The New Plymouth, Reservoir.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4457, 18 April 1883, Page 3

The New Plymouth, Reservoir.

A brief telegram'in our last issue announced the subsidence of the New Plymouth Waterworks. The following are the particulars:—Shortly after 2*30 yesterday afternoon the reservoir burst at the side immediately opposite the valve tower. The water was turned off as soon as the accident was observed, so as to empty the reservoir, which was nearly full. Had it happened at night instead of iv the daytime, the consequence would hare been even more disastrous. It appears that the hill against which the re» servoir was built had subsided, and this caused the basin tocdllapsed. The damage done to the reiervior is irreparable, as the whole concrete basin has been fractured. The course of the'subsidence appears to have commenced at the oppo> site side of the basin from the valve tower, and .from thence to the centre of the reservoir, where it breaks off at angles thus. completely dissecting a quarter of the basin. The reservior is situated a distance of 150 feet from the side of the hill, which is very precipitous for a depth of brer 300 feet, and the evident conclu* sion is that it has been built to near the edge of the cliff, which is composed of loose friable soil, and the full weightof the water has doubtless caused the hill to subside. The banks of the reservoir have not.fallen in, there being only a fissure in the earth.