Unfailing Springs

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 16

Unfailing Springs

ONEHUNGA’S WATER SUPPLY Flowing Since Maungakiekie Ceased to Erupt (Contributed by THE SU N’S Onehunga Correspondent). THE threatened water shortage in the city has no terrors for the residents of Onehunga and One Tree Hill, who have their own never-failing springs flowing merrily clear and cool. Conserved in vast caves or cavities, and filtered in the scoria beds under the slopes of Maungakiekie, the water finds an outlet into Manukau Harbour. All along the shore, from Onehunga to Ann’s Bridge, in summer or winter, drought or flood, springs of fresh, sparkling water never cease to flow.

ANE of the oldest residents, If not 'A the very oldest, Mr. Thomas MeReynolds, can look back over 80 years spent In Onehunga, and never In all that time does he remember the springs to have failed. Once, 60 years ago, he recalls a dry spring and summer when, little or no rain fell from September to April. Sheep and cattle died In hundreds from thirst. On the slopes of One Tree Hill the sheep could be seen huddled together, each sheep’s head buried in Its neighbour’s wool to shade it from the fiery rays of the sun, and still the springs flowed on. Farmers brought their stock from afar twice or three times a week, and the Onehunga springs kept them alive. Residents far and near flocked to Onehunga with barrels, buckets and tanks and returned home well supplied. The late Sir John Logan Campbell tells us in his book, “Poenamo,” that when he first Journeyed across the isthmus in 1840, on reaching the native settlement of Onehunga, he finished off a dinner of deliciously cooked kumaras, potatoes and pipis with "a draught of the most exquisitely clear spring water which gushed out on the beach in a wonderful stream.” So it gushes forth to-day as It has gushed ever since Maungakiekie

ceased belching forth Its entrails of molten lava upon the shores of the Manukau. Man has so far harnessed but three of the springs. Two are used by the Onehunga Borough Council and the third by the One Tree Hill Road Board. The largest spring is close to the Onehunga railway station, another is a few hundred yards to the eastward, while the third is at Te Papapa. Pumped by electricity to reservoirs on One Tree Hill, these three springs yield a daily supply of 1,500,000 gallons, and more is available If required, for the pumps are not working continuously. In addition to supplying the residents of Onehunga and One Tree Hill, and the municipal abattoirs at Westfield, the people of Mangere, Ellerslie and a considerable area of the Mount Roskill district participate in this wonderful provision of Nature. Filtered, chlorinated and periodically analysed by Government chem ists, the water is as pure as science can make it, while a pressure up to 1401 b to the square inch renders firefighting easy. Those fortunate enough to live in the neighbourhood of such a beneficent water supply in these droughty times are indeed to be envied by their neighbours in the city.