WATER AND THE FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 12

WATER AND THE FUTURE

LOOKING AHEAD

PROVISION FOR AN EXTENDED METROPOLITAN AREA /

•At,-the Cit.y Council meeting on Thursday evening councillor- L. il'Kenzie moved:—'"Lnat tho Wellington Uty"* Council invite a conference of the local bodes adjoining Wellington to discus a. comprehensive water scheme lor tl.o future supply of Wellington and suburbs. ,.

i.n submitting his motion, Councillor JL'Kenziu said that it was quite time to safeguard the iiiliire supplies for the whoio of Wellington, unci its surroundings. Having watelied the growth of Wellington fur a litefime, ho knew bow imiKWiDle it was to try and foretell its future and how soon it would be beioio they merged into one Greater Wellington. There was jio timo in Wellington's history so opportune as the present to uisoubs this proposal, for in almost every j-uiall adj-aieut borough the councils were considering a local water supply, whilst otner boroughs who low posseted their own supplies nad extensions under review. Uue did'not have to possess the powers oi , a prophet to see that in tho near future most of these boroughs would join the city, and it would 1)8 a correct and gracious action for this large city whk',h had' the organisation in lorce -to help them for their future guidance. I'y I helping them tho Wellington Council • would be laying the paving-stone, and it would be uiucn better to attach tlii'se boroughs (when they were ready to come ■into the city) with a good supply and solid reticulation than a faulty one. Eastbourne had passed a loan of about .L'buOO tor a water supply, and an extra tium for drainage. It was now found that this sum was insufficient, and they must reconsider the whole proposal. Again it was quite a question whether their present proposal could over give them pressure for high levels, which meant that before long they would be forced to instal high level receiving basins and costly pumps. Jyarori, whicii was on the fringe of the city area, was without water and drainage. From a health point of view this "could not remain very much longer, and they had mado endeavours to instal a partial scheme whicii relieved a, small portion of their borough only, and this was turned down for want of a better scheme. Onslow had held their hand pending their proposal to come into the city. Both Hutt and /Petone had a water supply under review only lately, and everytiung now pointed to tho necessity for a. conference.' Even within the city tho Harbour Board bad an idea of obtaining , their own supply. A general understanding would allow the city engineer to produce a district plan embracing all the best "water areas; tho most suitable could be «ur-ma.rkcd and a deh'nito scheme worked to as requirements had to be met. Uβ could obtain tho ideas of the local bodies r.nd lay his plans according!}', and this would obviate the troubles like the one on the east of the harbour, tho City Council being asked to supply water and drainage to Day's Bay and bays to file north, whilst liona, Bay , had not oven discussed the ideas. The chance of safeguarjjing the health of tho city must not be overlooked. The more populated these outlying districts become, the greater the liauger, and an outbreak in any one must reflect back on .the- city. Concluding, Councillor M'Kenzio said he would like the council to lonsider the advisability of starting an extension fund whicii would enable the works to be carried on gradually without undue pressure upon the ratepayers so that the supply could be kept well ahead of tho demand—a most important fact that had been overlooked by almost every local body which had water, under control.

Councillor Castle seconded the motion, pointing out that the present supply had proved inadequate—nearly so indeed for the immediate requirements of the city itself.

The proposal was supported ■by Councillors iSorwood and I'ltzgerald, the latter urging , that in view of the amalgamation'of municipal districts , tlis matter of witter supply could not bo dealt with too soon. Onslow had bec-n vainly considering for years whether that district could get a sufficient catchment area of its requirements. , ' The motion, was agreed to.