Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1908. Water.

Manawatu Herald, 10 March 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1908. Water.

As the borough elections are approaching it is pleasing to know some little interest is being shown in the event by “ the man in the street ” and his many friends, by their discussing in what dirt-, «i;»u the minds of candidal?.• sio.uhi !n.- turiK-d so as to tor war'! rUr b« imer,•••.(.« of the town. Wo h.tv: b v:i informed that a water-hiip-.];; >. i-nu <"•{ iho pressing

wants, a ltd we ' .knowledge that there is a lot '. » hn -rd on b..th sides. Nothing could Le more refreshing than the fact that every house was supplied with an efficient water service as it would tend greatly towards the better health of the town, and if the water supply was ample we can picture the little Edens each garden would become under its generous use. To appreciate a good thiug is one way, to pay for the blessing is another, and it is in the cost that the seed of dissention amongst the voters would be laid. It must bo kept very clearly before eyery property holder that it is possible to overdo improvements to the total undoing of the district and in this colony we have had many notable instances. There comes a time where the laudable endeavours to improve a town by supplying up-to-date conveniences has resulted in increasing the rates so high that residents have taken up their beds and walked to the outskirts beyond the town so as to be relieved from such crushing burdens, and thus by overdoing the result has been disastrous. It therefore becomes the duty of the local politician to weigh the advantages of a scheme with its cost.

To supply Foxton with a good water supply would appear a costly job, as the source of the supply must be taken from undoubtedly pure and elevated spots, and to us it appears that the ranges at the back of Shannon would be where the supply would have to be looked for. Until a survey was made no one knows positively whether there is any place which could be formed into a reservoir and at a good height, and the energies of our local men should, for the present, be directed into getting that information, which if favourable should lead to the securing of a certain watershed for the purpose. There are many reasons for favouring such a scheme as if properly put before our Shannon friends we should receive their warmest support as that would help them, as the one reservoir would serve both towns, and in Shannon it will not be long before a water supply will be a big question in that locality. If it was possible to get a reservoir elevated enough to give a strong head with a large supply we imagine the cost of the scheme would be materially reduced for Foxton, as first there would be the Shannon service, then all along the dry land on the Moutoa road thousands of gallons could *be sold for irrigation purposes, as this land served with water would ha the best of soil for cropping of all kinds, from garden seeds to agricultural seeds. These two sums would reduce the cost, if, as we have said there is a large supply. For irrigation water, though it would have to be brought to the starting point, generally, in pipes, yet afterwards it could be led along the sandridges in open water courses, thus reducing the sizes of pipes necessary for the town service.

Water when laid on in town neces; sitates the local body securing the cost of the loan by a rate upon the land, but in nearly all cases the charges made for water repays the interest. This however is another problem to be worked out, whether this would be the case in this town.

We hardly think the time is ripe for the developement of the whole scheme, but we decidedly think the

time is ripe for the preliminary initiation such as securing information and the land for the reservoir. For the benefit of the town and district we should like to see another serious effort to secure an artesian supply, for we feel pretty certain that a good supply at a lower depth than has been tried here would result favourably, as at Longburn a splendid new flow at 800 feet was obtained, and the well on the Wanganui racecourse, at about the same depth, has given as good a result. We have here never gone deep enough. If this one well , proved a suclbss the need and cost of bringing water from miles away would be sayed for the present, but that should not be used as a reason for neglecting the water supply in the ranges, which must become more necessary each year. Artesian wells can only be looked upon as assistants to a proper supply. The scheme is a useful forthought to those who aspire to seek public honors at the coming election.