PUKEKOHE'S WATER SUPPLY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 8, 29 January 1915, Page 3

PUKEKOHE'S WATER SUPPLY.

Works and Reservoir Visited.

Reasons For Proposed Loan

At the request of Cr I). ft. Hamilton, Chairman of tbe Waterworks Committee of the Pukekohe Borough Council, a visit of inspection of the Power' House and Reservoir was made on 'luesd'y by a representative of the "Pukekche Times," Cr Hamilton de-iring that in view of tbe importance of the vote to be taken on Wednesday next on the proposal of the Council to borrow a further turn cf £2BOO for water purposes the ratepayers should through the instrumentality of this journal be made acquainted with the circumstances that in the Council's opinion made it necessary for an additional loan to be raised. Mr W. Wyatt, the wa'erworks foreman, also attended, and explained the various detaih of the existing mode of eupply. - WORKING AT A DISADVANTAGE.

Both Mr Hamilton and Mr Wyatt laid stress on what was described as the severe handicap under which water was now cbcained and dis-

tributed. The high altitude, 500 feet or thereabouts, of the present f pa *ervoir, situate on Pukekohe Hill, 1 io various way?, they said, si found to be most anuatisfacy. Excessive expenditure was not only incurred in pumping operations by reason of undue pressure being requisite to send the water to such * great height, but more or less constant, instead of only occasional, pumping also had to be resorted to. Tbe pressure under which the pump was working was teen by tbe gauge to be 2351b5, whereas when installed the pump was designed for working at a pressure of from ]Bolbs to 1901bs. From the very outset the higher pressure required to be utilised and accordingly some miscalculation at tbe time of the installation* of the pump, Cr Hamilton said, had evidently been made. With regard to pressure Mr Wyatt mentioned that with a new reservoir as proposed at » altitude of about 300 ft a pressure of only 1301bs would suffice with i corresponding reduction in outlay for fuel. Further, Mr Wyatt showed by his time sheet tbat pumping on the previous day had been in progress for 13} hours, as against fin ordinary day's labour of 8* hours.

ADDITIONAL POWER NECESSARY.

Although despite the exceptionally heavy load the pump was called upon to bear it was working well, Mr Wyatt stated that the engine was giving trouble in operating in addition to the pump tbe air

compressor machinery that raised water from the bore to the whence it was pumped to the and the corsequenee was that additional power bad had to be secured from a traction engine that had | been hired and was working outside the power house. Repairs to the generator attached to the gaa suction plant, Mr Wyatt stated, were also urgently necessary and ao that ii far as possible everything should be put in order and risk ei accident and stoppage of supply avoided the intention was to fill the reservoir to a depth of 14ft and to subsequently maintain, if possible, that same amount of water. It is interesting here to mention tbat at the time of our representative's visit the depth of water in the reservoir was only ift.

EFFECTS OF VIBRATION. The concrete base of the -pump wis examined acd as reported at the Council meeting recently a crack, which has a tendency to spread was observed, the same laving been brought about by tte vibration, the natural sequel to enforced working at excessive presort. Mr Wyatt's fear is that a complete fracture might occur Without warning, iq which case ■applies would be cut off pending ; repairs. PROPOSED NEW SOURCE OF SUPPLY.

Cr Hamilton made leference to toe matter of the site of the power boose, the Committee's recommendation being that another site and worce of supply should be secured, elsewbere.and although such proposal wa« -not mentioned in the loan of .i'2Boo for which the sanction of the ratepayers waa now sought. ' « sufficient sum had been included fot tbe purchase of the proposed rite Be, however, believed that before the service could be rendered perfectly satisfactory a change of quarters would have to be effected. Mr Wyatt Hamilton on this point, stating that recent torkings bad convinced bim that the ipring from which the water was no* furthcoming was giving out, in addition tbe feature of pumping water into the well from Jbore at a great depth was always current, whereas on a new lite as suggested by the Waterworks Committee water would w tomatically run from a bore into • well without need of pumping. Farther, Mr Wyatt said, analyses made of water at different tim's •as f° und t0 CODtain diverse ingredient*, thus proving that the '-«ppiy waß not that ori ß i,,B,lv ,ecured but came from more tban one source.

