THE QUESTION OF WATER SUPPLY IN AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1232, 26 January 1872, Page 2

THE QUESTION OF WATER SUPPLY IN AUCKLAND.

[NEW ZEALAND HERALD, JAN. 22.1 We have been informed that, the basis of an arrangement has been arrived at by which a supply of water may be brought into the city pending- the discussion of a more general and effective scheme. Messrs Secombe and Son, brewers, have a large quantity of water in excess of that necessary to carry on. their trade. There is sufficient to keep a four-inch pipe constat] tl) full. This would represent a supply of from 60,000 to 100,000 gallons per diem, according to the level over which it passed. A deputation of the City Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. Smart, and Mr Macready, waited on Mr Seccombe on Saturday, to see whether such a supply could be had as would relieve the urgent necessities caused to the citizens by the present continuous drought. They were informed that a four-inch pipe laid from the brewery to the reservoir, v ould keep the latter constantly fall!. The only condition insisted upon that a cenain sum (per thousand gallons), yei to be agreed to and confirmed by the Council, shall be paid for the supply. This proposition will be laid before the City Council at their meeting to-day, and, if adopted, the work will be commenced forthwith. There was some difficulty about procuring the necessary piping, in consequence of the Provincial Government not being able to aid in this particular. It is said, however, that the Gas Company will not be unwilling to assist the purpose of the City Council thus far t and that the Domain Board will give the necessary permission to lay down the pipes The want of water is now/ seriously felt, and we trust that the partial relief proposed will not be opposed by any unforeseen difficulties.

[EVENING STAR, JANUARY 22.]

We mentioned yesterday that energetic measures were being taken in the hope of procuring the supply of water for which so many of our fellow-citizens are at present thirsting. No doubt the, matter ought to have been attended to to long ago, but we must give the authorities credit for having at length awakened to the urgency of the position. Both the Provincial Government and uia Borough Council are woiking in earnest and in unison in the endeavor to obtain a supply. In the centre of the great basin of the Upper Domain, a tube well was sunk yesterday afternoon to a considerable depth. At a very few feet from the surface some muddy water oozed up from a peaty bed underlying the super-stratum of disintegrated lava. As of course there was no likelihood of obtaining a sufficient sup* ply from this, the tube was pushed down to a depth of about 30 feet. Unfortunately, however, this morning, from unforeseen circumstances, the work had to be suspended. But Mr Allwright, the Provincial Engineer, in : forms us that it js intended to resume labor this afternoon, and is sanguine of achieving a success as soon as he

reaches the old surface oxer which the streams of molten rock flowed from Mount Eden.

We are sorry to say there is a difficulty in the way of obtaining water front. Seccombe's springs. It seems that the quantity of pipes on hand is utterly insufficient, and in consequence it would be necessary to cut a kind of canal at a vast expense. However, it will be satisfactory to know that a deputation from the Board are this afternoon about to visit the locality, with the view of ascertaining how the difficulty can be got over. Jt is to be feared that it wilt be found insurmountable as providing an immediate remedy, and that our only hope at present is in tapping the springs under the Domain.