THE WAIHIRERE SOURCE

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 319, 21 January 1902, Page 2

THE WAIHIRERE SOURCE

SOME IMPRESSIONS GAINED,

It is a very important thing that before voting to-morrow all ratepayers should have a clear understanding as to the nature of the source. It would be well if all ratepayers could make a personal inspection of the site, and having due regard for the engineering opinions, judge for themselves. With the object of obtaining a fair view of the position as a layman, a representative of the Times visited Waihirere yesterday, taking notes on things just as he saw them, and without pretence of bringing engineering skill to bear. The water was gauged first at the main branch leading into the creek, near' the rirnu tree. It was found that the flow of water there, after making a liberal allowance for leakage, ete., was 6J inches. To that has to be added perhaps a little for the water banked up by the dam, but in the figures given some allowance is made. About three-quarter distance up another test was made. The water was there found to give a three-inch flow ; in this half an inch is allowed for leakage, though practically none was perceptible. At the Falls numerous tests were made, the result of which was that making allowance for everything there was not more than a 2£ inch flow. Tests with a stop-watch showed that the flow of water was at the rate of five gallons in eight to eight and one-fifth seconds. This comes very near to the records taken b,y Mr Boylan, though at the time it was not known what that gentleman’s gauge was. An inspection was then made of the surrounding country, and there is no gainsaying the fact that there is a good deal in what Mr Lysnar has said, as opposed to Mr Mestayer. That gentleman stated that there was no appearance of slips or broken ground, which examination shows to be anything but an accurate statement. Two chains below the site of the dam there is a slip. At 13chains distance off there is broken ground, with looso soil showing all around. Half a chain on the town side of the dam line there is broken surface, showing an underground opening 15 inches deep and 2 feet wide. - There is a dry watercourse sweeping through loose clay. Higher up in the same watercourse there is a hole 5 feet long by 51 inches wide and 3 feet 6 inches deep. Then was observed another underground channel running into tlie eaith: it is 2 feet wide and 19 inches deep. Among the party was Mr F. Stafford, who went thero as a firm believer in Waihirore. He had his belief somewhat shaken when he fell into a iioic, the depth of which was up to his armpits. Further along there was a hole a foot deep and 12ft. wide. Continuing the walk many other holes were found. In one place the surface shows a deep crack for about 12 feet, and numerous smail slips were to he seer.. The places where the excavations had been mado along the line of dam were examined and the main thing come upon was hard sand or loose clay which could be pulled away in flakes. In fact some of the holes had already been partly filled in. At the bottom of the creek there is limestone but it appears to be in the form of boulders. On the hillsides it can be seen that the formation is most irregular, some of the strata being perpendicular with big crevices showing between the rock. “It was built in a great hurry,” was the remark of one member of the party. There is no doubt, tnat an examination of the source fully justifies Mr Lysnar in the remarks hr- has made as opposed to Mr Mestayer that ti e coon try is broken, is subject to slips, and may not possess the supposed foundation. I: should be understood that the silo for a

dam as proposed by air Mestayer is above that suggested by Mr Boylan. As to the purity of the water there appears to be no question. There are eels hi'abundance, but as a running stream there is no complaint to make as to the water. What the effect will b'e when it is conserved is another point. 'The how of water over the tali can be spanned by a man’s foot.

As it is desirable that the ratepayers should have full information before easting their votes the foregoing notes are given for the benefit of those who have not yet seen the source of the .water supply, and mayhap do not giv§ v Mr Lysnar the credit to which he is entitled for so strongly representing his honest belief to the public.