THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1915 IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 123, 20 December 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1915 IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS.

" We nothing extenuate, nor let down auaht in malice

(n i sitting of four hours last Wednesday evening the Pukekohe Borough Council tackled and carried through in business-like style a highly important agenda paper. Possibly the most momentous matter dealt with was in regard to a pollution ot the borough water supply, the Government Analyst reporting that from sampl;s sent him he found that although the water in its source of origin was of high-class quality, yet as stored in the town reservoir and distributed through the maina it was unfit for human consumption, owing to the fact that it was polluted with animal sewage. The Council very wisely in no way attempted to hide from public knowledge this unexpected and seriouß development, but they determined on immediate steps to eradicate what is supposed to be tte cause of the contamination, namely, the existing well at the power-house that appears to have its contents augmented by land saakage, with the result that the water when pumped to the reservoir is not the genuine article as deposited in the well from the bore. In place ot the welj > concrete basin is to be constructed, and it ia confidently anticipated that the impurities then will no longer exist. The detection of the pollution was exceedingly timely, as typhoid or soi&e other form of epidemic must have been a lurking danger. As things are now, householders can protect themselves in the meantime by boiling all water prior to its use or consumption. For the comparatively small expense that would be incurred, and having regard to what has transpired, tha Council will, however, be wejl advised to have an analysis ot the , water made at intervals instead of assuming, as has been the practice in the past, that its quality is bejend reproach. Another feature of Wednesday's meeting that tends to development was a decision to iovite tenders from private firms and public companies for the installation of either an electric or gas lighting plant. Guided by the fact that the ratepayers last year refused to adopt a municipal gas lighting scheme, and, further, that with other problems afloat it was improbable that th2 ratepayers wculd at least for some considerable time approve ot being saddled with the financial responsibility appertaining to a lighting installation, the Council very properly and wisely thought that if the borough's interests were safeguarded by powers of future purchase being arranged some ouside concern should be authorised to undertake the lighting of the town. It now remains to be seen whether any applicants will embark on the experiment and a selection between gas and electri-

city mil naturally depend cn the extent of tbe terms offered by rivel parties. The final preliminaries attending ban schemes to be submitted to the ratepayers also formed part of the Council's deliberation?, and the poll for the eam9 was fixed for January 13th. As previously reported, drainage and roading proposals, as also a scheme tor improving the water supply and a small outlay for Fire Brigade purposes, are the recommendations to ratepayers. Each and every proposal has been maturely considered by tbe Council before being put forward for acceptance, and although perhaps tome of the attendant details cannot be regarJed as entire lv free from criticise—and with this point we shall deal in a future issue—tbe schemes undoubtedly spell progress of an essential character consistent with Pukekohe's rise ss a township and any real ground ot objection can only be that war-time is inopportune tor the dotation of loans. This latter aspect, however, has not been overlooked by the and the whole caee will on behalf ot the Council be submitted to a public meeting of ratepayers to be held on January 10th.