PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 27 February 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, are invited on Farming. Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed. “ * PATEA WATER SCHEME. i must trouble you for space in your paper for a few remarks, after the fire, which might have been more serious if occurring in some parts of the town. Some time ago, when 1 was discussing with some friends a simple way of supplying this town with a plentiful service of pure water, both for domestic purposes and in case of fire, one of my friends said my mode of bringing the water into the town was the veiy scheme he had been thinking of for some years. I have been afraid of making known, through the press to the public, my views on the matter, in case my friend should say I had borrowed his scheme. 1 had mentioned the same at a public meeting some six or seven years ago. The source from where the supply is to come is a stream that I can speak well of as to quantit}' and quality, for neither the Virginia nor Westmere lake in Wanganui can be cempared to this water for pureness. In the event of this supply not continuing sufficient for this town after the population has largely increased, there is a splendid lake not far from the aforesaid stream which could supplement the supply ; but I have no hesitation in; saying that the stream of water in the creek all the year round will be sufficient for the wants of this town for some years to come, allowing the population to increase to six or seven thousands. I would, however,recommend the purchase of the lake right out, and not do like the Wanganui Corporation did—take it, and ask for it afterwards, and then have to pay dear for it. The pipelaying from the creek to the town will not be such a heavy item, as there are not many deep cuttings. I should think that the fall from the top of the flat to the town would be from thirty to forty feet. The water would then require to be conveyed to a reservoir, situated on some high hill near the town, so as to add force, if it could be built. Sixty or eighty feet high would give sufficient force in case of fire. .>'■ ,

.1 must refrain from going into the whole explanation of the matter, as the public might think I intended to put in a tender for the job, as I see that anyone can be a contractor now and put in a tender, whether they get it or not. Now that the Corporation have got installed into office, I have no doubt they will have no difficulty in raising the money for the scheme. James Lett. Feby. 24th,