CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1079, 6 August 1912, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I sec that Mr Barnard has advised the old system of sumps for fire preveutiou purposes that we discussed some years ago, but I think that when the excessive cost of such a system to the comparatively lew in the main street of the township and its one only advantage as compared to the smaller rate and more extended advantage to the whole community, it will easily be acknowledged that the pumping system of water supply iur fire and household purposes would be by far the best scheme for us to adopt, although it may cost a few thousand pounds more. Had we adopted the suggestion made some years ago to iustal an electric light plant and a pumping station under one roof, and one engineer, much money would have been saved, as the fact of installing the gas instead has not only deprived us of an efficient water supply when it has been urgently needed, but it has imposed upon the township a permanent loss of over ,£2OO a year, as the electric light would have paid half the working expenses and half the cost of the interest on the shed and machinery that will have to be erected if the pumping scheme of water supply is carried out, besides the loss of over a year which the gas has added to the rales. It was mentioned at the Council meeting that a concrete tower should be erected ; but why not, if it would materially lessen the cost, erect a wooden stand and tank half the height, similar to the one erected 30 years ago at Kereru for the Mauawatu railway, and if erected on top ol the Ferry Hill, the tank would be about 100 feet above the level ot the township, and the cost would be about a quarter of the concrete one proposed by Mr Climie, and just as efficient, especially it the tank could be lined with a few inches of fine concrete. The proposal for a water supply would no doubt have been carried had the drainage scheme not been added, as those who are now struggling to make their new houses their own could not afford to lay out from to £6o, or saddle themselves with intersst on same, namely, about a year for ever afterwards, as nearly every house is 150 feet or more from the centre of the roadway 10 their back premises, besides having to pay drainage rates two or three times as much as they are paying now. Thanking you lor allowing me so much of your valuable space,—l am, etc,, Aquarius.