Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DEC. 15, 1806. A Water Supply.

Manawatu Herald, 15 December 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DEC. 15, 1806. A Water Supply.

Whenever the weather sets in dry che thoughts of the residents turn to water. It is so now. We have had a few week's spell of fine weather and the rain storage is getting perilously low. We have so frequently advocated a water supply for the town that we dread the constant repetition ; but as years roll by the necessity becomes more apparent. Why should we not have a temporary service even if we do not care to indulge in any costly scheme whilst the population i 3 not dense enough ? The answer conies quick and sharp, that any outlay on water must needs be made from a loan, and a loan is dreaded more than anything by the settlers. In talking of any water supply it must be remembered that only a small portion of the Borough would be benefitted, and thus only that portion benefitted has any right to be rated. The question of a supply has been talked of over and over again, but there has always been a desire to do too much and to raise, in money, too little. It was chiefly owing to our persistency that the artesion supply was obtained, and that outlay was to have baen repaid back out of loan. The experiment has proved one thing, and that is that an artesion supply can be obtained. The water is not particu larly good, but it is useful for a variety of purposes and enables the drinking water to be conserved. When tha artesian well was sunk all bad great hopes that the water would have risen higher, and the sile chosen for the well wa3 one of the highest in town ; but facts have proved the water only rises high "nough to flow into a drain, and so, for use it has to be pumped. There ure many ways by which the town could be supplied by water : First, by a windmill pump on the ferry hill, from the river ; secondly, by a windmill pump by the railway mill by the racecourse, from a well ; and thirdly, by artesian supply. Tha artesian supply appears to ua to be best, both from the water being always available, and from its being automatic in its work. If a pipe was taken from the present artesian flow along the bank of the drain into which it flows, keeping it level till opposite Mr Ingrain's house, we believe a sufficient fall from the pipe couid be obtained to work a ram which would raise a proportion of the water to a height of twenty feet or more, into which it could be stored in tanks erected on the ground alongside, and the water from these tanks could be taken straight across to the Main-street by Whyte's Hotel, and up and down the street to standards from which those needing water could draw. This would not be a heavy expense. If more power was needed it would be a simple matter to fruitier improve a service by another artesian well at Union-street, near the river bank, when the fall obtainable would be powerful enough to raise water to tbe top of the ferry bill. The artesian well, though not throwing a great lot of water at onoe, is always Sending it up, and the ram would be pumping day and night, and the storage tank onoe full would easily be kept so. The district rateable for such a supply would be determined by the Area supplied, and a special rating distriot would have to be determined. Our Councillors shiver at incurring expense, but such a proposal as we have sketched could be determined at little cost. Supposing they are satisfied of the possibility of such things being capable of being done, the Town Olerk could easily prepare a schedule of the values' of the rateable property with the names of the ratepayers in the proposed special district, and without the Oouncil advertising, they could prepare a statement of the suggested expense of the scheme, the benefits to be given, and the estimated special rate. These estimates could be sent to all ratepayers within the proposed district with a request for their vote. It might be better if a subcommittee waited on the ratepayers, so that the whole matter should be thoroughly talked out. We believe the ratepayers would favour a trial, for plenty of water in this town is a necessity, and would tend much to improve its appearance and popularise it as a dwelling place.