The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1916. LEVIN HIGH-PRESSURE WATER SUPPLY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 January 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1916. LEVIN HIGH-PRESSURE WATER SUPPLY.

A benefit conferred upon Levin by a fur-sighted mayor and council lis the town's lune&cclleil high-pressure water supply People now are so accustomed to tlie use of it, and ito its u 3ve.r-failing volume, tliat the benefit conferred is' not regarded as thankfully as it should be. The rainless period of some six weeks through which New Zealand has passed lately necessitated restrictions being placed upon the use of water in Wellington City and some other places; and these restrictions applied to consumers who paid extra rates for water used; not only to the ordinary taxpayer. iHere in Levin, notwithstanding: five weeks of extremely hot and dry weather, the volume of available water abated no jill, and the generous supply was of great benefit tto every householder. As a matter of fact, Levin's present water supply is equal 'to the need's of a population of fifteen thOiueand and the available quantities in the reservoir would .meet the de-

mands of a much greater number than 15,000. It is estimated that the present reticulation, running at full capacity, draw off four hundred million gallons per annum; and yet this quantity is -only four per e-eiut of the available waters that the -upper roaches of the Ghau liver can supply. These figures are authentic; tliey were supplied by the Government Engineer at a time Avlieu some residents of Oliau township were momentarily apprehensive that tlie institution of Levin's water supply would result in a too-great shutting-off of tlie feeders of Oliau stream.

It is worthy of recall, also, that Levin's water-supply! was secured at such a minimum of cost that the borough stands in the most fortunate pofcitiios in regard to water supply, of any borough in the dominion-. The Levin Borough Council, taking advan-

tag© of a Government offer that was withdrawn after only a few years' existence, borrowed money in England (under a New Zealand Government guarantee) at the low rate of 4 per cent, with the additional gilt-edged condition of a Government .undertaking to provide one-half oif the necessary .sinking fund, and by annual a;ccretion and compound interest additions the sum of £18,000 will be available for complete discharge of the crigi'na.l loan .at the end of thirty yipfws from the date at which the money was borrowed. In the final balancing it will be ascertained that Levin's £18,000 water-supply plant will have been obt.nii.ned at an actual outlay (not counting interest on. the moneys invested) of only £8000. Tho achievement really is a super-excel-lent one, and it should be remembered by all citizens as a testimony! to tho good work done for the borough by its first mayor and councillors.