WELLINGTON WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 5

WELLINGTON WATER SUPPLY.

The open water-race route Is shown in plan and section on four sheets, and also is shown on the general plan of the Walnuloraata District in blue lines with red centres. Start! g from the dam at a level of 887 feet above high water mark, it proceeds through a tunnel 3860 chains long Into Moore's valley; thence up the valley to the entrance of the tunnel into the Swamp, through this tunnel of 96*80 ; thence proceeding up the swamp, winding In and out the various spurs (which, coming from the main range, encloses the valley) on the north-east and north sides of the valley and out into the Hutt Valley bv a tunnel 36*80 chains in length; the total distance from the dam to Petoni being along this r.-ute 10 miles 20*90 chains. The alternative water-race route has been laid off with a view of obviating the necessity of bringing pipes to Moore's Valley, should the pipe route be da* cided on. It Is shown in plan and section (sea alternative water-race route), and also Is put on the eneral plan of the "Wainulomata District in black lines with red centres. Its course is identical with that of the open water-raco route to the point where the latter crosses Moore’s Valley. It here crosses the valley lower down, and winds along the side of the bills on the north-west side, proceeding down the valley till it joins the pipe route at the entrance to the tunnels into the swamp; the total distance along tiffs route from the data to Petoni being S miles 87*08 chains. The pipe route Is shown on the accompanying plans in three sheets, in plan and section, and is also plotted on the general plan of the Walnut *mata District in red lines with red centres. Starting from the dam it proceeds through the same tunnel as (be open waterrace route into Moore’s valley. Thence down the v*U>y to the entrance of the tunnels into the swamp. At the point where it crosses through the tunnels the main range Is split up into two spurs leading from It and forming between them & vallev called Sulky Gully. The total length of tunnelling here Into the swamp is 62*09 chains. Thence crossing over part of the swamp to the road leading to the Hutt Valley, it proceeds along this road to the range of bills abutting on the Hutt Valley, passing through them by a tunnel 25 chains in length. '»ho total distance along this route from the dam to Petoni is 7 miles 65*50 chains. The alternative pipe r >ut e is shown on the general plan of the Wainuiomata District. By proceeding through the tunnel marked there ** alternative tunnel." and by laying pipes across the swamp, a saving in distance is effected; the total distance in (his cose being 7 miles 29*69 chains from the dam to Petoni; this being the shortest practlcab e route obtainable. Auxiliary Supply.—On referring to the general plan of the W-tinaiomafca District, the course of the Elver Orongorongo can be seen. It has been examined with the view of its being a possible auxiliary source of

A meeting of the Waterworks Committee of tho City Council was held at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Present ; His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Hnucer, Fisher, Logan, Maginity, Allen, Moss, Greenfield, and Miller.

Mr. Baird (City Engineer) was present with plans for supplementing the present water supply.

The Mayor asked Mr. Baird to state what information he had to present to the committee on the subject. Mr. Baird said that when Mr, Clark was Id Wellington he went iu company with that gentleman to various parts of the country, with a view to ascertaining from whence the present water supply could be supplemented. .He had prepared plana in accordance with surveys made and an examination of the localities, and be would now state the result so far as the South Karori Stream was concerned. The intention is to supplement the present supply of water to tho town by carrying, by means of a tunnel, the waters of two main branches of the Karori Stream Into the present reservoir. The length of tunnel is about 125 chains, and its line of route is shown on enclos d tracing from original plan titled “ Plan showing Hue of proposed tunnel joining Karori Greek to present reservoir. 1 * A section along the entire length has been carefuly taken, and the levels taken at every chain. See enclosed “ section along proposed line of tunnel." Cross sections have been taken in places along the Hoe of tunuel, with the view of showing where shafts could be sunk diagonally. See enclosed "cross sections.'* A plan of locality of proposed dam in the Karori Stream, with cross sections of bed of stream, have also been taken, and plans enclosed. The water shed of the Karori Stream above the site of the proposed dam is for the most part timbered and the water good. The volume of the stream has been guaged, and found to run 1,300,000 gallons per day. With regard to the Wainubo-mata, be bad 'to report as follows:

The Intention Is to supply Wellington with water from the Wainuiomata River.

The level of water at proposed alto of dam acroßß the Wainuiomata River is 377 feet above high water mark.

