THE CAMBRIDGE WATER SUPPLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1451, 20 October 1881, Page 2

THE C AM BRI DGE WAT ER SUPPLY.

The people of Cambridge are again beginning to complain of a scarcity of water, and persona may be seen daily administering to their wants in this respect on the borrowing principle. The majority of the residents in Cambridge depend principally on the rainfall for their water supply, and consequently wheii dry weather comes and continues for any reasonable length of time the supply they may have conserved during the rainy season runs out, and the want of water becomes general. Of course there are a number who are endowed with good wells, which may supply the aqueous wants of a large family all the year round ; others who have tanks or reservoirs in which a month's supply can be stored ; but as a part never constituted the whole, there is still a large number of families who are not in a position to hold out for a single week during the dry season, and it is to the position of these we wish to draw attention. Not only would an efficient water supply, such as that which we advocated in these columns some time ago, be a benefit to the portion of the community referred to, but would be equally welcome to every householder in. "the same township. The additional convenience which a permanent water «upply would ca.ll into existence would fully compensate the ratepayers for the cost of construction. Immunity from fire should not engender a false sense of security, nor should the rain supply of the past be taken as a guarantee for a like supply in the future. At the present time the people of Cambridge have no guaiantee against either drought or fire, and in the ease of their adopting the scheme which has been recommended they have ample protection against both. And not only does it secure to them these advantages, but innumerable others, such as a supply for drainage purposes, closets, baths, &c, indispensable to the healthy condition and domestic requirements of the people. In his report to the committee (Messrs Houghton, Hewitt, and Kirkwood) some tune atro, Mr Gl-wynneth gave estimates as to the probable cost of four distinct schemes, in connection with the Kdrapir^, MaUngakawa, Puuekura, and Hally's Creek, sources respectively. The Karapiro scheme, he estimates, would cost L 7600, the Maungakawa L 3900, the Pukekura L 4500, and Hally's Creek L 3700. The first he recommends as the most efficient scheme, the supply obtainable from this source being a never-failing one, and, notwithstanding its comparatively heavy cost, would ultimately prove the cheapest. The last of the four mentioned he recommends as the next best scheme, as there is a site for a reservoir, two streams being adjacent to each other, and capable of being connected, thus keeping in store au efficient supply, in case of the stream running shoi t. As we have already published the particulars as to supply, altitude, &c, we need not give them here ; but we sincerely hope that now, as the Town Districts Bill has become law, and the necessary powers may be vested in the local body, no further delay will be occasioned, and that the committee will again come forward and submit their views to the public for final approval or rejection, as the case may be.