Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 214, 8 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

POPULAR HOSTESS

Mrs. Jim Sullivan, formerly of the Branch and Coronation Hotels at Eltbam, is now thoroughly established in the Commercial Hotel, Stratford, just over the bridge, and old Eltham friends will be welcomed. Everything that can be done for the comfort and convenience of guests is being done, including refurnishing and renovation, whilst special care is being devoted to the cuisine,, and the table is of the best. The liquors are of the finest brands, and Mrs. Sullivan should receive a big share of the public patronage, this being practically assured by her reputation for excellent hotel arrangement. 1

THE TOWN WATER SUPPLY. NEED FOR FILTRATION. Several townspeople have begun to interest themselves once more in the necessity for the purification of the town water supply, which was urged in this column on Monday. The matter has been before the Borough Council on j many occasions, but so far all the decisions and reports have ended fruitlessly. The water is still evil-looking stuff, and it must, be so until there is,' some system of filtration. Perusal of the minutes of the Council shows that at the Council meeting in May, 1910, a resolution was carried, on the motion of the Mayor (Mr. J. Masters), seconded by Cr. Anderson," requesting the works committee to consider and report on the most effective means of improving the water supply of the town. The committee reported at the next meeting: 'With regard to the question of improving the water supply of the borough, your committee have arranged for samples of the water to be taken for analysis at the head works and from the pipes at .intervals, so as to obtain a fair sample after Hood and otherwise." —The report was adopted. Then on June 13, j 1910, the Council received the following clauses in the report of the works committee: "That the suggestion of the I overseer with regard to the construction of a silt trap and small tunnel at the i headworks be given effect to, provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made for the acquisition of the land required." A motion for the adoption ofj the committee's report was opposed by I Crs. Paget and Ralfe, who endeavored I to have this clause deleted from the re-! port, but the amendment was defeated, j A second amendment, ''That the suggestion of the overseer, as embodied in clause 4 of the works committee's report, be submitted to Mr. H. W. Climie, C.E., for his report," was moved by Crs. Anderson and Ralfe, and was carried. On being put as the substantive motion, a further amendment was moved by Crs. j Paget and Ralfe, "That no opinion be taken upon the matter mentioned in t clause 4 until an opinion upon a compre- [ hensive water filtration scheme for the J borough has been obtained, and that Mr. J H. W. Climie's opinion on the two schemes be obtained forthwith. "This was ' canied by six votes to three, and passed 1 as the substantive motion. J MR. CLIMIE'S REPORT. A report from Mr. Climie was presented in the course of the next few weeks, in which lie stated that the source of the water supply was liable to contamination before reaching the intake by (a) ' the drainage from swampy land, which ■ gives the water a mossy • and peaty taste; (b) by drainage from land now being brought under cultivation; and (c) by silt held in suspension during floods.

KT^° n^nu ' u f>> 3lr. Climie reported: . hen the scheme of water supply was originally installed, provision was'made to overcome this contamination by filtering the water through the shingle bed of the river. For this purpose a tunnel was driven along the bank and below the level of the bed of the riv r on the up-stream hide of the road bridge. .From this tunnel numerous earthenware pipes, were laid under the bed of the river at a' depth of from three to four feet. For a considerable time this filter succeeded admirably as regards clearing the water of all suspended matter, but it did not free the water of the mossy or peaty taste, especially during the summer months. As the consumption of the water increased and these filter pipes became silted up, the water was drawn directiy off the river through a valve that was supposed to be used only in an emergency.--Through drawjng the water directly off the river in this manner, without filtration of any kind, dead leaves and vegetable matter lodged in the main intake tunnel, thus giving rise to an unpleasant taste and odor. This is overcome to a great extent by scouring out the tunnel occasionally, which scouring out was attended to untd the last year or two. After each scouring out 'there was a decided I improvement in the quality of the water, and I am of opinion that the plan proposed by your foreman to drive a small tunnel from the river, with necessary catch pit. sluice valve, etc., to facilitate this work, will be well worth the expense. If this tunnel were scoured out, say. every.three months, the improvement in the quality of the water would be very noticeable. ... In regard to the question of filtering the water, I am of opinion thai the time has arrived when this should be carried out, in view of the fact (hat this treatment would fiee the. water of all unpleasantness and would ensure its perfect wholesomelies-;, Ihuu-h I am given to understand that the analysis made bv Dr. Makgill some short time since did rjot. reveal anything seriously wrong with the water, that is, anything injurious to health]' Ihe report went on to discuss the different methods of filtration, and Mr. Climie recommended the installation of a mechanical pressure filter installed on the main, without a reservoir, the suggested site being at the corner of Pasje street and Brecon road. The cost of installing two filters, to deliver 30,000 gallons per hour, was estimated at £1302; and the cost of attention and maintenance wajj estimated at from 2s to 3s per million gallons filtered.

