MAYORAL PICNIC TO WAI MAKARIRI.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1770, 22 October 1879, Page 3

MAYORAL PICNIC TO WAI MAKARIRI.

In connection with the Waimakariri water supply scheme, a picnic to the scene of operations on the river bed took place yesterday, invitations having been presented by the Mayor of Christchurch as host to the ladies and gentlemen attending. About forty invitations were issued to members of the Council, the Mayor of Sydenham (who was represented by Mr Charters), and other gentlemen and their]ady friends. The event was understood to be of a semi-official character—that is to say, it combined business with pleasure, as it afforded those of the new Council, who were unacquainted with the progress of affairs in this direction, an opportunity of seeing what had been done to promote a water supply, and of witnessing a public test of the supply from the cylinder, in presence of the advising engineers appointed by the Council, Messrs Hubbard and .Blackwell. The weather was exceedingly favorable for the excursion. Shortly before nine o’clock four traps started from the City Council offices, the foremost vehicle, which acted as pilot, containing the town clerk, other corporation officials, two gentlemen recently the recipients of civic honors, and the representatives of the Press, a little company who managed to break the monotony of the drive very successfully ; in the three other carriages the gentlemen were honored by the presence of the ladies. The party arrived at their destination at 12 o’clock, and found a large marquee tent erected on the ground, with tables and forms inside, prepared for the excellent luncheon which some time afterwards was served.

Shortly after arriving on the ground Messrs Hubbard and Blackwell, the engineers, with the whole party, proceeded to the well which has been sunk to test the supply, according to Mr White’s experiment, and which has already been fully described in these columns. The cylinder sunk into the ground is 25ft down, and is 2ft -tin in diameter ; on the top of this is a pump worked by an eight-horse power engine, and close to the pump is a tank for the purpose of testing the amount per minute that the supply will give. On measuring the depth of the water in the cylinder while the pump was working, it appeared that the water was 2ft lower than when a similar experiment was made about a month ago. No great importance, as affecting the merits of the scheme, was attributed to this fact by Mr Blackwell, who thought it probable, so far as he was able to judge superficially and without going thoroughly into the subject, that the decrease in the water was caused by the receding of the river ; as thus :—taking the water in the cylinder to be derived from a water carrying stratum beneath the river bed and independent of it, the construction of the cylinder, by loosening the soil on either side, would induce a portion of the water to escape on the outside of the cylinder, and this escape would naturally be greater now that the water of the river had receded, and thus relieved the soil round the cylinder of its pressure. Two or three tests of the cylinder were made, the first not being satisfactory, owing to a leakage in the tank, which was made to hold 400 gallons. The first trial resulted in filling the tank in 59see., which was equal to a supply of 586,000 gallons from the one cylinder per day. The next trial was more satisfactory, as there was no waste, the tank being filled in equal_ to 664,600 gallons per day. In this connection, it may be stated that the original proposal was to have nine cylinders to completo the scheme, but according to calculations since made, it has been discovered that such a number will not be required. After making this test the pump was stopped, and the rapidity with which the water in the cylinder rose to its permanent level was a surprise to all the spectators. No sooner had the engine ceased than the indicator, suspended above the pump to gauge the water, quickly rose. Then Messrs Hubbard and Blackwell took levels between the river and the scene of operations, and although a perfectly accurate calculation could not at the time be made, they were able to estimate that the water in the cylinder was 2ft. higher than the permanent level of the river. In answer to questions from one or two Councillors, Mr Blackwell said he could not offer any definite opinion until he had time to work the subject out, when he would have to report; but he suggested, as the result of his observations so far, the probability of the artesian supply in Christchurch being from the same source as this water they were now getting through the cylinder, namely, a water-carrying stratum which cropped out some distance up the river. The experiments made were looked upon by those present as being highly satisfactory. An adjournment was then made to a capital lunch, which was spread in the tent already referred to, no small part of the preparations and the excellent attendance, being due to the City Council officers, Messrs Haskins, Hobbs, and Tribe, who'wore indefatigable. His Worship the Mayoroccupied the chair, Mr Harris, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade being in the vice-chair. The usual toasts on such occasions were proposed. First came “ The Queen and Royal Family," then the “ Mayor and City Councillors,” proposed by Mr Harris and responded to by the Mayor; “The Mayor and Borough Councillors of Sydenham,” proposed by Mr Ick, and responded to by Mr Charters. Mr Taylor then proposed “ The late and present Water Supply Committee,” saying that he had been an opponent of the scheme, but was now convinced of its value.

Mr Cass responded as one of the late water supply committee, who had been directly referred to by the proposer, and as one who had taken a large amount of interest in the scheme. Or. Gapes also responded, saying his confidence in the scheme bad been shaken by the result of the day’s experiments—the water having fallen. The following toasts were then honored : “Mr and Mrs Harris,” “ Officers of the City Council,” “Our advising Engineers,” “Mr Potts, foreman Waimakariri protective works,” “ The Ladies," “ The Press,” and “ Our Host and Hostess.” The traps were then got ready, and the whole party returned home, having a pleasant drive to town.