THE "WET" PROBLEM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 14, 19 February 1915, Page 2

THE "WET" PROBLEM.

(By Scrutator.)

And so my mastery the Mayor and Councillors, your wet supply scheme was turned down by the "Free and Independents!" So what do you intend to do about it? The street critic, behind his hand, sayu "Resign." The carpers know lota of better Ecnemes. The wiseacres, the head-shaksra and the headachers—ether people's heads—know jut how this "wet" problem should be settled; but when poor Scrutator, ia desperation, asks "Why don't yoa come out and do something?" they depart with, as they think, a knowing shake of the head, as much as to say "Not ma." bo at this pasa your humbla scribe commenced to try and find out thirga and surely there are things to find our, if it is

only a proper understanding of this "wet" problem, as evidently the worthy gentlemen row acting as the "Free and Independents" representatives have already found out to their sorrow. And so, one showery afternoon, Scrutator started out on a voyage cf discovery and eventually, with fear and trembling, (as he had been informed Giant Despair dwelt therein) approached the site of Pukekohe's pumping station. Suddenly there came into view what on first glance looked like a Satalite from the lower regions, for it was black, very black, and held in i'.s bands one of those awe-inspiring pitchforks all expect, sooner or later, if they get their desserts, the other fellows to feel ia their vitals. Realising the futlity of attempting to cfcaye, and recognising what was evidently an affinity of souls, your helplesj scribe continued hia advance, and suddenly came under tre

Basalic gaza of the cause of his perturbation. But what metamorphosis is this? Surely this is not one of his Satanic Majesty's minons? For a kindly smile overspread that grimy face and a cheery "good day" welcomed the "pryirg one'' within tha precincts of the desired haven ard to the presence of the enginter-in-charge. informed of his visitor's desire this courteous servant of the public immediately entered upon a thorough explanation uf the various pieces of machinery and their uses, thereby convincing this visitor that whatever weakness existed in the people's waterworks plant, it is certainly not the fault of the officer -in - charge. The plant consists of a 50 h.p. generator and a 48 h.p. gas engine, a quadruple plunger pump and f> 12 h.p. air compressor. The whole of this machinery, generator excepted, after several years of hard work, is still in first-class order. The gtrierator, a3 everyone is aware, has developed a dangerous weakness, necessitating ths addition of a naw one. Therefore a 70 h.p is to fce added almost immediately. In the

meantime extra power to drive ths air compresfor has had to be hired. Of course this means considerable extra expense until the new generator is instal'ed. And nsw my fellow "Free and Independents" let us examine what this plant can do without injury and what it has been called upon to do. The bore is 217 feet de?p with a maximum water level of 80 feet. The 12 h p. air compressor's work is to lift the water from the bore into the well at pumping station, which it does at the rate of 6000 gallons per hour; the quadruple plunger pump's duty is to lift the water from well at station to reservoir, a height of 537 feet. This it will do under proper conditions at the rate of 9000 gallons per hour; therefore it is selfevident if ot'ly 6000 gallons per hour can be lifted from the tore, the pump can only have 6000 gallons to lift, or in other words a shortage of 3000 gallons per hour. And so my fellow "Free ana Independents" that is the first problem our representatives have to solve. Of course the man

in the street has solved it long ago (behind his -hand), viz., first, the membeta of the old Town Board were a lot of dunderhtads; and, second, our to-day representatives are a lot of fools. Scrutator takes the next problem to be solved is how to efficiently supply Pukekohe with water, and at the same time remove the dangerous overtaxing of the machinery (for dangerously overtaxed it undoubtedly is), because the enormous load under which the plunger pump is working

has caused what was ores a solid bed of concrete to fracture ahout 15 inches from the top; this is a danger sitiiial that cannot be ignored. But how to remedy? Simply by removing the cause, or in other words lightening the load the pump is now called upoa to carry, aa has been already suggested by our councillors, from 537 feet, the height of the existing reservoir, to 300 feet, being the height of the proposed new reservoir. This can be done without injustice to present users, as only 5 per cent, of water is usfd on higher levels; consequently 95 per cent would only need to be lifted 300 teet. This arrangement would save approximately £175 per annum in working J

expenses, etc. And now my fellow "Free and Independents" now shall we solve the 3000 gallon per hour shortage. Did bcrutator hear you say "Hickey's Dam?" Yes; an excellent idea if a better one cannot be found. but what say my masters, the Mayor and Councillors, and my fellow "Free and Independents" to a gravitation water supply: Did Sciutator hear the man in the street "scoff" (behind his hand); nevertheless a gravitation supply can be cheaply obtained. But of that we will talk another day. Just in conclusion your humble j scribe feels compelled to record his ! high opinion of the three responsible : employees of the Council, viz., the ; Koad Overseer, the Engineer ana ! the Town Clerk, for they are one ' and all undoubtedly of the best and give their beat under certainly 1 most trying circumstances. And now my fellow "Free and lnde- j pendents" there has been much j grumbling of late about our repre-

sentativef; for you know they are our reDresentatives, because we "picked them." Therefore, if we are not satisfied we have only ourselves to blame, and let us just ask ourselves a few pertinent questions', viz.: Are they paid? Ate they responsible for the present wa'er' [ syatem? Do they do their best for | the borough as a whole? To hold a public position is a thankless tusk at any time. So let us leave severe criticism to the irresponsible man in the street behind his hand, and after electing our representatives to control this borough's necessities give them our whole-hearted support when unforeseen difficulties crop up.