THE WAINUI WATERWORKS.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir — I desire to make a few remarks in answer to the letters of Archdeacon Stock and Mr. Hutchison re the waterworks.
The Archdeacon proposes to go some distance up the valley and impound the water with piles and planking. Now to go a distance up the valley would mean raising the head of water considerably. The race at first was intended to be an open channel, but is now covered in to prevent debris from the hills getting in, and has man-holes for clearing out.
Now, the effect of raising the head of water would be that these man-holes would let the water out. Besides the risk of bursting, there is also the further consideration that all the pipes are made to bear the pressure of their different levels, and it would be a serious question whether adding 30lbs or 40lbs more pressure would not reduce the factor of safety so low that they would be continuously bursting.
In reference to the proposed piling and planking, I would merely remark on the common sense of the matter, engineering apart, and that is that trumpery and perishable construction should not be employed in the construction of a reservoir for town supply.
Mr. Hutchison shows an array of figures, by which he states that the city will be called on to pay the sum of £15,046 12s 4d within the next two months, among which there is a sum of £1227 2s 4d which is overdrawn account against the loan. But this is merely so until the accounts are adjusted.
Against this £1227 2s 4d there is plant to be sold to the value of about £3800. There is also some £2800 spent in mains for the town not provided for in the loan, so that, if adjusted at the present, there would be no net balance to the loan account of, say, £5000.
Mr. Hutchison says that Mr. Blackett finds it difficult to estimate the sum required to repair the damage. Then how is it Mr. Hutchison, who is not an engineer, has no hesitation in fixing the sum at £5000?
With reference to the item £7819 10s, which is stated to be due and will have to be paid for interest, no one should know better than a gentleman who has occupied the Mayoral chair that that interest is provided and paid out of the rates in the ordinary way every six months, and that there is no sum due in the manner that he states, can be ascertained from the City Treasurer.
I am, etc.
Samuel Brown.
