WATER PRESSURE AND THE NIGHTWATCHMAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 December 1917, Page 5

WATER PRESSURE AND THE NIGHTWATCHMAN.

A DEPUTATION TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. A deputation representing the Taihape Tradesmen's Association, consisting of Messrs. W. F. Fookes, Col* linson, Loader, and Gardner, waited on the Council to lay before them certain matters which the Association thought required looking into. Mr. Fookes, who acted as spokesman said there were one. or two questions they would like to bring under the notice of the Council —two of the most important of which were the water pressure and the nightwatchman. With regard to the water pressure/he be--: lieved the pressure at times when there was a risk of fire was not sufficent. Also it was desirable to know if the pressure could be greatly increased. They wanted to make it clear there was a great risk under the present system. They know the normal pressure was low; what they were concerned about was whether, in case of necessity could an increased pressure be turned on at a moment's notice, and how was this to be done. With regard to the question of night watchman, the present system was anything but satisfactory. Some of the business people were contributing towards the provision of a night watchman and some were not. It was in

their opinion not a fair thing. There should bo some control over the nightwatchman, which at the present moment was a private provision and they suggested the Council should assume control over this very important function. Personally they had no objection to the present nightwatchman—it was the system they found fault with. The present contributors were quite willing to continue, but in common fairness they considered all the business people should contribute. By the present system they had no means of knowing whether the watchman attended to his duties; the trouble -was they had no guarantee that he did so. It would, in their opinion, be infinitely better to have proper control over this important office, and suggested the inauguration of a clock system. Reverting to the water pressure, they would like to know if the high pressure could be switched on at a moment's notice. The Mayor, i n reply, said the Council were always pleased to hear any suggestions the townspeople had to make. The matters mentioned by the deputation would be gone into by the Council to se what could be done in the matter. They Avould make inquiries and find out the extra cost entailed in carrying out the suggestions. The Council would consider the matter very carefully, and the Tradesmen's Association would be informed in due course.

Later iu the evening the questions were brought up, and the matters mentioned were referred to the various committees to consider and report at next meeting.