RESERVOIR EMPTIED

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 22

RESERVOIR EMPTIED

SERIOUS OFFENCE AT JOHNSONVILLE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 10. In 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 drought must rank as a heinous offence. Such an act has been perpetrated within the last few days at Johnsonvillc. This town board district has its own water supply, two dams in the hills being supplied by the water of the Oliariu Stream. In order to got tho water into tho upper dam an electric pump was secured last year, and since then no trouble has been experienced in filling the reservoir as the necessity arose. Tbo dam holds 27,000 gallons of water, and was filled one evening to the brim. On complaints being lodged by the residents that no water was available, an investigation was made, and it was found that a turncock had been procured and the valve opened, causing the whole of the 27,000 gallons to rush down the hill to the stream whence it had come. So far there has been no arrest in connection with the affair, but the matter is in the hands of the police.