Foxton Borough Council.

Manawatu Herald, 9 November 1893, Page 2

Foxton Borough Council.

(Continuation of Report)

Mr Battersby's report on the artesian well was read as follows : —

Since my last report as per in • strnctions from the Works Commitfcep, I have been driving and drilling, I am now at the total depth of 245 feet. 10 inche3. The flow obtained at the present at the level of the shoot is thirty gallons per minute. There is at the present aboijt 14 inches of fine gravel at the bottom of the pipe The well has been well cleaned out to form a bucket at the bottom.

The Mayor said that he and Cr Williams made the flow 20 gallons a minute.

The Clerk stated that £188 10s had been spent on the well.

The Mayoi- said the Committee had come to the conclusion it was better to let the matter remain as it is. It was at first thought beat to put in a ram, but its cost with tank would be over £50. For the present he however thought a No. 6 force pump would answer the purpose and it would not cost more than £10. In the future they could consider about sinking deeper. He strongly advised adopting the smaller expenditure.

Cr Hamer said he had made a test of the water and it was almost entirely free from organic matter. Cr Jenks proposed and Cr Hamer seconded that the Public Works Committee be empowered to put a force pump on artesian well to enable people to obtain water.

The resolution was carried.

Proposed by Cr Hamer, seconded by Cr Jenks pro forma, That the Mayor be requested to take steps to give effect to tbe resolution passed on the sth day of December last re poll for loan.

Cr Hamer said he was aware that the Mayor had said the Council liiuit borrow money if water was got. He wished to see what the Council and Burgesses thought on the matter now.

Cr Williams considered the Council could do no harm in testing this proposal. As part of this money has been utilised he felt snre His Worship could sho^* rhai ie would bs properly spent. A further expenditure made sure that a flow would be obtained strong enough to carry water all round town. He believed it was a general and strong feeling that a poll could be taken. The Mayor said hi* did not think there would bS a difficulty in raising a small loan f6r water, but he did Tint thinfc on* ermM be carried for

roads. Cr Hamer said he was in favor of a loan for water. The Mayor said it would have to be shown to outside ratepayers that if a loan for water was obtained there must be a water rate raised. Cr Austin said he would be strongly against a loan now. At the present time he believed it would be throwing money away. Cr Williams said the rate need not be raised. A poll could be taken on the two questions, water and roads. When the resolution referred to was passed last November the loan was not then tried, The water at present is as useless as the wells. Independent of the bad times he believed a loan could be carried, if the Council were as earnest as they appeared to be. Cr Hamer said it must be remembered the interest on an overdraft would cost more than interest on a loan.

Cr Hauler withdrew his motion.