A WATER SUPPLY.

Manawatu Herald, 28 January 1905, Page 2

A WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE MANAWATU HERALD.

Sir,—As my last letter was written on the spur of the moment, without any previous consideration, I beg to be excused for making a few more suggestions about the water supply for fire extinguishing purposes, &c. There being now no question about the water supply, as the Awahou stream alone, if properly conserved, vt'ould supply a much larger fire engine than we are likely to get for the next 20 years, only the details require to be discussed. It has been pointed out to me, that damming the Awahou in the town, would be likely to cause an epidemic. That may possibly be so, but for two months only of the year, during the other ten months the water runs strongly, and therefore could not become stagnant. It could be allowed to run free when it is as low as it is now, and the tank could bo trusted for that time/ as fortunately there are not so many fires in the township. In my last letter, I relied on the length of hose to supply the engine with water; but there is a much better plan than that —build another tank in front of the flagstaff and connect the two, at the proper level, with a threeinch pipe running alongside the curbing, and a foot under the crown of Clyde-street; by having a fire plug or screw tap put about the centre of the town, the engine could pump from that or either of the two tanks, but if it was pumping from the centre tap both tanks could be emptied at the same time if the ends of the pipe went to the bottom of the tanks, thereby making them airtight, until all _ the water was pumped out. But again, il the dam is an objection, a concrete tank could be put in the low ground near the second bridge, and a very small dam would be required to turn the water into it, A hydraulic ram could be used to pump the water to the higher level, working day and night, without the constant attention a more expensive engine would require. Another, and a cheaper plan would be to erect a wooden tank at a high level, fill it with water from the river at low tide, run two pipes through the township, with taps against some of the verandah ppsts, which would, when the hose was put on, send a stream of water over any of the shops, and give everyone cheap clear water in the dry season. But then again, if we go so far, why not try if water is obtainable in Victoria Park (there is more beneath us than we shall require), and if so, erect a reservoir on that unsightly hill at the back. That would supply the whole town, and would pay for itself in the end, as good water is very scarce here. We could then buy one of Palmerston's old watercarts.

Municipal matters have been wellvery quite of late. I know that some of the Councillors do not wish to in* crease the rates, and they are quite right, but had we been more energetic I think we may have had a very hand some donation from Mr Carnegie, anti built a library, reading room, club room, gymnasium, council chamber and offices, all under one roof, with an engine shed at the back if necessary. If this was to come to pass it would be a good idea to turn the present council chamber into a museum for Maori curios, as I have no doubt that many an old settler and old Maori would be glad to see their priceless treasures placed under care* ful custody, as they are all fast leaving Maoriland for foreign museums. I am, See., F. Deßidder. P.S. —Since writing the above, I found in an old Maori whare, with holes in the roof that anyone can get through easily, and in an old sea-chest without a lid and thoroughly worm eaten, some old Maori books. I took them home to preserve them. The owner can have them at any time, or he can leave them in my care as a first donation to a Maori museum for Foxton. —F. DeR.