WILLIAMS PARE.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 116, 2 February 1918, Page 11

WILLIAMS PARE.

. — DAY'S BAY WATER SCHEME READY HELD UP BY SHORTAGE OF LABOUR Sooner or later, it is considered, there will have to bo ail adjustment ,iof interests between tho Wellington City Council and the Eastbourne Borough Council in respect to Day's Day ferry fcraffio. It will bo remembered that rather than sco the whole of tho "Williams Estato at Day's Bay cut up into building sections, the City Council took over tho unsold portions of the j Bay, which included the sports grounds |wn the flat and tho bush reserve which ! extends to tho sky-line at the back.' The Government promised to assist, but subsequently declined to do so unless •the area was vested, in the Government. Scenery Preservation Board. 'Iliie council declined to part with tiio feo simple in that way, and, as a consequence, the city had to pay a great deal more than was originally intended. _ Tho position to-day is that tho city is maintaining i! ese lovely grounds ut considerable cost, and the party receiving most benefit is the Eastbourno Borough Council (the owners of tho ,ferry service), ns,. it is pointed out, without having these attractive grounds ( \o offer the public, the Eastbourne Borough ferry service would suffer con•'siderahly. . The subject was referred to unofficially by some of the officials and councillors at yesterday's staff picnic- at tho Bay, when_ it was suggested that tho one .effective way out would bo for the City .'Council to securo its own steamer, and ■ refuse admission to the grounds to fthoso who travel to tho Bay by any ;other steamer. Such a course is hardly likely to bo taken until tho war is oyer, but it is considered that once the big trouble is settled in Europe, and something liko normal conditions are assured, the matter will be seriously 'considered. As is alrendy known, tho city has •undertaken the construction work for a. water supply, and drainage scheme for Day's Bay. ■ The.Bay is within the 'jurisdiction of tho Rutt County Council, hut an Act of last session gav« rtlie Wellington City Council authority to proceed with this important work, under.an arrangement (as to a special lating area) with the. Hutt County 'Council. Sketch plans have already been prepared by.,the City Engineer (Mr. W. F. Morton); which provide forthe reticulation of tho Bav for water and drainage. Tito water is to bo secured from the two gullies on, either - 'Ride of the Bav, the supply, to be obtained from tho (low of the stream, ./which is to say that it is not proposed to conserve water at all, but merely to provide pools or pits for the heads of tho two wiiic-'pal mains. Tho ■ streams have been tested, and have ■been found to provide an ample supply for tho requirements of the ie- . st-ricted jwpnlation of the Bay. The drainage is to bo coped with by means of two septic tanks, to be loeated at the two horns of tho Bay. When that work will be 1 undertaken remains a matter of uncertainty at the present time. No -difficulty is antici'pated in raising the money', but there is an acute shortage of labour, and it is extremely doubtful if tho material (iron pipes chiefly) can be obtained at all. i ■ "I find it impossible to get enough labour for our works in the city." said the engineer yesterday.' "How it 'will bo oossible to aet lnhonrers for work at Day's Bay. I don't know." It is a problem that is perplexing most publio bodies at present, and the, water awl .drainage schemc for Day's Bay waits, I upon its solution.