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Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1928, Page 2

Tlir.UK is some satisfaction in noting that the Hokitika Borough Council is forging ahead with the preliminaries affecting the proposed attention to the town water supply. The Council is now to consider the question ol appointing an engineer to guide i! in determining a scheme to ensure a more permanent and satisfactory water supply. In the lake itself—-the source of supply—there is a magnificent reservoir, but the pipe line serving the town leservoir is defective. Some threeyears or more ago an auxiliary supply was tapped at Kanieri porks and that has met the situation to some extent. I'.nl there is always a doubt and imicrtainly when the next serious break may occur, and so the position is a source of constant anxiety. The presi nt intention as discussed at a recent meeting of the Council, is to lay a. new pipe line from the lake to tin* town reservoir. For tkat purpose a new mute following in the main the iniii'se of the Kanieri river to Stribling's Creek, lias been explored, and there is a suggestion that it is a .shorter route than the present line via the roadway. There are too main points yet to be decided the material or class of pi]H- and the capital cost the Council can afford. On these matters expert advice is certainly necessary, hence the intention to consider the matter of appointing an engineer. There is also the question of an alternative scheme by way of pumping, assuming good water could lie picked tip oil the flat adjacent to the town reservoir. No doubt good subterranean water flows there, and it would l\„ p question first of prospecting anti then pumping. On the main issue the ( .allied is governed in the first place by the limit of cost it must necessarily impose, and with that figure fixed, of ascertaining particulars regarding it will be Ibr an engineer to supply the advice necessary as to the liest results possible at a figure which must not he beyond a certain sum. Of coil I'm 1 tile town reticulation is oulsiiic tlie proposal because the funds are not available in anv ease. On the face of things the Council appears fo he moving on right lint's and the ratepayers should welcome the nel ion.