THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1901. WAIMATE WATER SUPPLY.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 199, 7 September 1901, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1901. WAIMATE WATER SUPPLY.

THE remarks made’ at Wednesday night’s Council meeting by Dr Symes, Health Officer for Canterbury, concerning the proposed water supply for Waimate, have put quite a different aspect on this important question. Hitherto it was very generally. thought that the only possible source of supply was from Kolcy’a Bush, and many, who recognised the urgent necessity of a pure and adequate supply for the town, still could not see their way to support its introduction if the Kelcy’s Bush scheme were adopted. Since man was man (and in the question under notice the fair sex also has i large vote), every scheme, good, bad, or indifferent, has had its lUpporters and its opponents, and ; he Waimate water-supply is no exception to the rule. However, ihe ground chiefly taken up was the possibility of the creek running dry, or failing to meet all requirements when once embarked upon. It was to this end that the Borough Council decided to obtain the report and opinion .of an engineer, thinking that there would be a possibility of getting it done much cheaper than estimated by Mr Dobson, who prepared a report for them twelve years ago. The scheme brought down by Messrs Meason and Marchant was somewhat cheaper, but we would get a smaller supply, so that the matter practically stands where it was, in fact we favour Mr Dobson’s scheme as being actually cheaper than the last one btought down, and this view was also taken by at least one councillor when the report was laid before the governing body. Now a fresh idea is put forward, and one that is likely to receive considerable support. This leaves the Borough Council in somewhat of a dilemma. Can they consider the question of a water-supply on the data before them, or will it be necessary to receive additional reports ? It has be«n suggested to us that the proper course for the Council to have taken was to offer a prize for competitive schemes, paying an engineer a small fee to judge of their merits, and to select the best presented. Had this been thought of by the Council, there is no doubt it would have been acted upon, but the Waimate Creek, either at Kelcy’s Bush or lower down, has been so long considered the only possible source of supply that it is little wonder no other idea presented itself. Now, however, we think the cost of bringing water from the Waihao, as suggested, should be fully ascertained, for from there at least, we could bring in whatever quantity we desired without the slightest fear of the supply failing. The existence of an almost unlimited supply also brings in the question of motor power and electric lighting, neither of which must be lost of. And again the Health Officer must approve of any proposed water-supply, and Dr Symes cannot be said to approve the Kelcy’s Bush scheme.. Meanwhile, however, the initiation of further steps lies in the hands of the Borough Council, who, we trust, will consider in all its bearings the best means of supplying a pressing need.