THE LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7950, 27 January 1906, Page 6

THE LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY.

CONSIDERATION BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. THE ENGINEER TO REPORT. A meeting of the Masterton Bor ©ugh Council, as a committee, was held last evening to consider the question of extending the water sap ply to Lansdowne. The Mayor presided, and the other members present were—Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, T. Hoar, W. Morris, E. G. Eton, J. C. Ewingtou, and E. McEwen. Messrs D. A. Morton and H. G. Williams waited ou the Council and stated that tho residents of Lansdowne wished to know it" the Council could supply Lausriowne with water, aud. if «o, on what terms. With the loan money recently sanctioned for ihe purpose by the ratepayers of Lansdowne, it was proposed to erect a concrete tank capable of holding 10,000 gallons, and to lav down the whole area with pipes. Tne valuation of tho area in which it was proposed to use the water was aG7,000. The Mayor thought that there should be no hesitation on tho part of the Council to allow the water to go to Lansdowne, but the question could not be definitely ducicied at that mooting, as more information was wanted. There was a copious supply of water in the town at present—in fact more than was wanted, aud he thought that Lansdowne residents should be allowed to partake of it. If tho Council found themselves going short in* the borough at any time, the Act allowed them to cut off Lansdowne immediately, or at three mouths' notich. He did not think that there was any necessity for a concrete tank at Lansdowne, for it would|" te of no assistance to the borough except in case of fire. Cr Morris, to tost the feeling of the meeting, moved, "That the Council cannot see its way at present to comply with the request." He quite agrewd that there was plenty of water in tho reservoir, but the water mains in Queen Street were just adequate for the wants of the town, and too small to allow of an extension of the water to Lansdowne. If Lansdowne wanted the water suply, they .should join the borough. He wbb not prejudiced against Lansdowne, having the water, but he did not think the Council would be doing justice to the ratepayers of the borough by allowing the extension underlie present circumstances. Or Eton stated that the first thing to be considered by the Council would bo—could they supply Lansdowne with water. He did not think so, for at the present time there we'ie all kinds of restrictions against persons using garden bose in the dry weather. It would be unwise to extend the supply to Lansdowne until sueb time as the Counoil could do so without if ear of putting any restrictions on the residents of the borough or Lansdowne. Cr Pauling was of opinion that it was hardly right for the Council to definitely" decide the question at that meeting, and he should like to see the whole cost of both sides gone into, and reported .to the Counoil before any definite steps were taken. He was quite satisfied that the supply could be extended under the present circumstances, as there was more water wasted in Masterton tLan would supply an area twice the size of Lansdowne. Mr Morton here pointed out that in supplying Lansdowne with water the Counoil would have to bear no cost. The residents would do all the piping and erect the tank, and they were prepared to abide by the three months' notice, it it were found that there was likely to be a shortage. Mr' Williams explaned that uufc of the loan money £BOO had been set aside for work at the head work and if it could be legally done, the residents were prepared to hand this amount over to the Borough Council for the borough head works, if they extended the water to Lansdowne. Cr Temple's sympathies were with the people of Lansdowne. If there were a tank erected, the water supply of Lansdowne could bo run into it daring the night, and thus the mains would not be overtaxed for the Masterton supply in the day time. Or Elliott was in favour of giving tbe water to Lansdowne. While the Council had a good supply they sbonld give it to Lansdowne, and tbe Connoil would run no risk, as the residents of Lansdowne would bear all the cost. , Cr MoEwen's opinion was that the Counoil'did not have the water to give Lansdowne, and until they had they should not extend the sup ply. A Finally, Cr Ewingtou mored, and the Mayor seconded, that the Engineer be asked to furnish a report on the question at the next meeting of the Council or as soon as possible. The motion was carried and the meeting adjourned.