Consideration of this report was deferred. owing to financial shortage. Oil November 14 of that year a resolution was passed, on the motion of Crs. Ward and Paget, "that the works committee bring down a report on the scheme of water filtration for the town as outlined by Mr. Climie, and that a fi P°cial meeting of the Councjl be held as soon as the report is available, and that the committee be empowered to expend a sum necessary to obtain the information required. IjATER consideration.

At the February meeting last year the following report of the committee was adopted: "That we have been unable to come to any arrangement with Mr,

* From Our Resident Reporter. * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * * *

Marchant with reference to the acquisition of a piece of ground for waterworks purposes. Under the circumstances we recommend that the matter be allowed to stand over until such time as funds (loan and otherwise) are available for the work." The most recent mention of the matter at the Council table was in December last, wltes a resolution was passed requesting the .works committee to report on the question of cleaning out the tunnel at the head of the waterworks. It is .likely that the matter will be brought up at the Council meeting next Monday, for the works committee recently paid a visit to the headworks.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION The executive of the Taranaki Friendly Societies' Hospital Association ipet in Stratford this afternoon, when there were present: Bros. Kivell (president), P. Amoore, E. W. Henderson, Spurdle and Clark. Apologies were received from Bros. Bird (VVaitara) and Melville (Kaponga). Statements of payments for the quarter were produced, showing that £125 had been paid to the various hospitals and sanatoria in the Dominion.

The next executive meeting will be held- on May 20, and the annual meeting will be held in Stratford in June.

THE POULTRY SHOW. Some months ago it was announced in this column that the Stratford Egg Circle intended holding a poultry show in this coming winter. It was found necessary, however, to forni the Stratford, Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society. In addition to the officers already announced (Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., as patron, Mr. J. Maste« as president, and Mr. C. Downey as secretary), Messrs. W. D. Anderson, P. Thomson and S. Ward have been appointed vice-presi-dents. Already the poultry fanciers in other parts of Taranaki have been making enquiries regarding the Stratford dates, and these have now been fixed for July 3 and 4 in the Town Hall. A baby show should "draw the crowd," even if the Stratford people don't roll up to see the poultry, but, judging by the enthusiasm shown, the poultry section itself will be very popular. A , suggestion to offer prizes to farmers - for best specimens of mangolds, turnips, etc., has been adopted by the committee, and there is a possibility of a cookery section being included, this having proved .'successful at other poultry shows. The committee is endeavoring to secure the allotment of a couple of championships to the- Stratford Show..

KILL-SPORT WEATHER. For the fourth time this season the Stratford and New Plymouth tennis clubs had to abandon their Stratford fixture to-day on account of the weather. This time the New Plymouth team duly arrived, but'so did the rain. Dr. Leatham and Dr. Home motored the party .through. Crossing the railway line at Ingleivood, the axle of Dr. Leathain's car was broken, and he had to engage another car to complete the journey.

The afternoon was too wet for bowling, and so was Wednesday afternoon, when we were to have received a visit from Hawera.

' C-ENERAL NEWS Two of Mr. J. D. Haaly's boys had some purebred White' Wyandottes and Minorcas entered at the Norm;inby show, and secured prize ■ tickets as well as the special for the best male bird m the show, won by a Minorca Cockerel. Amongst successful Stratford exhibitors at the Normanby Horticultural Show was Mr. F. Davis, who won eleven first prizes, four seconds, the points prize for cut blooms, and the dahlia championship. Mrs. T. Reader was very successful in the decorative classes, winning first prizes in hand bouquets, buttonholes, vase or epergns, and table ,bou.quet. Mrs. Petrie won twice in roses, and her gladioli scored firsts, whilst she managed to beat Mr. Davis in the class for twelve d<thlias. Mr. G. T. James was successful in sweet pea classes, and Mrs. James won in several of the cookery classes.

The borough works- committee will re-' commend the Council to construct a footpath along Fenton street to the King Edward Park entrance.