The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 69, 27 April 1868, Page 103

The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868.

- -EELSON;^WA TER SUPPLY. Nelson province has just succeeded in c comgletaug an extensive system^olwa* Pro-

vince on T hursday, April 10. A re port of j the proceedings on the intereßtihg occasion is given in the Nelson Examiner of the 18th instant, from which we quote the following particuars : ;

In a narrow gorge at the head of Brook-street ▼3lley» k about mUes frojn toupa, a has been couatructed»whicli receives the stream?' - Prom this'dim the water is conveyed to the reservoir, which stands on a piece of tableland about a quarter of a mile lowef down tlic valley, and thirty-four feet below it in level. Althe stream above the dam;-from its\being ptotected'by scrub on the'sides'of the hills; cannot possibly be polluted, the water, before entering -the: : pipe, whether for direct-service'to! the town_ or to supply the reservoir, passes through a well in which is placed a wire strainer, so that all foreign substances are kept'hack. The dam is 34)0 feet above high water, and thus a great-pres-sure is obtained in the pipes’ in :; fhe r liigh&fr part of the town. The reservoir has'ab. area of about a quarter of an acre, an average depth of upwards of twelve'feet, and is;capable of containing gallons of water, or a fortnight’s' j supply for the city at the rate of twenty gallons per day per head of the. population. , .Tlie. water is-conveyed-to the town in a'main pipe," seven, inches in diameter, and the branch pipes are five; four, and three' inches, according, to the requirements of. different neighborhoods. ■ The whole length of piping laid down extends to nearly thirteen miles, and weighs between 600 and- 700 tons. The whole of the stone and earthwork has a most substantial appearance, and wears the look of permanency. Before the works were undertaken it was satisfactorily ascertained that the supply of- water to be obtained would hot only be sufficient for the present wants of the city, but ample for ftiture requirements. The area of ground drained into the stream that supplies the dam, is about ' 1,500 acres, and this would give, for a rainfall of one inch, about 34),000,000 gallons. Multiply this by our average rain-fell, abont sixty-seven • inches, and allow one-third of this quantity as available, and we get a supply of about 2,000,000 gallons a day, which could be stored if necessary. The entire works were, estimated to cost £20,000, but the actual outlay will not reach this sum by several hundred ponnds.

After the ceremony the company proceeded to the Government Buildings, and the action of the pressure guage was explained by Mr Blackett. A fountain was also set in action, and two ornamental ponds containing fish examined. The Fire Brigade also tested the water service, and appeared perfectly assured that no fire would be able to withstand the deluge of water that could be thrown on it by means of hose attached to hydrants. After this a- public meeting was held in front of the Government Buildings,—the audience being addressed by his Honor the Superintendent; a suitable prayer was read by his Lordship the Bishop of Nelson; and that portion of the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the following beautiful hymn, composed by his Lordship :

Praise the Loed, ye watery fountains Whether as the clouds ye roU, Or, descending from the mountains Silent streams, or torrents frill. Life and health and vigor bringing, Fraught with blessings on your way. Murmuring now, now sweetly singing, Te suggest our praise to-day.

Praise Him, rivers, lakes, and ocean, Depths unfathomed, air unseen, Beauteous forms in rest or motion, Tempering day’s too glittering sheen. Bow of Heav’n, the sky-transforming, Pledge of hope on stormy day; Silent dewdrops nightly failing On each blade and grassy spray! '

Praise Him, too, who ever giveth-. Living water to the soul, Which, whoever drinketh, liveth; Or, diseased, is made whole. Earthly streams wiU aye deceive thee, Seek the healing waters first; Ask of Him, and He will give thee All to quench thy-spirit’s thirst.

Praise the Loan, whose blessings ever . .Sons of men abounding share l Gratefully, forgetting never, Whose wise workmanship they are. See His gifts proclaim His glory, ~ Dimly seen by men below. Heaven shall teU the fuller story. And, unveiled, His greatness show.

The whole celebration was conclu : ded by a luncheon at which some 150 persons sat down in the Provincial Hall.

We are glad to be able to congratulate our fellow-colonists on the successful accomplishment of this grand undertaking.; &Bd we certainly hope that we may hereafter be able to announce something of a kindred nature within our own town, which, of all places in the Colony, is the worst off in that respect. In Napier—and especially : on-the Spit—-we are;dependent almost entirely on the rainfall collected, from the roofs of the various buildings, and, when that supply is spent, on! the labors of si private' indi* vidual who brings it; sale" That a community of sudh extent as that 'of Napier ; should: have to submit tqrsuch ra staterof ;things 'for? a series of years is scarcely tp be; believed; and

th#a of prost'ant; a' public . Work is a standing disgrace “to' iiie officialdom of the Pro- 1 vini?e; k The successful sinking of many artesian wells; in the country districts leads us to hope that similar success in the town, w£lL._shortly remove the stigtda from us, and that we shall enjoy the luxury of pure cold water-r----uot only in the town hut on the Spit, WhetC, for the sake of , the shipping visiting the Port, a supply is most urgently reared. .