bp "supplied with excellont water provided ! by ten 3-in. artesian bores. through the medium, of three Merryweather three - flow' '' " Hatfield " pumps. The deliver}; 'capacity of , each pump is. 750 gallons per uiinute'agaiiist a' head' of 120 feet, or. a pressure''.of gallons, each against a head of 200/ieeh 1 ' -Everything in the engine house is"iri 'duplicate. 'Thie'supply will bo approximately'l,ooo,ooo: gallons per day, or' enough water'for 40,000 people' ?5 Knllons p'T head pKr d'tv. b^avtiful water, and the strata from which it is drawn are about 26 feet 1 deep; and' about, lUO' foot below, tiir.suriace. ot-'caV 'grotiuuv Tho official opening of the waterworks took place on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. There was present a largo and representative gathering of members of local bodies in the district. Amongst thosb' present wero the Hon. T. W. Hislop (Mayor-of Wellington), Mr. T. -M. Wilford, M.P., Mr.; Harkiiess (Mayor' of Onslow), Mr. J. M'K«'an ; (jMnyor ot I'etone), lind. / Mr. I l '. .Gi i- Bolton".'-(Mayor.''.-■ -of. Eastbourne). ' Miv l * Laing; Measori . (Measou and Ma'rcbrfnt)/ was' present, as sponsor . to ..the. 'scheme. . . The: assembled authorities )rere . in' position as the' t-own clock struck tlupliou'r of 3 p.m., 'and tho Mayor of Lower.Mutt, Mr. T. A. Peterkin, opened tho proccedjugs. ii speech in which ho made reference'to'the cost.'and possibilities of the seheiUe. Ho. stated that., though Messrs. Meason and Marchant wero tho original engineers in connection with the water scheme, tho "plans were, '-'designed by the Borough Engiftber; Mr. Eix-Trott, in conjunction with thcfniy.-', , '

Mr. P.. B. Purser, presented Mrs. T. A. Peterkin with a silver 'key . with which to open the power-house door, and' tile engines, were then started and. the: supply of water to the Borough .began to , flow for,, the, first time. : : ;• After tlie visitors had' inspected the powerhouse, engines, etc.,' an adjournment was' made to the Town Hall,.where tho Fire Brir gade was drawn up arid proceeded to givo a' display of tho power. Two loads, were, led off. 0110 valve, both these considerably overreaching the height of. the fire bell totfer. ' Afternoon tea and ."refreshments were plied .'in Father Lane's, grounds. Afterwards tho visitors wero entertained at tho Town 'Hall, the chair being: taken by Mr. T. M. Wilford, ■•M.l I.',1.', • member for tho district, supported by Mr.' Peterkin,'.Mayor of tho Hutt, on tho right,"and' Mr. M'Ewan, Mayor of Petono, o'li the left:.''. .'. 1 1 : Mr. "Wilford, in an introductory speech, referred to tho remarkable progress made by the Hutt district during' the last 25. years, and mado reference, . to,-the inevitable amalgamation of Potone arfd the'Hutt, when th 6 wholo valley would bo controlled by one body.' A number of- toasts were then ; . lion-: oured. An interesting-, event, during tho afternoon was tho presentation of .certificatck for First* Aid.toi six members, of; tho Firo Brigade by tho Mayor, ■ :