THE CAMBRIDGE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1631, 16 December 1882, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

Pubho attention in Cambridge is daily becoming more concentrated on this very important subject, anil some of the ratepayers have of late been stirring their representatives in the town bonrd on the matter. Owiug to the continuous dry weather a want of water is felt all over the town, the tanks and other means of water storage for domestic supply having in the generality of cases run dry. At the last meeting of the Cambridge Town Board, the Chairman brought this matter before the meeting by reading the following report by Mr G. F. Hosldng, the town engineer :— Glynn, Cambridge, 7th October, 1832. To niK Ciiaiiomn avd Covsuuohs, Camukiugl Town Bovrd. Gentlemen.— l have the honour to report under instructions from yoursch es on a system of water supply for the tou'n of Cambridge. As a limited capital is the governing consideration, I will forego any remarks that might ha\c been suggested on any other mode th«in the utilization of the W.nkato river both as ;i motive power and as a w.tter supply. It is not in niy province to deal with the question of the purity or otherwise of this river-water, sufficient to say its waters h.i%c been drunk by natives and Europeans who lived on its banks and sailed on its bo»om tor many years without any known injury to health. It has been the writer's lot to drink its waters for a lengthened period with the best results. Any further test would require the icport of an analytical chemist. The supply of river-water is limitless ; the principal question is to utill/c its power, which may be made as boundless as its supply, but herein come the questions of capital and expediency. For the present requirements of the town a floating water-wheel can oe erected on the river as a motive power capable of driving pumping machinery to the extent ol lilting 30,000 gallons of water in 24 hours to the highest point in the town, which is at the corner of Qucenstrcct West and Victona-strcet ; this is a height of about 170 feet above the river, and about 21 feet above Duko-strcct. Here it will be necessary to build a store reservoir capable of containing 300,000 gallons of water. This will be sufficient to supply the town for 10 or 14 days in case of accident to the pumping machinery, or will contain sufficient supply in Cdi,a o( hrc emergency, and will also act as a. settling pond, thereby clearing the water of M earthy matter held in suspension, and will in a very great degree, if not absolutely, prevent the necessity of filtering beds. This head of water will be sufficient to supply the highest rooms in the lower part of the town and on the first floor in any part of Cambridge, but fire engines must bo provided in order to render the water effective in cases of fire. The requirements of Cambridge' are such that for years to come tljcre will be no necessity to supply any part of the town otherwise than direct from the reservoir, ii:, no necessity exists for distributing basjns ; th,crcfqrc, the question of cost will b» llmitprt to thp limsMi ot m.iin and sen ice pipes so far as this supply is offectod. The probable cost of a 4in. main and service when laid is Is 9d per foot ; the total' expense will therefore be governed by the length of pipes required. In conclusion, I submit a floating water-wheel -md pumping machinery can be erected capable of pumping 30,000 gallons in 24 hours from the W.iik.Uo liver to Reids corner, and a large stone reservoir erected which will contain 30,000 gallons for the sum of £1850, a further outcay of £G~>o will be required to lay the water on from the Church corner to the end of Duke-street ; this does not include actually putting water into the houses. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, G. F. HosKing, C.E. Cr. Johnson thought if they could get a water supply at the figure mentioned in Mr Hosking's report they should have it, and at Qftoe,— The Chairman suggested that the board, sh.ou.Ul auoiyl -fioQ in consulting Mr Errington, who was a gentle* man very conversant with these matters. There was no use in their calling a meeting of the ratepayers until they-had something definite to tiy before them.— Mr Hewitt proposed a motion in terms, of Mr .Well's,- suggestion.— Cr. Nixon thought they should ascertain the minds of the ratepayers on the matter before they incurred any further expense. He would wish them to understand lie did not oppose a scheme of water supply, for he could assure them no persoit< would like to see the town 1 with a good permanent supply of water more than he. He would propose as an amendment on Cr. Hewitt's motion, " That a canvass be maxle'tQ aspertafn the feeling of the ratepayers >•<! raising a sum of &HOQQ for the < purnqse df having a supply qf w«V% from, the river in terms of Mr' Hosking's re port— the ratepayers, by special rate, to raise the interest and sinking fund (£300) ; the water charges to defray working expenses.— Agreed to.— Cr. Hewitt agreed to make the canvass.

Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. have received instructions to offer for sale, on the 31st Dec. atTOhaupq, the valuable farm of Mr' Walter Hume, at' Paterangi. ! • > MrA Ge'o. ■ flemus, of ' Auckland,, will hold- evangelistic^ services at iCainbridge as per 'advexthienienii, / , _ > , $\& Bi)p domain inyite tenders fpr tbp rights, to ,ww, timber and 'firewood on To-ltahivßeservej ( M» Gfto; t Aldridge \^IU/ continue his lecture on '.'The Rich Man and Laaaru.s " in Ifl Quesne's if all tQ-in°f row 1 *- *< MruohnKuo^Svill sell at I|ainilton ,Bast on Thursday "next, the 'furniture andfhorse stable,' fctfy &c^,(pf Mr H. J): .iOobke.M < )f* l i«*.iJt l Cr.iVftiMO' Ih>". The entertainment in aid, of, the funds of .Chriat's/Church^Kihikihi,- ha| k been in-^