The route proceeds from Wellington along the railway line at the foot of the main range of hills enclosing Port Nicholson harbor (see enclosed nup of the Wellington Country Di tricts) on the K. W. to Petone the commencement of the Hutt Valley, a dlatance of 6 miles 20 chains; thence across thjo valley to the foot of tbe main chain of bills enclosing the harbor on the N.E. (see general plan of Wainuiomata District.) Three ranges of hills running in a general paralle direction to the Hutt Valley lie between it and the Wainuiomata River. The land lying between tbe first and second ranges Is of a swampy character, about 300 feet a»ove high water mark, with & very gradual rise towards its head, and about 80 feet below the level of the proposed dam : this valley will be referred t • in this report as “ tho Swamp ’’ The valley lying between the second and third ranges Is ailed " Moore's Valley.” and con ains tho Little Wainuiomata Stream; it rises rather rapidly towards its head, but opp site to tbe proposed dam across the Wainuiomata River is about 50 feet below the level of water there. In consideration ot the ab va leading features of the country two main ro ites have been laid off, viz., an open water race route to the Hut Valley, and a pipe route. Site of Dun.—An enlarged plan of the Wainuiomata River above and below the proposed site of the dam showing on it In black figures the reduced levels of the stream and of the tongue of land enclosing tbe area for the waste weir: all of which levels referring to tbe height ab >ve high water mark (See general plan of the Wainuiomata River.) A cross sect on of the dam Is also attached.

supply. The hills separating it from tho Wainuiomata Valley terminate in one low range towards tbe bead f the Orongorongo Stream. A narrow part of this range has been examined, and found to be not more than seven chains through into the Wainuiomata Valley. At this point of the Orongorongo Stream tho volume has been measured.* and found to be of the capacity n f about 3,000,000 gallons per day. Careful barometer observations have been taken in several places (long tho Orongorongo and Wainul valleys, and tbe reduced re dings (from high water mark) are put on the general plan of Wainuiomata District. General Conclusions.—The volume of water Sowing dal y down the Wainuiomata River, and intercepted by the dam. amounts to 15.000.000 gallons. Tho watershed is densely lumbered, and all tbe high land belongs to the Crown, which has been applied for by tbe Corporation Tho drainage area out off by the dam Is about 7000 acres; that of tbe Orongorongo, above the proposed tunnel into the Wainuiomata, about 2000 acres.

Councillor Hunter inquired what amount of water the Kaiwarra Stream branch was giving to the city per day t Mr. Balbd: I estimate it gives us between 700,000 and 800,000 gallons per day. It is more than sufficient to supply the town during winter.

Councillor Hunter : Do you know what amount of water is now being wasted ? I mean approximately ? Mr. Baird: Wo are wasting nearly as much as we have been using for certainly tbe last three months.

Councillor Logan : Have you any knowledge of the quantity that runs into the smaller reservoir ?

Mr. Baird: No. I don’t know what we aro using theie, only approximately. Councilor Hunter: What is your idea with regard to the water supply ? Mr. Baird: My opinion is, that if I had an additional storing basin we should have had sufficient to last Wellington for three months, without any rain at all. Councillor Greenfield inquired for what purpose tbe committee had met t Mr. Baiß'» : To receive the plans, in order that they may be forwarded to Mr, Clark for his opinion as to which is the best to adopt. Councillor Greenfield said it was never arranged that Mr. Clark should furnish tbe Council with a new water supply scheme, and he was opposed to the plans being sent to him.

The Mayor : I am quite sure yon make a mistake. Tbe Council did authorise Mr. Clark to report upon a further water supply. Councillor Hunter said It would bo remembered that Mr. Clark wrote to the Council from Auckland, asking if he might wait there for.the Information which Mr. Baird was to supply him wi b, in order to send in a report on the subject, and a reply was scut to tbe effect that it was not necessary for him. to wait, and that the information would be sent to him in London. The Mayor said he would like Mr. Baird to state what were his instructions In. this matter.

Mr. Baird ; My instructions wore to make surveys of the localities, and get together fcho whole of the information which Mr. Clark required, and forward It to him in England. The Town Clerk, at tho Mayor's request, read the resolution passed by tho Council, as follows 1 u That tho services of Mr, Clark be obtained for the purpose of suggesting tho best means of supplementing our water supply," Mr, Baird ; Mr, Clark and myself were out about a week or 0 days. Wo wont to tho Pakuratabi and visited all tho streams all tho way down. We visited every creek suggested as a probable source, and spent a great deal of time to examining tho loosultiw.

Councillor Allbn said the question was were they bound to send these reports to Mrs Clark f He did not think so, ae at present, advised. They had considered the matter very fully, and he thought they had aufficieut information on which to act. He thought some resolution should be moved, so that they might discuss the question whether these plans ought to be sent Home to Mr. Clark or not.

Councillor Fisher thought they were carrying this farce a little too far. It was never contemplated that they were to send every little detail to Mr. Clark. When Mr. Clark was in Wellington it was distinctly understood that be should report upon the spot on the best plan for supplementing the water supply ; but it was never contemplated that they were to send every question to London to get his opinion upon it. He could not help thinking that the thing was too absurd to occupy their time.

