WATER SUPPLY FOR HAMILTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1124, 14 December 1901, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY FOR HAMILTON.

At last night’s meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council the question of a water supply for the town came up for consideration.

ThcCleik nad Mr JL H. Metcalfe’s scheme, which shortly is ns follows : I he’one available source of supply is the W a kato River, and the most feasible method is to pump from a well in a simly bank to a tank in a position to ommiand the area supplied. Ihe flit known as Hillsboro Terrace, at tinend of Victoria-street, was the moat suitable, while the highest ground in the vicinity is the hill overh oking tile Lake in the reserve near the end of Clarence - street. The position of the intake on the river is above most of the house?, and the small amount, of contamination reaching the river above this point could hardly effect the great volu •eof ibe Waikato. The site for the tank is not as high as might be wished, but theie is absolutely no alternative. The elevation—SO feet above Victoriastreet—is sufficient for domestic supply ; but at least twice this height would be desirable for fire pressure. There were several ways of meeting this difficulty, but the most practicable method is to te-iuforce Hie ordinary pressure, should it tie found necessary with a manual or other engine connected to a adjacent hydrant at the scene of the lire. The arrangements proposed however will probably fairly meet the requirements without this, Thu mains provided, should give onn get at least to reach any existing building in the main street, while with three jeis a useful pressure would still be maintuned. This depends greatly cn the size of the mains, a considerable loss of the original standing pressure occurs in delivering wa'er through a long length of pipe ; for instance the tank being 80 feet above the street at the Bank corner, with one jet delivering say 60 or 70 gallons per minute, there would be a loss of head of only five or six feet. With two jets, the loss of head would be 15 feet ; while with three jets, delivering say 200 gallons a minute, -the loss would he 30 feet, leaving 50 feet only available. This would still deliver to a height of 25 or higher if the hose were cirried up a bidder, and 200 gallons a minute is considered a fair s ipply for a small town. The population to be served at pns nt is under 1090, and the experience in the suburbs of Auckland is that ten gal ons per diem covers everything. For the present 60.000 gallons a wo k would probably meet all requirement. The cost of the whole of the plant erected, including well and building, would bs about £IOOO, and with the arrangement proposed 100 feet of gas should put JOOO gal ons of water into the tank at a cost of 4d per 1004, while attendance, oil and repairs may amount to nearly as much as Bd. The cist of the entiie work, including 10 per cent, for contingencies, is estimated at £4757, which, assuming that money can begot at and sinking fund, will make the annual charge under this head £l6B. This, with, pumping 60,000 gallons per week and occasional labour, gives a total expenditure of £286. The Legal and Finance Committee, which met on December 9th, made the following recommendations : —(1) That the area coloured pink in the plan, marked* A’ of the township of Hamilton West, he the area to be rated for the provision of interest on loan. (2) That the Legal and Finance Committee be empowered to take all necessary steps to take a poll of the ratepayers in the said area to raise a special loan of £SOOO for the purposes of a water sufp'y for the said area.

The Mayor moved that the report of the committee and the scheme of Mr Metcalfe be approved and adopted. He sail shortly it amounted to this; The total cost of Hie supply was £4757, and the annual coat, interest, expenses, £286 a year. The scheme was a reasonable and practicabli one,and the Legal and Finance Commit'ce asked the Council to authorise them to take the necessary steps to take a poll of the ratepayers to ascertain whether the money shield be borrowed or not.

Cr. Bond, in seconding the motion,«aid he thought the scheme would commend itself 10 the ratepayers. The Council had done its duty and obtained all possible information, and he was satisfied that they had the best scheme that could he devised. In reply to Cr. Slade the Mayor said that under the new Act it was possible to borrow money for portion of a Borough.

Cr. Young thought before they accepted and adopted a scheme they should be certain they bail the best one to be obtained. The Council should not commit itself. He considered that in many ways \Jr Atkinson's scheme was preferable, and lie tlv ught the matter should he left for furtnre consideration. He moved an amendment that the sum of £BOOO he inserted instead of £OOOO. and that the Council do not commit Used to any one scheme. There was no douht the supp'y would be of great benefit t > the town, and they should leave a margin for fu'ure developments. Cr. I’air seconded the amendment pro forma

Cr. Coyle said he was agreeable to the £SOCO ; hut thought there was no other scheme before the Council.

The Mayor said he would oppose the amendment on two grounds. Mr Atkinson had said he was willing to give a wa'cr supply for £3OOO, hut gave no par iculars or details. When they a-ked fur details he did not supply them, and subsequently withdrew bis offer. They had now a comprehensive scheme, and had obtained the services of the host man available, who had carried out many similar works with great success. He opposed the sum of £BOOO, as Mr Metcalfe’s estimates usually worked out to within a few pounds, andar they were leaving a margin of £250, he thought this was ample. If necessary they could afterwards apply for a further loin, and he did not think it would he wise to increase the amount. If the application for the loan was not granted before the 31st March they would not get the money at 3u per cent. Their time was limited, and "there should be no delay in carrying out the recommendation of the committee,

Cr. Davey thought if the amount to be borrowed remained at £SOOO the poll would be carried, hut if the amount was increase! it would not, as people were not fond of paying more than was absolutely necessary, Cr. Slade thought that in view of Mr Metcalfe’s estimate it would be folly to go in for more money. There were no great difficulties in the way of obtaining the supply, and lie was of opinion that the scheme could be carried out for the amount named.

Cr. Bond thought that an increase wpuld prejudice the loan in the eyes of the ratepayers and prevent the poll being carried.

Cr. Dey said the matter had been fully considered by the Finance Committee, and they had come to the conclusion that there was no feasible way of supplying the borough except the one mentioned. If they departed from the original proposal they would certainly prejudice the whole thing in the eyes of the ratepayers and render the poll futile. In explanation Cr. Young said his id# a was to empower them to borrow £BOOO if it was found necessary to extend the works. The extra money need not necessarily be obtained at once. On being put the amendment was lost, and the motion was carried unanimously.