THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1772, 24 October 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1879.

Judging from the accounts which have appeared of the semi-official inspection at the Waimakariri, of the works connected with the proposed water supply, the scheme apparently possesses several claims to favorable consideration. It is due to Mr White to candidly confess that as far as the more results of the boring operations are concerned, ho has somewhat “ astonished the natives.” But eo many other considerations must be weighed—such as the question of friction, of pressure, and the shifting of the supply which has been so successfully tapped—that it would bo altogether premature in the absence of the formal report of the engineers who will go carefully into the matter, to express any opinion upon the subject of success or non-success. In any case, it is most desirable that matters should ho pushed on as quickly as possible, and that a settlement of the question of the water supply for fire prevention purposes should be arrived at at an as early date as possible. The Sydenham Council are, it appears, willing to co-operate in any feasible scheme, so that the city will receive some return in aid of the expenditure which will have to bo incurred. The Council are now about to obtain the independent opinions of the engineers on the subject of the feasibility or otherwise of the scheme. The latter will doubtless report as to whether the cylinders as proposed will give the requisite quantity of water, as to the mode of conveyance from the source of supply to the city, and as to several other important questions connected with the undertaking. But, as far as we understand the resolution, there is no mention, at least specially, of their being instructed to prepare an approximate estimate of the cost. This seems to bo the most important item of the whole. Should the question be laid before the ratepayers, they will, before committing themselves to a work of such magnitude desire to know exactly to what extent they are rendering themselves liable to taxation to meet the interest and sinking fund. It may be perfectly true what is claimed by the enthusiastic admirers of the scheme, that it is possible to obtain an almost unlimited supply of water from the bed of the Waimakariri; but it may turn out, when the matter comes to bo looked into, that the expense of obtaining it renders it prohibitive. We do not say that it is so. That is a question which has to bo solved by the calculations of the engineers. But it is quite within the bounds of possibility that it may be found that “ the game is not worth the candle,” and that the ratepayers will refuse to sanction a scheme the cost of which is so great. Looking at the matter from this point of view, therefore, it is necessary that we should have before us at the earliest possible date a detailed approximate estimate of cost. If it is found that the expense is too great, then no time must be lost in attempting to discover some less costly method. The question of cost must bo intimately bound up with thojmatter of efficiency—in fact it appears to us to be the premier consideration. It cannot for an instant bo admitted that the present scheme is the only feasible one. There are several others apparently quite on the cards, and Mr. White’s is only an alternative scheme. The real question is—how can the city get tho most for any sum it may expend ? Wo trust the Council will look at the matter in a practical and business-like manner. If tho estimate of tho engineers bring tho present scheme within tho moans of the Council, so far so good. Thou, and not till then, come the tho details of working out tho problem and tho possibility of its satisfactory solution by means of Mr White’s scheme. In any case, wo trust, tho affair will bo pushed on vigorously. A better protection against fire is urgently and immediately needed in Christchurch, as also a reduction in the high rates of insurance now ruling. We trust therefore, for these reasons, that tho report will not only contain opinions as to tho feasibility of the scheme to carry out what is claimed for it, but also approximate estimates from which the ratepayers will bo enabled to form their conclusion as to the advisableness or otherwise of sanctioning tho work, if such work is

deemed advisable from a scientific point of view. In tlio present want of fire appliances, and the consequent dangers, expenses, and inconveniences, the emphatic motto of the Council should be “ Advance.”