IN THREE YEARS
WATER FROM ORONGORONGO
VISIT TO THE TUNNEL WORKS
BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS
Once a year the Mayor and members of the City Council pay a visit of inspection to the waterworks at Wainui. Yesterday’s trip was more than ordinarily interesting, as it is the first official visit of the kind since work was commenced on the Orongorongo tunnel, and as a matter of duty nearly everyone made the journey up to the tunnel end on the Wainui side of the hill.
To understand the position the public should know that the waterworks valley is the easternmost of all the valleys that debouch upon the broad lands of the Wainui Valley. This little valley, snugly picturesque with its wealth of native bush on its mountainous sides, runs north and south. About halfway up the valley is the old original basin, the water of which is held by a solid earth dam, of such dimensions and so well grown in giant pines that it seems part of the country. It is so safe that on this area of land stands in ample grounds the caretaker’s cottage and his pretty garden, at present a riot of agapanthus, golden rod, and cannas in full bloom.
Above the lower basin and visible from it is the big reinforced hollow-backed wall of the Morton dam (the waters of which were just trickling over the by-wash yesterday). On the eastern side lies the heavily-bushed Orongorongo range, offering a formidable barrier to all who would venture towards the rising sun. Not far from the dam on the eastern side a gully winds its sinuous way into the mountain’s flank, and down this declivity, through a forest of wonderful rimu, rata, miro, beech, and punga punga ferns, runs George Creek.
Two miles from the spreading waters of the dam up the creek is the eastern face of the Orongorongo tunnel, by which means the city hopes to increase by 100 per cent its water supply. On the other (the eastern side) of the range a small dam is to hold up the waters of the Orongorongo, and from that dam pipes will lead down through the tunnel (2½ miles in length) to George Creek, and so into the Morton dam. With the pipe line maintained all the way sufficient pressure will be available to send the water into town and out to the Karori Reservoir, by which means the latter will be made a more serviceable distributing agent than at present.
A Seven-foot Hole
The tunnel, which is being constructed on the co-operative system by a gang of eight men under Mr. Robert Semple, is to be a 7 ft. by 7 ft. cut through the hill in S.W. by W. line. Up to the point of entrance a rough cart road has been made, which, even at this time of the year, is fairly boggy. It rises by an easy gradient clean through the heart of the forest to a clearing, where timber and gear lie strewn about, below an elbow in the noisy creek. On the other side is a square black hole framed in red beech logs and out of the blackness trundles an iron truck filled with mullock.
The truck runs on a little tram-line, which conveys the spoil to a tip about nine chains away—a tip that will in no wise interfere with the flow of the creek. After the usual greetings, Mr. Semple handed lighted candles to the members of the party who wished to go up to the face, via the black hole aforesaid. Approximately the first hundred feet is heavily timbered in a most workmanlike manner, with heavy beams every four feet. Beyond that is the solid rock-hard flinty stuff that asks for the drill.
Power Wanted
Into this rock the men have penetrated about 35 feet, but they are now down on the mother rock, and Mr. Semple said they would not be able to continue much longer without the drills (which are worked with compressed air). The power for these drills is a small problem. The City Engineer proposes to provide hydro-electric power by utilising the by-wash waters of the dam named after him, but this means machinery two miles away from the job. Perhaps a better idea would be to set up a small sawmill near the tunnel, and with the (from a wood-fed furnace and boiler) drive a motor, which would supply power for the compressors and the lighting of the camp and tunnel, whilst it would also serve to cut any timber necessary for the tunnel.
Mr. Semple offered the opinion that the solid rock might continue right through, in which case no further timbering would be needed. That would mean an immense saving in time and cost.
The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) visited the tunnel before lunch and congratulated the men on the progress they had made. He complimented them on their timbering—which was as good as he had ever seen—and hoped that the big work they had taken in hand would be mutually beneficial to them and the city it was designed to serve. Mr. Semple thanked the Mayor for his words of encouragement, and said that they were out to give the City Council a good job.
The whole of the visitors lunched in a big marquee at the edge of the lower reservoir and afterwards visited the tunnel. On their return, afternoon tea was served. Before leaving the marquee, the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to all visitors, and in particular to the Mayor (Mr. H. Shortt) and Councillors of Eastbourne, who were there by invitation.
Mr. Luke said he hoped the time was not far distant when Eastbourne would be merged in Wellington. They were out to see the initiation of one of the most important works ever inaugurated, as far as Wellington was concerned. There had been engineering difficulties, but none that Mr. Morton could not overcome, and the result would be to increase the city’s supply by 100 per cent of live water from the Orongorongo Stream, and so supply one of the fundamentals of health to this growing city.
Mr. Luke said if they looked round they would see the skyline, and as far as it extended the land belonged to the city. Within that area there were no farms, no stock was grazing (save some deer); there was, in fact, nothing to contaminate the water. Usually such works at the present are done by contract, but on this occasion the council had made an innovation by entrusting the work to co-operative labour, under Mr. Semple, whom he was sure would carry out the work with credit to himself and benefit to the city.
An Invitation
Continuing, Mr. Luke said that it was the best picnic they had ever had, and on behalf of the Mayor-to-be he invited them all to be present that day three years hence to witness the ceremony of turning on the Orongorongo water. (Applause.)
The Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H. Shortt) returned thanks on behalf of his council for the invitation to be present and the welcome they had received.
During the afternoon the aerating pipes were in full play, livening up the waters of the lower basin. The fountain-like display made a wonderful background to several interesting group photographs taken during the day.
