The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1884. Water Supply

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 39, 3 April 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1884. Water Supply

In a former article on the finances of the Borough, we stated that according to the work done, and the amount of money which would be taken out of the loan fund to complete the public works named in the schedule, a probable sum of £2,000. would be left for the council to devote to other public works. When the subject of a loan was first mooted, we advocated the adoption of a water scheme, whereby the borough would be supplied with water from the Kiwitea stream, to be used for household purposes, the extinction of fires, and for drainage. When the first proposal of a loan of £10,000 was rejected by the ratepayers and a reduced loan of £6,000 was accepted, the idea of a water supply was apparently necessarily shelved; but now that there is a surplus of £2,000, we think that the consideration of the subject can be again taken up. It is patent to everyone resident in the Borough that the water now available from the wells for household purposes is wretchedly bad ; in fact, it is almost undrinkable from the mineral properties it possesses. Rain water has therefore to be chiefly relied on. Although we have had plenty lately (too much if anything) of rain to supply the most extravagant in the use of water, yet this cannot always be relied on, and next year it is not improbable that we will have an exceptionally dry season, and the accustomed plentiful showers may be absent for many weeks. The cost of bringing in, from the Kiwitea, a four or five inch main would be comparatively small. We are informed by Councillor Carthew that this was the size of the main used to supply the Thames, in the Auckland Province, when its population numbered 10,000, and therefore such would be quite large enough to fulfil all our needs in Feilding for many years to come. In our case no engineering difficulties exist, to make the expense heavy for laying the main. The whole cost would be in the making of a small dam, and the purchase of the iron pipes and labor. The tax on the ratepayers would be small when compared with the enormous benefits to be derived therefrom. Many industries would be started if water was available,and manufacturers would only be too glad to pay liberally for hydraulic power to be used in driving machinery, so much so indeed that we believe the ratepayers, after a year or two, would be relieved of all burden in this respect, and the water be made an actual source of revenue. The surplus *water would be useful for flushing the drains and sewers in such an effectual manner as to preserve their sanitary condition. A ready means of staying the progress of a fire would be at hand at all times, and our present condition; of helplessness in that connection removed. We respectfully urge on the Mayor and Councillors to take our suggestion into consideration this evening, or at least let the subject be brought up, if only to be held over for consideration at the next general meeting of the council. '■.■.;.■■■