WHERE THE WATER COMES FROM
CITY COUNCILLORS AT WAINUI. A DAMP EXCURSION.
It was a pleasant drive to Wainui-o-mata with the City Councillors, who paid yesterday their annual visit to the reservoir. After all the weeks of relentless sunshine, the morning was delightfully dull, and the sky was pleasantly overcast.
By half past nine Mr. Palmer had got all the people sorted into cabs, and other vehicles at the Town Hall. By midday the crooked road between the railway and the hills, the wide flat of Petone and Lower Hutt, the steep ridge and the sombre stretch of valley had all been passed, and the party had alighted beside the reservoir.
Most of the City Councillors were there, as well as the principal municipal officials, sundry photographers and pressmen, and a number of ladies and a few children. Unfortunately, the Mayor and Mrs. Hislop were unable to be present.
Light rain was falling, but the visitors walked about looking at the reservoir and its surroundings, and measuring the rapidly lessening distance between the surface of the water and the top of the bywash. Caretaker’s report made it 15in. The water had gained 27in. during the previous 24 hours, and before the party left in the afternoon it had risen three inches more. Perhaps, by the time these lines are in print, it will be once more running over the top.
Next came luncheon, and heavier rain, but as it was agreed that both the rain and the luncheon were doing a great deal of good, the patter of the drops on the tent roof did not seem any more grievous than the music of a restaurant band.
Councillor J. P. Luke was determined that nobody’s spirits should be damped, and his genial efforts from the chair were successfully supported by several gentlemen whom he called upon. Mr. J. O’Shea gave a recitation, Councillor J. Smith, who had attended 25 Corporation picnics at Wainui, gave reminiscences, and Councillor F. M. B. Fisher, who was called upon as the youngest member of the Council, proved that he was old enough to remember the initiation of the Wainui waterworks, at which he was present with his father, the then Mayor. It was felt that Mr. W. H. Morton ought to entertain the company by singing something about “little drops of water,” and the Chairman ruled accordingly, but the Engineer could neither be commanded nor persuaded.
By this time the rain had ceased. Armed with the precautionary cloak and umbrella, the visitors went out to acquaint themselves further with their surroundings. They walked up the valley to Solomon’s Knob, where a hill spur juts out, as if for the very purpose of forming part of the dam that is some day to bank up a hundred million gallons of water for the thirsty city.
Some crossed the reservoir by boat, and returned laden with blackberries and bullrushes. Others looked and listened while Mr. Morton and Mr. Morice explained the Venturi meter. And, of course, the photographers got busy.
The ground and the foliage were too wet for anyone to go far into the bush, but it was good to look at, with its great tree ferns as fresh and green as though no such word as drought had ever been mentioned. In one or two places thin blue smoke rose over a group of birches, whose leaves had been turned brown. The fire had thrust a finger into the Wainui bush, but the danger of further damage from that cause is past.
The tent was visited again for afternoon tea, which was followed immediately by the 18 mile drive back to town.