WASTE OF WATER. The pressme redaction valve, ritoated in Queen street, was also tasnected and was reported by Mr wvait es giving constant trouble In ,Ti operation cf reducing the presure of water from about 2301ba aa Honing from the reservoir to iMIbB as supplied to the town, with he result that safeguards conItriicted in the town in the form of fety va'^ B that came into act,oD Sun the 130lbs pressure was exuded were very frequently called "to action with attendant serious J toss of w« ter - THE KESEBVOIR.

The reservoir, situated (n the Hit of Pukekohe Hill, was next »S and this receptacle of the water is undoubtedly a JT; .neciman of workmanship. Its SLssive height is, however, the ' Sack, and the Council's prol2«i is whilst retaining it as a ESi« of BOPPIy in tne CMe ot 6re -Saiiy eß>« r « eDCy l 0 a ?\Jry a* ate of a new reservoir that it ?nroDO»ed to coDßtruct at an altiiioDtbe bill «/ about 300 ft. A SKILLED: SIAFF,

works Committee to carry oat works as proposed by day labour under tbe supervision of the Council's own atari in p'eference to incurring the expense of the employment of a professional engineer, Cr Hamilton considered that better results could be sicuied thereby. An engineer, he said, only paid occasional visits and actually relied en a Clerk of Works, who might or might not be competent. On the other band the Council had full confidence in both Mr Wyatt (the Waterworks Foreman) and Mr Clews (the foreman of Works). The latter had had considerable experience in concrete work, whilst Mr Wyatt's knowledge of hydraulics and engineering, a.d his thorough acquaintance with local corditions, as well ss tbe skill ha had shown in his management of tbe power house, convinced the Council that they cculd with safety entrust to them the building of tbe new reservoir. He (Cr Hamilton) was quite certain that the ratepayers would get the best value for tteir money if Mr Wyatt and Mr Clews were made responsible for the proposed works. RESPONSIBILITY ON RATE-

PAYERS. And, said Cr Hamilton in conclusion, by "turning down" the loan the ratepayers will only have themselves to blame if the town is deprived of water or facilitiej are even curtailed. The Council were confronted with a very difficult task in dealing with a really serious state of affairs and tbe only solution was for works as contemplated to ba now embarked on and later for a scheme of a more comprehensive character to be carried qut, and of the latter tbe proposed new reservoir was a h*-st instalment. What i"b certain, added Cr Hamilton, is that th 3 economical working that would result from a low-level reservoir would effect a saving on present coat of upkeep and running of more than sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on the loan as suggested, and even for that reason the ratepayers'would act very foolishly if consent is withheld from tbe loan.

FURTHER DISCUSSION BY

COUNCIL. Water matters engaged a good deal of attention at the meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday evenieg.

The mayor roovea a resolution w the effect that in the event of the £2BOO water loan for the "inner" area being carried at tbe poll on Wednesday next the amount raised should be refunded to such area when power was obtained at a later date for the raisin? of a further loan to be spread over tbe whole of the borough. Ibe Mayor pointed out that tbe recommendation of the Waterworks Committee had been tor a £7OOO loan, to be raised over the whole borough, but in view of tbe imminent alterations of the borough boundaries such would have meant delay and accordingly it was found necessary to restrict the loan area for the present to the old Town Board area. Under such circumstances he believed he was right in saying that the Council's inten-

tioo was that in due course the tentative raising of £2BOO should be allocated to the entire borough. Cr Hurley seconded, saying that the Mayor's motion limply meant that they were asked to affirm the principle of the whole of the Borough sharing in liability for the water installation. If the piinciple was affirmed it would influence the ratepayers of the "inner" area to support the £2BOO loan.

Gr Pollock raised the point that the Mayor's motion practically meant the of the resolution previously passed and suggested that notice of motion was necessary before it could be dealt with.

The Mayor considered that it was unnecessary to rescind the previous resolution, as his motion that night was simply an addition or amendment thereto.

