WAINUI-O-MATA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1953, 9 January 1914, Page 6

WAINUI-O-MATA.

NOW AND THEN. . GLANCING BACK OVER THREE SCORE YEARS. [A Few Reminiscent Observations, by Mr. D. Sinclair, of Palmcrston North.] After an absence of many years from the- district' of Wainui-o-mata, tlie writer has spent a day or two during the holidays, in visiting tho scenes of earlier life in that district. Tho following notes and observations nro made, and may interest not only visitors but those who are at present resident in the Valley. As one walks over, tho hill is found to bo as high as it was many years ago, the road no straighter, or wider, tho swamp land at Jeast no more fertile. From the present appearance of tho farm land in the swamp, it seems as if the changes of tenuto have not assisted "evolution" or development in farming those otherwiso flat lands. Tho natural growth of manuka, corse, blackberry, and other noxious weeds aro more than holding their own. It is quite evident that more than grazing stock is required if the ravages of these pests are to be cTiecked. As the road is pursued further towards tho Valley a halt is made on that prominent point known as tho, "Bock, overlooking the old homestead of Moness,

The Old Home Has Cono, From that panoramic view, the pye and mind ai'e thrown back reflectively for a period of three score years. The lively associations of tho place arc gone—the old "home" is not there. Tall trees, liko sentinels; now mark the spot, while every_other thing has'changed. Even the river has eroded its banks in such a manner as to cause a feeling of regret that its beauty is a thing of the past. In noting the growth of artificial plantations, such as tho pines: gums, Wellingtonias, and others, knowing that a period of forty years has passed since they were planted, as they are now measured, some of them havo a diameter of four feet, and a height of at least 100 feet. This is ample evidence of the length of time it would take, say, fifty years, for some of tho waste lands of tho Crown to bo made reproductive by a systematic planting of the best kinds of forest trees. A few now buildings in various places in tho Valley are the chief evidence of recent progress, although 'not so many as one would reasonably to seo after the lapse of so many .years. In visiting the.sites of the resorvoirs, both old and new, it may bo as well to note how and when this idea was first introduced for obtaining, or augmenting tho supply'from there. History of the Water Supply. In the autumn of 1878 great complaints had been made to tho City Council as to the unsatisfactory condition of the water in the old reservoir at Karori. Several tests had been made and reported to the council, when it was found necessary to obtain a better supply. On the motion of Mr. H. F. Logan, at tho time a member of tho council, it was arranged to obtain the services of a Mr. Clark, C.E., a hydraulic engineer of some repute, who was at tho time in Christehurch on tho sarao business. Ho had come from India to Sydney in connection with tho same class of work, and'it was thought advisable to obtain his expert knowledge to make a report on the drainago and water supply for "Wellington. Mr. J. D. Baird. the then City Engineer f with Mr. Clark, visited Wainui-o-mata on Friday, May 17, 1878. They were guided by the writer to the site of the present lower reservoir, at that timt known as tho Horseshoe Bend, above John Dick's Point. Mr. Clark was favourably impressed with tho site, and ga-o tho height by aneroid reading as 475 feet above sea level. Thiß was proved subsequently to bo within a few feet of the actual height. A few days after, on May 23, Mr. Clark and Mr. Hewitt (tho water-works engineer at the time) were out, and measured the volume of water in tho stream, and found the flow to be 15,000,000 gallons in tho day of twenty-four hours. On Tuesday, May 28, Mr: Thomas Ward, one of the assistant engineers at the,time, was sent out to tho Wainui-o-mata, for the purpose of, taking levels, to ascertain if a gravitation scheme was possible, and other data required by Mr. Clark to enable him to furnish a report to the City Council. • -This same Mr. T. Ward, surveyor and engineer, has his office in Grey Street at the present time. When the Work Was Completed. For a period of two years preparations were in training for the work. An estimate of the cost was prepared, at £130,000, and a poll of the ratepayers of the city was taken on August 20, 1879, to ascertain if they would sanction a loan for that amount. The loan was carried—lo99 voted for it, and 398 voted against it. From this time onward tho work was in progress. Tho first contract for tho water-race was let, to' Mr. W. F. Oakes on May 31, 1880, and, various contracts were let in succession. On September 14, 1882, tho sludge tunnel contract was undertaken by Messrs. J. and D. Sinclair, the price being £624 10s. It was finished on February 13, 1883. On March 16, 1883, the City Council accepted the tender of Mr.' G. H. Baylis to construct tho main dam wall, and other work, for • the sum of £3997. • This- work ; -was just about completed, when on January 22, 1884, a heavy flood in the river almost' wrecked the whole work. A contract to repair tho damage was lot to Mr. Joseph Saunders on March 13, 1884, at a cost of £3416 13s. While these repairs were being dono tho city was greatly in need of water, and arrangements were made with tho contractor, Mr. Saunders, to flume the water from the river above the dam into the concrete raco. By this temporary means water was supplied to the city for a time,- while the other works wero oeing done. The water was first sent into Wellington at 2 p.m. on May 10, 1884. With the exception of a pipe bursting at Ngahauranga, which caused a few hours' delay, tho supply of water for Wellington has been continuous from the abovo date. It is to bo hoped that the new reservoir at Solomon's Knob (which is of much more imposing appearance) will fulfil the expectations of the designer, and justify the expense in its construction. If so, there should bo sufficient water for the City of Wellington for many years.

The revised school syllabus recently issued by the Education Department was discussed by Mr. G. Hogbcn, In-specor-Gonoral of Schools, at Tuesday's meeting of the incw Zealand Educational Institute. Mr. Hogbcn prefaced his remarks with the statement that ho did not believe in syllabuses. The chief essential in teaching was personality, and he had always inclined to tho opinion that it was wise to leave a good teacher alone, allowing him to make his own syllabus, But the issuing of syllabuses had done some good. The intention of the latest one was to give teachers as much liberty as possible. .-.Almost tho whole-df it was suggestion, and the only thing to be done was to separate the more emphatic from the less emphatic. -In it an-attempt had been mado to raise the standard of the proficiency certificate examination, emphasising tho importance of English and arithmetic. The Inspector-General explained many of tho details of the syllabus, and was warmly thanked for his address, which was considered of groat value by, the teachers.