OUR WATER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2761, 3 May 1916, Page 6

OUR WATER SUPPLY

ORONGORONGO WATERSHED

WANTED

MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED

The recent dry season and its effect on the water conserved in the two basins at Waiuui has forced on the City Council the necessity of at once attending to the question of supplementing our source of water supply, and yesterday tho Mayor, attended by some of tho Councillors, the Engineer ami Town Clerk, waited on the Prime Minister with legard to increasing the' watershed area tho city at present holds. The Mayor explained to tho Prime Minister that owing to tho everincreasing demands on our water supply by tho city and adjacent boroughs dependent on the city's system, it was necessary to extend the catchment area, and asked that the Orongorongo'watershed be vested in the Wellington City Corporation for all time. Years ago the Wainui watershed was a Govern- | ment"forest reserve, but. the Govern-

ment had handed it over to the city. It was desirable now that they should supplement their supply, and tho only means of doing so was to bore a tunnel through t!ie mountain ridge between Wainui and tho Orougorongo to tap the latter stream and conduct it t-j tho reservoirs at Wainui.. The city already had control of a portion of tho watershed required, but uutil the possession of the whole of itwas secured to tho city the work could not very well be proceeded with. . The Mayor stated that Mr. Massey's reply was distinctly favourable, but he could not say more until the council meeting to-morrow evening, when lio will mako a general statement on the vubjeot.