The Mayor said that everything that had been done up to the present time was in strict accordance with the orders of the Council. Councillor Greenfield said the whole thing resolved itself into a question ot pounds shillings and pence. If these plans were sent Home, there was no doubt Mr. Clark would send them back again, endorsing tbe opinion of their own Engineer, and the only difference was that they would have to pay a fee. He had every confidence in the opinion of their own Engineer in this matter, and there was no necessity to incur any needless expense by sending to Mr. Clark. The Mayor said there had as yet been no attempt to do anything which the Council had not ordered. Mr, Clark and Mr. Baird examined the localities, and Mr. Clark was to be supplied with certain information. Mr. Baird found that it took a longer time tq prepare this information than he expected ; and before Mr. Clark left Auckland he wrote asking whether he should wait for the information or have it forwarded to him in England, and a reply was sent that he need not wait, and that the information would be sent after him. The plans were prepared in accordance with tho orders of the Council, and the question was what were they going to do with them ? Councillor Hunter said the plans had been prepared in accordance with the Council’s instructions, and he thought it would be a great pity if th*y were to be deprived of the benefit of Mr. Clark’s opinion. This was a matter involving an expenditure of from £25,000 to £50,000, and as they were not going to set to work at once, no time would really be lost in sending the plans to Mr. Clark for his opinion as to which was the best to adopt. If the Council were unanimous in applying to Mr,. Clark for advice, bethought hi< opinion should now be asked on the plans prepared by Mr. Baird. It was found that it would be too great an expense to keep Mr. Clark here to work out the information prepared by the City Engineer, and he was also told that the information would be sent after him to England. He (Councilor Hunter) would bo very sorry if they put themselves at the disadvantage of not getting Mr. Clark’s opinion on these plans. Mr, Clark merely wanted data to enable him to say what scheme he considered the best, and to give the Council estimates of the cost. He thought all along that the Council was very decided on this matter of referring to Mr, Clark. Everything had been done in accordance with the orders of tho Council, and if they were now going to reverse that decision in committee, notice would have to be given. As a-member of the committee, he would not he one to set aside a decision arrived at by the Council after due and careful deliberation. Councillor Fisher said that Mr. Clark wanted the Council to authorise the AgentGeneral to pay the money to him for his services down at once. After Mr. Clark’s distrust of the bona fides of the Council, he and unny others had altered thoir opinion of that gentleman. Mr, Baird had prepared all the data required, and there was no necessity for sending it to Mr. Clark. • Councillor Hunter said the case of Sir John Coode was analogous to this one. Data had been forwarded to Sir John Coode, after ha left New Zealand, from different parts of the colony, and the General Government were awaiting the receipt of his reports one after another. It was thought the expense would be too great if Mr. Clark were kept here until tho information, he required was prepared, and therefore he wan told that he need not remain any longer in Auckland, and that the information would be sent after him. •

In reply to a question, Mr. Baird said that three months had been taken up in obtaining all the information, but out of this the surveyor, meeting with an accident, was laid up for six weeks.

Councillor Logan took it that Mr. Clark was engaged at a fixed sum per week as consulting engineer on drainage, and as he had some time to spare, it was thought advisable to consult him on the water supply question, but it was never understood that they were to get a detailed scheme from Mr. Clark. Mr. Baird was quite capable of giving estimates on each plan, and then it would be for the Council to decide which plan to adopt. This was always what he understood about the matter. Councillor Hunter naver supposed that ary man, if ten times as clever as Mr. Clark, could examine the country and make up bis report in a week or ten day*. Councillor Greenfield did not see why Mr. Clark should be paid and get the honor for what was done by others. Councillor Logan said that tho drainage report was in tho printer’s hands, and as Mr. Clark wished to see it, and bad therefore some time on hand, he was merely consulted on tho subject while he stayed. The Mayor asked Mr. Baird if he required any further information to enable him to carry out the work ?

Mr. Baird did not think so. The only thing for Mr. Clark to decide was which plan, in bis opinion, it would be best to adopt. Councillor Fisher moved, —That tho City Surveyor b* instructed to report upon the various schemes for the extension of the existing water supply, and to * furnish an estimate of the cost of each. Councillor Moss said it was his recollection of the matter that Mr. Baird should collect certain information, and that this information should be sent to Mr. Clark. Councillor Allen asked Mr. Baird if he was satisfied that bis plans oould be carried out with the professional skill to be found in tbe place ? Mr. Baird : There would be no difficulty whatever in doing so. The only question is, which of these plans is the best one? After some further discussion and tho reading of correspondence which was published at the time, Councillor Fisher’s motion was put and carried.

Councillor Logan then moved,—That Mr. Clark be requested to send in his account for services in connection with the water supply. After some discussion, Councillor Logan withdrew his motion, and it was resolved to refer the matter to the Council.

After bearing from tho Engineer that the streets would bo watered with three-fourths of salt water and one-fourth of fresh water, which was considered satisfactory, the committee adjourned.