LITTLE WATER

Evening Star, Issue 19786, 9 February 1928, Page 5

LITTLE WATER

POSITION AT ANDERSON'S BAY PUMP MAKES SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT To the residents of Anderson’s Bay fresh water is a very precious liquid these days. They are forced to make a very little go a very long way. which are usually filled during the nigut from the supply from the mam have been found to contain very little in the mornings lately, and-consequently very sparing use has had to be made of it. Promise of an improvement was given by Cr Begg (chairman of the Water Committee) at the meeting of the City Council last night, it being stated that a pump had been installed at Ross s Corner with the idea of “ boosting water up the hill to the residents on the higher levels. The city engineer (Mr Alexander) stated this morning that the pump commenced working last night, and that this morning he received advice that its effect had been very beneficial on the hill. He is satisfied that it will bring about a very big improvement, provided water is not wasted in watering gardens or in other ways that are not absolutely necessary at present. He is so satisfied with the working of the pump that he is having a concrete foundation put in. To allow that to be done, the pump will not bo working to-day and_ to-morrow. “ It is the first time for a considerable period that the tap in my bathroom has run at half-past 8,” said a hill resident, when asked if the working of the pump had brought about any improvement this morning. Ordinarily, ho said, there was just a trickle at half-past 7, and after that there was none till night time. During the recent dry weather they had not had a drop of water at all during the day. Another resident also reported an improvement this morning, but said his water was very much discolored. Even that, however, was better than none at all. The rejection of the petition sent to the City Council because it was not worded in language suitable to come before the council was mentioned to a number of Ray residents. An official of the Anderson’s Bay Ratepayers’ Association stated that the petition was purely a private one, and that the association had had no connection officially with it. Personally, he thought it very unwise to word the petition in such a way. At the same time, he did not think justice was being given to the district, the rateable value of which had increased to a far greater proportion than any other suburb during recent years. The Bay was still growing, and in time was destined to be one of the largest, if not the largest, of the city’s suburbs. Ho was convinced that a service reserve! <• would have to lie built on the hill before very long. The Ratepayers’ Association was considering the subject next week, and it would have something definite to say then. Another resident of the hill was very wrathful about the treatment of the Bay by the City Council. He complained that for years it had only “ toyed ” with the matter. It was not only in hot weather that the residents suffered, but also in the winter time, when there was an abundance of water about Dunedin’s natural water catchment area. Cities smaller than Dunedin, ho averred, would have found a remedy for the trouble long ago. He claimed that it was not a petition that was sent to the council; it was a demand—a demand for just rights. Surely the residents of the Bay were entitled, the same as residents of other parts of the city, to services for which they paid, and paid dearly. From a health point of view the whole thing was a standing disgrace. The matron of the Karitane-Harris Hospital at Anderson’s Bay stated this morning, in answer to an inquiry, that so far there had been no shortage of water at the institution. They bad good tank accommodation, and so far tliis had proved sufficient to meet all requirements. A pitiable state of affairs existed at the Glendining Boys’ Home at the Bay several days ago, and it is re- I ported that one morning there was no j water for the lads to have a drink. To j have a wash the boys were taken to a creek at Tomahawk. The supply of water at the homo is obtained from tank storage, the tanks being filled at night time. But so little water was coming in to the tanks at nights that the supply was exhausted. To re- I liovc the position water was carted up I the hill in a water cart, and the tanks filled. Yesterday the position was J satisfactory, and so far to-day no com- | plaints had been received from the | home. 1