DRAINAGE AND WATER SUPPLY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9001, 11 December 1907, Page 5

DRAINAGE AND WATER SUPPLY.

THE QUESTION OF EXTENSION. EXPERT OPINION TO BE OBTAINED. The matter of extending the present water supply of Masterton was advanced a farther stage at the meeting of the Borough Coincii last evening, when the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradiiie) moved the following resolution, of which he had previously given notice: —''That inasmuch as the provision of an adequate supply of water is essentia! to the efficient working of a scheme of sewerage, and to the possibility that the existing water supply will not be sufficient to meet the demands of the near future upon it having regard to the proposed extension for enlargement of the existing system of sewerage, this council is of the opinion that it should be properly advised before any definite step is taken, and to ensure that proper and adequate measures are taken, the council hereby authorises the engagement of a consulting engineer, on terms to be prranged, and to report upon the proposal to extend the existing scheme of sewerage, and to furnish a report with estimates of cost for a comprehensive scheme of sewerage for the whole of the existing borough of Masterton by gravitation or otherwise, and to provide an adequate and efficient supply of water therefor."

Speaking in support of the motion, the mayor stated that a good deal of bad had been said and written regarding the question of the sewerage of the town, and the extension thereof, and it had frequently been asked why had he not taken some action in the matter? He had good reason for delaying the matter for a while, because the sewerage extension was a very important one, and he saw no need for any such urgency as had been advocated. The town water scheme, the speaker went to say, had been designed about six years ago to supply about 12,000 or 15,000 people on a basis of fifty gallons per day for each inhabitant. It seemed now that instead of fifty gallons being sufficient for each inhabitant per day, there should be a supply of 150 gallons. He wished to make it clear that there need not be any fear of a water famine because the waterworks were as good to-day as the day they had been constructed, and were doing the work they had been designed for. There was a 12inch pipe running into the reservoir capable of bringing water in at the rate of ten gallons per second, or, approximately, 800,000 gallons in 24 hours, and though it seemed strange, nevertheless it.was a fact, that that large amount of water was net sufficient for the demands upon it. How was it, he asked, that this state of affairs, which had never been anticipated, existed? It was because the water was being provided for irrigation as well as domestic purposes, a purpose that the works had never been designed to serve. Any member of the council that felt inclined to give the time wouJd find that most of the water was being absorbed by irrigation. The supply cf water at the works was overflowing, that showed that there was nothing wrong with the works or the supply. Irrigation and the upkeep of gardens were nice things for the town, and he was quite willing to let the water be used for those purposes as long as it was paid for. Some people were inclined to say that the headvvorks of the water supply was an engineering bungle, but let anybody work the thing out and they would find that the works provided fifty gallons per day for about 12,000 people. But that limit had been overrun, and that was the cause of the whole trouble. The amount of water that this town of 5,000 people was capable of consuming had astonished engineers. Now, was it right to extend the water scheme to allow of irrigation? He thought it was, provided the people were willing to pay for it. He could approach the people in the matter with confidence, but before doing so, it would be necessary to interview some reputable firm of engineers and sse on what terms they would be prepared to report on a schen.e for the 1 extension. Cr Prentice, in seconding the motion, said he could endorse all that the Mayor had said with regard to the abundance of water at the head works. Cr Haughey also agreed with the Mayor. There was one point he would like to emphasise, and that was that the water supply would have to be extended before any extension in the drainage. The water supply question and the drainage would have to be uealt with sooner or later, and the sooner they were laken in hand the better. Cr Pauling supported the motion, and also urged that an extension in the drainage would necessitate a better supply of water. He thought the time had arrived when Masterton's water supply required to be placed on a proper footing once and for all. Cr Ewington said he did not think there was one ".ouncillor that would oppose the motion. It was a motion that he had been expecting for some time. The sooner the work of increasing the water supply is carried out the better, but this would rest to a gi'eat extent with the engineer that it was proposed to engage. ' He had been watching the water pressure for some time past, and had found it frequently as low as 401b or 381b to the inch. This was totally inadequate to cope with an outbreak of fire, and something should be done to remedy the position.

Crs Yarr and Pragnell also supported the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. The Mayor then moved, and Cr Haughey seconded, that the Council place itself in communication with Mr Laing Meason, and enquire on what terms he would be prepared to report on an extension of the water supply in Masterton. Cr Ewfiigton said the Mayor had expressed satisfaction at the present water scheme. This had been designed by Mr Leslie Reynolds, and the spei;:iur asked why Mr Reynolds should not be taken into consideration when a report on the extension was required. Cr Temple said he believed that Mr Reynolds was now living on the West Coast of the South Island, where he was engaged in the construction of Arthur's Pass railway tunnel. The motion was carried.