WAITARA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 150, 4 October 1910, Page 8

WAITARA NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.! There were some long faces in Waitara on Saturday when information waa brought to the borougfh that the water would not flow after a trial had been made. There were a'.so some pleased countenances (croakers'), who liad said all along that tlie scheme would be a failure, and they weie able to say, '1 told you so," and they seemed quite pleased that apparently* their croakings were right. However, various officials of the Council, the contractors and engineers were towed along to the headworks, and the position was that the water would not run, having stopped some seven or eight chains from the highest point on the route. Several te«to were maide, and it was decided to alJow the matter to stand over until Monday, when practically all the Council, with the contractors and engineers, were assembled at the head works. Earlier than their arrival the contractors' staff had discovered the source of trouble—

air locks —and it did not tai;e them long to fix a vent about half a mile from the intake, and when the air was disposed of the flow soon began, and within a very short space of time was over the hill and flowing merrily, and nil concerned went home light heartedly. Water reached the town before 5 o'clock on Sunday evening, and in the early morning a trial was made by the contractors, which satisfied them. At 10 o'clock a demonstration was made which must have shown the most sceptical tlhav the trial was a most successful one. A hydrant stand was fSked outside 1 Waitara Hotel and threw a two-inch flow right over the building, despite the fact that the pressure was only a little

over 100, whilst on a test the gauge showed up to a 1401b. pressure, standing steady at 135. Needless to say, those interested in the success of the scheme felt very pleased. The work has been carried out by the Spiral Steel Company, of Wanganui, under Mr. Gilmore, and evidently the work of 'laying ana jointing has been faithfully done, for no sign' of a leak or blow-out was visible. Messrs. Orbell and Mackay, who' designed tlhe scheme, are also to be congratulated on its success, for they had very many difficulties to contend with. The North Taranaki Dairy .Company are now making 17 boxes of butter per i day, as against 10 at the same period last year. The Waitara Company are ■now making 15 as ngainst 9 for September, 1909. Other factories show increases, and, with the splendid prices obtained, a good season is in front of farmers.

The ordinary montihly meeting of the Borough Council takes place to-morrow evening. Mr. Chas. MacLeam, who last week received the appointment of turncock, came to start his new duties.