DR. FISHER ON WAIHIRERE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 936, 8 July 1903, Page 2

DR. FISHER ON WAIHIRERE.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.)

Sir,—l trust the strong'supporters of Waihirerc will pardon me for referring to an official analysis of the Waihirerc water which I have before me, which shows that the water contains 19.13 grains of inorganic-'' matter and 3.91 grains of matter per gallon. So far as I can learn, no medical expert has been consulted as to the qualities of the water for potable and economic purposes. If he had, you would no doubt he told that water containing the above quantities of solid organic matter comes from a vegetable and peaty locality, and that peaty water is dangerous on ac-; count of the contained acids, which act as plumbo-solvents—i.e., solvents of lead. In Sheffield, there was a serious outbreak of lead poisoning following a season of drought, when the peaty matters became more concentrated. Another trouble that presents itself is the accumulation oj debris, which Mr Mestayer provides for by never completely emptying the retervoir, but leaving nine mil- ‘ lion gallons at the bottom as being impure for use, thus using his reservoir as a settling-pond, which is usually specially provided for. Mr Mestayer reckons that limestone, which he states to be the formation of Waih'ircre, will hold water. No' teaching in chemistry or public, health has told me so. Lime is soluble to water, and hence the formation of cracks, crevices, and subterranean wells, and the resultant hardening of the water from lime salts, in this analysis very marked and detrimental to economic and manufacturing purposes.—l am, etc., WELBY E. FISHER.