Waimate Water Supply

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 121, 29 October 1901, Page 3

Waimate Water Supply

. o -> At the Borough Council last evening this question was brought up in due course. A letter was received from the Chief Health Officer, Dr Symes. giving information as to the power required to raise water from the Waihao river received from Messrs Booth, Macdonald and Co., Christchurch. The supply required was reckoned at fifteen gallons per head per day tor 2000 people, a total of 30,000 gallons. This would be sufficient until,concrete side channels were generally used for house drainage, when additional lifting power would be required. Palmerston was at present supplied entirely by two windmills; and the water was raised to a height of 240 feet. The site he had suggested, on the spur of the • hill on Mr Sfcud-

holme's land, above Mr Quinn s house, was 200 feet above the river, and higher sites were available. Mr Marchant would be happy to report on this proposal without any additional fee.

A letter was enclosed from Messrs Booth, Macdonald and Co. giving the cost of delivering 30,000 gallons per day into the reservoir by windmills and engine at £L2±O. If a race were taken from the river to a point where 20 feet of fall could -be obtained, a hydraulic ram could be procured for £BOO. The Mayor said he had seen the Government authorities in Wellington on the question of a water loan, but was unable then to do anything definite. He had, since arriving in Wairnate, received word that the Council might obtain a loan fdr a water supply if the matter were presented iu proper form. He had received a copy of the Loans to Local Bodies Bill, a consolidating measure just brought down. This limited the yearly loan available to £2OOO. Cr. Ink3ter said what they desired to know was the limit of their borrowiug povrera. Several Councillors said they saw no reason to pump the water when they had it ready pumped in the Wairnate creek. The Mayor said he was sure that if Waira.it® had a water supply it would not bo from the Waihao, but from Keley'a Bush He hud no fear of the quality or quantity of thtf water from that source. Cr. Nicol siid he thought they could as readily pump from wells sunk in tusvu as from the Waihao. On the motion of Crs. Circlay and Nicol, it was decided to ask Mr Marchant to report on the question, as agreed. Cr. Inkster said he noticed that Rangiora had to drop its scheme, costing £17,000, and he thought further information as to the causa of dropping this scheme should be obtained. This suggestion was adopted, and the matter dropped.