The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1927. OF FIRST IMPORTANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1927. OF FIRST IMPORTANCE.

Tick water supply question is ol outstanding importance to the Borough of Hokitika, and should have the attention of ratepayers at the present, time While a general election lor the i>oiough Council is on the lapis. Jt. has been manifest for a. very long time that the water supply service has been defective and in need of a complete overhaul. Sometime ago temporary measures were resorted lo by securing an auxiliary supply from the Ivanier Forks race. This has met the situation fairly well in regard lo keeping up the reservoir strength, hut the quality of the water has deteriorated certainly. Before the water is picked up for the auxiliary supply, it passed through a lengthy open race of some miles, and is subject to contact with a good deal of vegetation. To sonic extent therefore, the water is impregnated with vegetable matter, and this is not by any means satisfactory. It is a fault which should he avoided, if possible, hut this could he accomplished only by renewing the main line from the lake, and cutting out tho auxiliary service. A great deal of cost would be involved in this, and it is a i c!uestio;ii whether the 'deteriorated water is more acceptable than lacing the cost of a new pipe line. As an I alternative to the use of lake waters. Air Parry has suggested a pumping scheme', lifting the artesian waters to he found below the town, and using a water tower for effective gravitation. This was a proposal put forward by the late J. K. Campbell, when Town ( lerk, hut. pumping was a greater problem in those days than it is to-day. when electricity is obtainable. Tu considering pumping as against gravitation, the engineers chose the latter, and that proposal was adopted. ATr Parry’s proposal has something to commend it in regard to cost. The water tower and pumping proposal it would appear would he much cheaper than a new pipe line from the lake to the reservoir. A'et oven if this large expenditure is eliminated there is still the reticulation of the town to he considered. It is a fact that a large part of the time of the permanent employees is taken up with repairs to the present line, though there are sections which do not occasion the same amount of trouble. But the general features of the whole matter are such that the Council as the controlling ikklv would do well to get the best advice possible rather than to attempt anything experimental. 'Hie Council is seeking a certain amount of information in respect to the experience of other centres where water towers are being operated, hut there is still the assurance necessary that local conditions here are comparable with those of elsewhere. If the pumping scheme will save a long length of pipe line and at the same time give water, which should be superior in every way to that of the lake, and with not any possibility, however remote, of a tainting, then it has a superior preference worthy of account. AVitli costs much higher now than when the present

uatu sysiem was in-tailed, the expense to he laced will he considerable. Here again engineering'; advice will he indispeilsihle for it might, he necessary to proceed pieec-meal. and the essential work would require In he undertaken lip-t. Behind any scheme there

i- the matter of effective supervision. It is necessary whatever works are determined upon to see that they are well and faithfully carried out. However sound the advice it loses Its value it the work is not properly eanied out. No doubt the Council will he hearing all these matters in hand when dealing with the subject as the imw Council must iu the early days of its office.