THE WATER STRUGGLE.

Manawatu Herald, 25 February 1905, Page 3

THE WATER STRUGGLE.

MR DE RIDDEk IN EXPLANATION.

TO ¥hK EDITOTI OF THE IIAXAWATC HEIULD. Sir,—l beg to forward you a copy of my scheme for supplying the township immediately, or as soon as the tank can be made and the pipes iayed, with an alternate supply of artesian and river water, sufficient for both fire and domestic uses, but when a good supply of pure water is procured either from Mr Nye’s well, or my own much cheaper well, nothing need he altered, as the water from either system could easily be made to flow into the concrete tank, which is useful as a reserve of X 2,000 gallons in case of fire, that is if a five engine is procured, which should be done, as by my proposals I can give a good service of water, electric light, and a fire engine for a quarter of what Mr Nye’s scheme would cost, and therefore be a handsomely payable scheme, which Mr Nye’s could never be, as half of the Borough could not be asked to pay for what they did not receive, so it would all fall on the people of the Main street. I would point out to Mr Clemett that the electric light wires are carried on the Government poles in Stratford, and also the electric light power is carried from Hawcra to Opunake, a distance ot thirty milts, on the Government poles, so there was nothing out ot the way in my asking for the same favour.

Here is my scheme for a payable water supply for immediate use: — First, place a concrete tank 12 x 12 x 10 in the triangle near the windmill at the Avenue bridge, two feet below Iho crown of the road and eight feet above the road, making it ten (eel deep, connected a four inch pipe, and carry it under the road to the curbing on the south side of the Avenue Uoad. taking it to the Court house corner ; tfien connect another pipe, and take it under the road to the curbing opposite Barbers’ blacksmith shop, then continue the first pipe along the East curbing, resting on I lie ground or slightly underneath, as Far as the corner of Union Street and il necessary around as far as Amlroasen’s house, The second pipe to be taken along the West curbing in the same way. as far as the vacant section next to the Post Office, then connect the end to two 400 gallon tanks raised 20 feet, high, having a stop-cock at both the concrete and iron tanks and every 60 or 100 feet put m a three inch upright pipe for screwing on the suction pipe of a Fire Engine, and with a small inch tap on it for household use, the permanent service is then complete. Disconnect the windmill at the Artesian well, and instead fix on a Force Pump, driven by a £SO oil engine, and connected with the concret tank, by a bent or angle pipe, under the road to the top of the tank and should the supply be exhausted at any time or not prove sufficient for the purpose, cut oil the service pipes from the concrete tank by the stop-cock, and allow it to fill, at the same time pumping the river water into the tanks at the Post Office, with the service pipes connected by turning on the tap, and using another £so oil engine and pump, which would be connected with the river by a pipe running along the bed ot the Awahou stream, and earned out to the end of the wharf, protected at the end by turning it down by the side of a pile and with a perforated cap to prevent the fibre entering. There would then be an alternate service, but if the artesian well proved sufficient that would not be required. To make the scheme payable, a canvass of the householders should be made and those willing to take the water at a reasonable rate could then easily be connected. All pipes could be protected where ntcessary by wooden battens. The new system of laying two small pipes, one in each of the channels, will be found much better tor a small service like ours, than that ot laying one large pipe in the centre, or at one side of the road, as you would have, with the one pipe system, to cut up the road in all directions, and at almost every ten feet tor the purpose of connecting the dilieront houses, hut with the two pipes there is no trouble. Should an electric light [or the township he contemplated, it would be better to increase the power ot the 011 engine at the windmill, and then it could pump water in the day time, and drive the dynamo at night. F. l)i:Rn>m:n.