WAINUIOMATA WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5733, 14 August 1879, Page 3

WAINUIOMATA WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. SIK, —Apparently from expressions of,several speakers at Saturday night’s meeting it is advisable to place some fuller information before the ratepayers relative to the proposed water supply, for which they are asked to vote the necessary funds on Wednesday, the 30th instant. First, the supply of the stream when gauged was about 16 million gallons daily. Theoretically taking the same basis as assumed for estimate of present supply, viz., 28 inches of rainfall are available per annum, the yearly average of the daily flow for the Wainuiomata should be slightly over 21 millions; this is on an area of fourteen thousand acres for watersheds. The pipes to the city are of a diameter of 24 inches with a delivery capacity of 8J millions daily at Fipitea Point, or only half the natural flow of the stream. Even an area as stated by Mr. Marohant to be only 7000 acres would give a daily average of 12 million gallons, and this would surely supply a pipe delivering eight millions.

Second, as to the question of cost. Mr, Marohant’s objection on this ground was conclusively shown by Mr. Dawson to be, quite untenable, as the first cost of pipes, assuming his quantities, waa : £27,ooo over their actual value ; and the quantity actually required will be under 7000 tons, as against Mr. Marchant’s 11,000 tons. The detailed cost will be somewhat as follows, viz.:— Dam for catchment of supply £B,OOO Water-race, one mile 3,400 30-inch pipe, three miles (laid) .. .. .. 21,850 21-inch pipe, eleven miles (laid) .. .. 56,150 Tunnel from Wainuiomata to Hntt side of range .. .. .. .. .. .. 3.400 Valves .. .. .. 1,500 Contingencies, land, iic. .. .. .. .. 6.700 £IOO,OOO —leaving £30,000 for carrying pipes through the city ; main pipe to be 21in. from Fipitea to Manners-street, 18in. to Courtenay-place, 12in. along Adelaide-road, other streets proportionate sizes. Next, as to present and future wants. A population of 20,000, consuming, 5 > gallons per head, requires 1,000,000 gallons daily. At this rate of consumption, the proposed scheme will supply a population of 160,000. At present there will he, say 6,000,000 to 7;000,000 gallons, daily to spare for sale. The course of the pipes will moke it possible for the Hutt Distinct to attach a branch service, which would be a source of profit to the city, also a supply to Kaiwarra in passing it. It may not be inappropriate to quote quantity aud cost of water , supply in some other cities — Per Cent. each. Cost. London '.. 35 gallons .. 4J per cent, on rents Birkenhead -.42 ~ .. sto 71 „ ~ Leeds 23 ~ ..5 ~ ~ Chester ..45 ~ .. 5£ ~ ~ Glasgow ... 53 „ .. II on the £ rental Windsor ..46 ~ .. 5 per cent, on rental Cardiff ..25 ~ .. sto 6 ~ Bolton.. ..’23 „ .. 6.( ~ ~ Melbourne ..5 „ „ General average over 5 per cent, Wellington .. 50 or more .. 6.) per cent, on rental The following is a single instance of the effect of an inefficient supply. A gentleman came here intending to start a large rope tactory, but the result of his inquiries as : to water were so unsatisfactory that he went elsewhere, settling iu .Dunedin. The city thus lost the establishment of a large industry and the employment of labor iu connection with it. Farther, viewing the recent proposed action of the insurance companies to charge an extra half per cent., this being only negatived by a small majority, it is evident that given another large fire, which at any time might be worse than the last one, neither a half nor one per cent, will meet their demands. One gentleman on Saturday proposed a local company to meet this difficulty. Curious that this was the very section of the insurance companies most anxious to raise the rates. This same gentleman, if he could not have a company, would have a hydrant and hose of his own, and become his own extinguisher. Very nice, but even for, this water, is necessary, and there will he very little or none this summer. Lastly, works ,to increase present supply, and filter-beds to cleanse , it, will cost at least :£30,0,0,0 ; replacement of pipes of larger size throughout the city would still cost, the £30,000 as asked for, as part of the proposed loan ; a total of £60,000 as against £130,000, and in a few years perhaps you would still have to go to Wainuiomata, and possibly at a time when the price of iron having risen so muoh from the present low rates that the cost would he increased from £20,000 to £3 ',OOO. The present waterworks must not be looked at as wasted money, because they will always be a resource to fall on iu case of any accident to pipes, especially iu a distant ■ source as the Wainuiomata; and I may say they will always reflect credit on their constructing engineer. Trusting that our. citizens will show their usual good sense, and that the result of the poll , will show an almost unanimous vote in vote in favor of loan, —1 am, &c., H. F. Logan