ACT OF VANDALISM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 8

ACT OF VANDALISM

JOHNSONVILLE RESERVOIR EMPTIED POLICE INVESTIGATING Under ordinary circumstances, needlessly to cause a pronounced wastage of water is a misdemeanour against society, but wilfully to cause a reservoir to empty itself in the middle of a draught must rank as a heinous offence Such an act has been perpetrated within the last few days at Johnsonville.

This Town Board district hasjts own water supply—two dams in the hills supplied by waters of the Ohariu stream. In order to get the water into the upper dam an electric puunp was secured last year, since when no trouble lias been experienced in filling the reservoir as the necessity arose. The dam holds 27,000 gallons of water, and was filled one evening to the brim. On complaints being lodged by residents that no water was available, an investigation was made, and proved that a turncock had been procured and the valve opened, causing the whole of the 27,000 gallons to rush away down the hill to the stream whence it came. So far there lias been no arrest in connection with the affair, but |the matter is in the hands of the police.