OUR WATER SUPPLY.

Manawatu Herald, 7 February 1905, Page 2

OUR WATER SUPPLY.

MR DE RIDDER ON THE WARPATH. TO THE EDITOR OP THE MANAWATU Sir, — As I believe that a gentleman in Foxton, who has had a large experience in fire extinguishing, ia trying to discredit my proposals, by saying that it would require £3OOO to carry out any of my different projects for fire extinguishing, I should be obliged if you would allow me to state that I can supply the centre of the township with a good and never failing water supply, both for fire extinguishing purposes, watering the streets, and for household use, at tfi.e time when it is always scarce in Buxton, and therefore most required, tor the modest sum of £l6O, meaning a’ yearly tax to all the ratepayers of on.\v £8 for interest on the money. That Cleans that for about two pence per ye'Ar per head the township is practically secure, in case of fire, and most people could have a copious supply of water with very little trouble. Now, in face of the prophesies about a long season of dry weather, and the broad fact.that most people are nearly out of water, it would be nearly criminal, and quite cruel of the City Fathers, to delay action for one moment, when the whole scheme could be instituted in about a fortnight, if they took it in hand at once. As regards my estimate of the cost, the following is the same as the amount I mentioned : - £ s. d. Four 400 • gallon tanks with their couplings, (though one zooo-gaJI 00 would cost no more, and easier cleaned out) 2<j 0 0 Twenty-five or thirty feet of necessary staging or supports 3° o One oil engine and pump 5* 10 o One windmill and stand 10 15 o All necessary pipes ... 46 15 ® £l6O 0 a But now, as it is possible that I may have under-estimated it a little, we can say £2OO or even £250, though I know that the tanka, engine and pumps can be bought for that. The interest on that amount is only 5s per week to supply water. That on windy days and without any extra expense, will run down the gutters on each side of the road. To be sure that I am eorreefc, I have obtained quotations, and havtJ added a windmill that will pump four gallons of water a minute, 40 feet high, and would also draw the water from the river; so that the oil engine may not be continuously used, or ia case of a fire the both could be pumping into the reservoir. Again, if these two pumps will pump the water 40 feet high, it would be better to do without any staging, and put a large concrete tank on the high ground near the Rev. Duncan’s residence and get a good head of water that would quench any fire. The only difference would be that we could buy longer pipes, and supply more people with water.

Now if we could go to the expense of a large concrete tank, built up five feet out of the ground, near the present windmill at the Avenue bridge, the overflow, in the windy weather, could be stored, and one side of the street could be supplied with artesian water, and one side with river water, so that when the artesian supply gave out, through there being no wind to drive the windmill, the river water could be used.

Trusting something will be done and thanking you for the space you have given me, —I am, etc.,

F. De Bidder.