Cr Beatty approved of the motion, but considered that Cr Pollock was correct in his contention. Cr Hamilton advised the Council to adopt the motion as moved by the Mayor. The ratepayers of the old Town Board area would then be assured that in due course the £2BOO loan would be allocated to the «ntire borough instead of being restricted to the "inner" area. Opponents of the loan were trying to make capital out of the suggestion that the "inner" ratepayers alone were to be responsible for the money now wanted. Cr Pollock claimed that no agreement had been come to by the Council for the larger loan, as recommended by the Waterworks Committee, to be spread over the whole of the Borough and therefore the Mayor's motion was on that ground out of order and would have no effect. The water scheme was the scheme of the old Town Board

ind it was for the people of the

"inner" district to carry it through. If "outside" people wished to -come into the rating area they should vote themselves in and not be forced in bv the votes ol those in the "inner" area.

Tbe Mayor remarked that the whole of tbe Borough should be placed on a level footing and that all

ebould pay the water tatc. Cr (Jomrie considered that although the principle was sound the motion «ould be useless. The present Council would not be in office when a further loan would be raißed and they' could not bind their successors to carry out the motion. When a new luan was raised then would be the time to decide to include in it a repayment to the "inner" area of the £2BOO. Gr Pollock: It would be unfair for the whole borough to pay the rate because it ia impossible to give water facilities to all the borough. Cr Hurley: If the borough boundaries aie cut down as proposed we may be able to supply everyone. The motion was then put and

carried, the Mayor, Crs bilkey, Hamilton, Hurley and McUouuh supporting, Crs Beatty and Pollock dissentiug, and Cr Comrie not voting. COUNCIL'S INTENTIONS. Cr Comrie said that a statement had appeared in the "Times" that the new reservoir was to be constructed under the supervision of the Waterworks' Foreman, but such was not correct. He (Cr Comrie) believed that mention was made by one Councillor that it was sug-

seated that the construction work stould be carried out by the Council's own staff, but such had not been adopted by the Council. In any case, towever, the suggestion concerned the Foreman of Works (Mr Clews] and not too - Waterworks Foreman. Consequently

the additional statement contained in the paper that the Waterworks Foreman already had his time fully occupied was of no account. On the other hand the time would be soon arriving when road work would be slack and the services of the Foreman of Works and his staff would thus be readily available. WATER CHARGES PROBLEM. In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Pillock proposed that the resolution passed at the last Council meeting adopting the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act as the basis for charges for water should be rescinded. He admitted that he had voted for the rrsolution at the time, but he subsrquently found out that he tad not understood i's effect. He thoroughly agreed that an increase in tbe present should be made but under the system as adopted farm property would be unduly taxed. Cr Pollock then quoted instincts of valuation of farm properties wherein, it appeared, that the charges for wat3r would reach an unduly high figure, one amounting to os much as £23 2s per annum in addition to £5 2s for water rate. Whilst the charges for farm properties were increased he found that the owner of a £SOO house actually secured a reduction in the amount be would have to pay as compared with the charge now paid. He was not in a position that night to put forward an alternative echeme, but he considered that nothirg could be worse than the scbem? as adopted. Cr Hurley, seconded. On hia own property, he ssH, he would be called upon to pay three times as much as he was now doing. If such charges were going to be enforced Pukekohe would be a good place to live»out of. He could not pay such an amount and he would certainly sell oat. Cr Hamilton considered that it would perhaps be. advisable to endeavour to devise some new scheme of charges.

Cr Pollock thought that instead of making it too "hot" for farmers consumers should pay an amount in accordance with actual cost of water. Tbe charge now made was too small.

Cr Bilkey concurred but favoured loan money being spread over the whole borough. Cr. McGough urged that with a higher scale of charges as passed and the additional collection of the rate the position would be unbearable for faamers. He favoured the abolition of the special rate. Cr Hurley favoured a re-opening of the whole question. The difficulty was that there were so many people with farms in a small area. Cr Pollock's motion was then carried without dissent and it was arranged that the Council should meet in committee on Wednesday, February 10th, to again consider the question of charges to be levied.

RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS. At a veil-attended meeting of the Pukekohe Ratepayers' Association, held on Wednesday evening, to consider the borough proposal to borrow money (or a new reservoir. It was unanimously decided to oppose the proposal upon the giound that Mr Lockie Gannon hsd reported that the present water supply would be insufficient for the requirements of the borough in the near future, and that it would be necessary to look elsewhere for another source of supply. It was further suggested that expert advice should be obtained before any steps were taken in connection with an additional water supply. It was further decided to oppose the Gas Loan.