WATER SUPPLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 840, 14 March 1903, Page 1

WATER SUPPLY.

OPINION OF MR D. WHYTE.

At the last meeting of the Borough Council, the following letter, received by Mr Lysnar, was brought under the notice of Councillors :

W. D. Lyßnar, Gisborne. Dear Sir, —On 29th ult. I wrote a letter addressed to the Gisborne Borough Conned, and gave it to my son Walter to deliver. He forgot to do so, and I only it returned to-night; hence its not going brought before the said Council. I will therefore embody herein (he particulars, and my views on the same. On the 11th of last month Mr Glassford, of Te Beinga Gorge, brought before the notice of my neighbor, Mr Galloway, and myself, that there is a good flow of pure limestone water issuing from a part of Whapukauaka hill, at an elevation of about 2000 feet above sea level. He considers the flow sufficient to supply Gisborne, the surrounding districts, and the localities on each side of the line of route the pipes would follow. I again saw him on 28th January, and he adhered to his former statement. The more I study the matter the stronger is my belief in its favor. The cost of pipes and laying might be more at first cost, but storage, dam, with continual outlay and fear of leakage would be avoided, and the districts aforenamed would have a continual, sufficient supply of pure and the healthiest kind of water. Ido not think lam overstepping the mark in saying that Gisborne is one of the unhealthy towns in the colony, and it arises mostly from the want of a pure water supply. The water from galvanised roofs and supply tanks simply galvanises the stomach and destroys the digestive and blood-making organs, hence the reputation Gisborne has of being one o£ the best markets iu the world patent medicines, doctors, chemists, and dentists. I am no doctor, but forty-two years in the school of rearing a large family has taught mo the fact that all the organs of ffie body are more or leqs employee! in feeding the brain, and it must haye its supply, “ want what will,” and if the blood is not pure and a sufficient supply, something must suffer hence the “ bloodless ” young children and young females one sees in Gisborne, and the greater part of the population with not a tooth in their heads. Let the pest of medbines, doctors, chemists, dentists,' nursing, extra household work, worry, and all attendant thereto, bo. put on the opposite side of first cost of pipes for a continual supply of pure health-giving water, with all its comforts and blessings, which will be the cheapest in the end ? This is a serious matter, and should employ the closest and most careful attention of the community of Gisborne and district. Nothing is asked by any of us in giving this information of this water supply, and Mr Wm. Sutherland here, who knows the ground adjoining the spring, will be glad to accompany, free of charge, anyone that the Borough Council might send to see the source of supply.

SUPPLY OF WATER AT TE EE INGA FALLS. On 12th January last I visited these falls, and made a careful examination of the flow of water over them, I did not test it with instruments, hut the flow was in my opinion sufficient to drive electrical machines sufficient to supply Gisborne and all Poverty Bay with electrical power. The long period of dry weather prior to 12th January could reasonably be taken as a basiß of the minimum flow over the falls, but should greater power be needed a connection could be made with Waikare- . moana Lake outlet, which is, on an air lihe, about twelve miles west of Te Reinga, where great driving power could be got. Will you kindly bring this before the notice of the Borough Council at its next meeting, and will you give the Editors of the Times and Herald, papers of Gisborne the opportunity of inserting it in their journals in the interests of the welfare of the town, afiu oblige yours very truly—--1). Whyte.