Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1892. A Water Supply.

Manawatu Herald, 4 August 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1892. A Water Supply.

To those who have looked ahead, it has been always a matter of fear how this town was to be provided with a satisfactory water supply The river as a source was open to many objections, especially since Palmerston has thought fit to empty its sewage into it. Pumping was both expensive and unsatisfactory. It appeared as though steps would have to be taken to secure a supply from the ranges, which would have meant a very great outlay to secure the necessary lands for watershed and reservoir, and then for piping to lead the water to the town. For the last three years hope has been entertained that an artesian supply might have been obtained. The question of a trial was urged by us, and brought before the Borough Counoil by Messrs Gower and McMillan, but the great majority looked upon the proposed expenditure as useless; Mr Nye then brought forward a scheme of pumpiag by windmill, as Mr Thynne had previously laid tefore the old Town Board, but the people would have noue of it, as usual. Mr Mitchell, of Motoa, then made an attempt at sinking for an artesian supply on his farm, but not having all the necessary appliances, failed. He mentioned his intention to try again, and some of the Councillors endeavoured to get the Borough Council to grant him a sum in aid of his experiments, but again the majority objected to spend money, even with such a good object in view, outside of the boundary of the Borough. The want of water is severely felt in the summer, and to mitigate the evil slightly, the Council last summer, sunk two wells. They have been of use, but something better is urgently needed. This a statement of the position up to the and of last week. „,-.: That artesian water has been obtained by Mr George Richardson on his farm at Karere has been known* for three years, and settlers have slowly, but surely, awakened to the fact that as he obtained it so could they, and pipes have been, driven in the Carnarvon, and Kairangi districts always with' successful results. This impressed itself upon Mr Wilson, the manager of the Motoa estate, and he obtained permission to make a trial, this we have already learnt has "been a grand success, and now three wells are continually throwing up splendid water. The inhabitants of Foxton have much to thank Mr Wilson for risking this expenditure, as it has proved to them that water, . in abundance, of excellent quality, flows beneath their properties, and can be had by the expenditure of a little labour. j We have now come to the last page in the history of our water supply, at least we hope so, unless the Council opposes the advice of its committee, or from some unknown and unlikely cause the water does not flow. On Tuesday afternoon a committee, the majority of the Borough Council, met and discussed the advisability of sinking an artesian well, . employ, ing the same contractors who hays been so successful on the Motoa Estate. We were pleased to note the unanimity displayed, for though the Mayor appeared to hesitate to give his consent, yet for that very reason he is to be commended, as he fairly .stated he wanted to be assured of the funds and that the appropria tions already made by the Council

for the execution of the tieCeSSftry works to the roads in other portions of the Borough would not be interfered with. It will be admitted by ail that Mr'Nye has always expressed himself anxious to see a good water suppjy to the more thickly inhabited" portion of the Borough, and to secure which he has not spared himself, .a lot of hard work and time. Therefore it is satisfactory to note that five members of the Council have agreed to advise that body, at a special meeting to be held to-mor-row, to at once proceed with the sinking of a well. We may refer to the. hints that were thrown out, duiv ing 'ike discussion 5 on Tuesday, that the Mayor had always been opposed to the idea of the possibility of secur ing an artesian water supply. Wecertainly admit that he has led us all to believe that that was his opinion, and we do not blame him, as, as great an authority on geology as Mr T. L. Travers assured the writer of this article, years ago, that the formation of the country utterly precluded the possibility of such a suply being obtained, and to emphasize his reasons for arriving at such a conclusion, drew a 1 sketch, on the old car that used to run to Palmerston on the wooden rails, of the sup poaed strata. ' The discovery of such a supply was obtained' by accident, 1 like a great many other comforts from which great things haveP grown. We cannot believe thafc ar single ratepayer will object to thisone well being sunk at the expense of the general revenue, as if water is obtained, it will mean that every property will become' of increased 1 value, as a pure and pleritiful supply of water is of almost inestimablevalue. •We hope to be able to record' in our, ■ next issue that ? the 'boring has be'en commenced.