A New Proposal for a Wellington Water Supply
Mr. Nicholas Marchant, C.E., who was formerly Waterworks Engineer to the Wellington Corporation and designed and carried out the present waterworks, has made a written proposal to the Corporation on behalf of principals, whose names are not disclosed, for the construction of an extended water supply for the city. Mr. Marchant’s proposal, which bears yesterday’s date, and of which he has courteously furnished us with a copy, is as follows:
The promoters will acquire and hand over to the city all freehold rights in connection with the full watershed of the Kaiwarra Stream, above the present storage reservoir; will construct filter-beds on the upward and self-cleaning system or the downward method, through gravel and sand layers, capable of filtering at least one million gallons daily; will provide and lay a fire-main connected with the present reservoir, traversing the city and terminating respectively at Cambridge Terrace and the junction of Molesworth-street and Tinakori Road, the main to run along any thoroughfare approved by the Council, to be connected at approved distances with existing mains, and each fire brigade to be supplied with duplicate sets of appliances for increased pressure – hose alone excepted; will complete the works to the satisfaction of an engineer specially appointed by the Council, and maintain them in full working order for three months after completion, for a sum not exceeding £65,000, and will at once place a reasonable deposit in the bank as a guarantee of good faith.
Such is the proposal. In its support, Mr. Marchant states that it would place the city in connection with storage works of one hundred and sixty millions of gallons and ensure its distribution pure by the most approved filtration. Also, place through the main thoroughfares a fire main, bearing a working pressure of 250ft, or about 200lbs pressure per square inch; the delivering capacity of the fire mains to be not less than one million gallons per diem. Mr. Marchant adds:
“The extension proposed in this letter is by no means meant to supersede the Wainuiomata project, but to assist in perfecting it when the city requirements really demand the increased supply. In the meantime, the surplus amount of the loan left in the hands of the Council would more than enable it to acquire the freeholds necessary for the carrying out of the proposed Wainuiomata waterworks.”
He also remarks:
“After investigating the figures put forth relative to the acreage of the Wainuiomata watershed, together with the normal flow of the stream, grave doubts, almost amounting to positive conviction, exist, that the yield has been overestimated by upwards of eight millions of gallons per diem. It is generally considered that the loan of £130,000 is wholly inadequate for the completion of the Wainuiomata works as proposed, and that the ratepayers will shortly have another call made upon them of probably upwards of one hundred thousand pounds.”
For all these reasons, Mr. Marchant submits that, in the present depressed financial condition of the city, the offer is worthy of the earnest consideration of the Council.
Tags: Newspaper Waterworks
