ADVANCE OTAKI.

Otaki Mail, 21 June 1922, Page 3

ADVANCE OTAKI.

PROPOSED WATER-WORKS. Otaki is on the verge of spending several thousands of pounds for the improvement of the town and the district in general, by installing muchneeded water-works. Mr F. G. Davies, town clerk and engineer, has given much time and thought to lite proposal, and it is due to his ability that a suitable spot has been located for the installation of the necessary receiving tank, etc. The locality is about 1} miles from the Otaki Post Otlice, on Mr Nicol’s property at Waitohu, and situate in a spot which is likely to be looked upon in time to come as a scenic reserve. Incidentally, some of the best of tree ferns and other Nil live shrubs grow on the Intuits of the river which is to bo tapped. The magnitude of the scheme may be gauged by the fact that j there will be 111 miles of mains, and shortly the scene of operations will be a busy oue. At present the foreman j of works, Mr K. Webby, is doing preparatory work, while the contractor, Mr Grayling, has largo quantities of gear, etc., ready to make a start. Commencement is to be made on the retaining tank at once, and this will be no easy work as the ground is of solid for- ■ matron. h'u serious obstacles in the! shape of rocks are anticipated, and it is hoped the tank, which will bo 78ft. | long, 24ft. wide, and eleven feet deep, I will be finished in record time and in a manner to leave nothing desired, it will be ot' fcrro-conerete, heavily reinforced, and will lie connected with the j intake, which is .lot chains away, by ! suitable pipes. Although it does not ) appear so there will be a fall of about IS ft. from the intake to the tank. To I facilitate work drainage will first be i carried out which will allow men to work under ideal conditions. Between the intake, where pipes will be guarded against logs, etc., and where they will be three feet under the bed ot the stTcani, will be > two sieves ol copper, with wooden frames, which will colled all leaves and like debris. Each sieve will measure 2ft. din., and be Bft. in depth. These can be conveniently worked, separately, and any rubbish removed without trouble. After the water enters the intake it will leave again to go through a filter bed of fine shingle. This filter will act as a but- j for and prevent muddy water passing through at flood time. There will always be a certainty of clean water while there will be no possibility of interference in flood time as the water will have to rise no less than twenty feet —almost an impossibility—to affect the tank. The water will be carried away from the filter bod by metal pipes of Sin. diameter, to Moutere Hospital corner, passing in the meantime ia a direct line through Mr Blair 1 s and Mr Glover’s properties,, down the AVuitohu Valley road, to Otaki. At the Moutere Hospital a din. pipe will be carried via Mill Rond to the Post. Office, j while pipes feeding other streets, including Kangiuru and Tasman roads, will be 4in.. which- is considered ampie. As previously stated the preparatory work is in a pretty spot, and at the intake it. is proposed to grade the slope and grass it, thus making it attractive as well as useful, while the tank will be fenced in by piping and cyclone netting. which will prevent animals gelling near. Above the intake levels have been taken by Mr Davies, and provision made to tap the stream lor a larger supply, if necessary, in years to come. The 500 acres needed as a catchment area, is about II miles above the intake. s The whole matter is being given much attention by Mr Davies, who is sanguine that Ihc scheme will be a highly successful one. while the Couueil have every confidence in Mr Gray- . ling, as contractor. The latter will lose no time over the work, and early in 1923 there should be a red-letter day for Otaki. Credit for the undertaking is also due to the Mayor (Mr Brandon) and Councillors, all of whom have given the mattter deep consideration.