THE WAINUI WATER SUPPLY
Before the business began at the meeting of the City Council last night, his Worship the Mayor said his attention had been drawn to a statement in the Evening Post to the effect that the Corporation had been aware of the existence of a crack 25 ft long by over an inch wide in the concrete walls at the source of the service for six weeks.
His Worship said that statement was totally untrue, and whoever had given the information had misled the paper. When the leak was reported some time ago he went out with the Engineer and examined the race and reservoir. As far as they could gather the race had been leaking for some time—he would say for about six or seven months. They could not then ascertain the full extent of the leak.
He had visited the works again a few days ago, and, after examining them, had instructed the City Engineer to open up and endeavour to find some of the leaks. It was not till Wednesday that the full extent of the damage was ascertained. He had consulted with Mr Loughrey, and had advised him to get the water shut off on Saturday, and to send men through the race and stop the leakages as far as possible. This would have the effect of raising the water in the dam, which would give a large amount of pressure to the well, which was now deficient.
A great deal had been said about a water famine. The Engineer had told him that there was about 98,000,000 gallons of water in the Karori dam, which would give a supply to the inhabitants for about three months. In the face of that he did not think there should be any fear of a famine.
The City Surveyor presented the following report on the Wainui waterworks:
> “I have to report yesterday I had the concrete race at Wainui-o-mata opened up for a portion of its length where the most serious leak was making its appearance, and found that for a length of 25 ft, in a place where a small gully had been filled in, the invert of the race had settled and parted from the sides, caused partly by the subsidence of the ground over which the race had been placed, leaving a crack on each side of the race varying in width from ½ to 3 in for the length above stated (25 ft), out of which the water was flowing very freely. This leak was temporarily stopped before I left, and men are now employed opening up and temporarily stopping the worst of the numerous leaks along the line of the race, which is 96 chains long.
> Late last night a leak was reported in one of the 3½-inch mains on Petone beach, and on examination it was found to be from a blow-hole which has a defect in the casting, and the water was cut off from Wainui-o-mata in consequence, and was turned on again at 3 p.m. today.
> In order that the pressure from Wainui-o-mata—which has fallen very considerably during the past few days, owing to the ordinary flow of the river not being sufficient to keep the well full, in consequence of the enormous consumption in the city—may be maintained, I beg to recommend that the water from Wainui-o-mata be shut off altogether from the city from Saturday, 12 o’clock noon, till 8 a.m. Monday, so that the water may have a chance to rise again in the reservoir, and thus keep the well full.
> I estimate that the present flow of the river would completely fill the reservoir in three days. As I reported on Monday last the supply from Polhill Gully has been assisting the supply from Wainui-o-mata from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, since Friday last.”
A letter was received from Mr T. Gordon, a resident of Hawker Street, calling the attention of the Council to the fact that for the last few days they had had no water, and unless a supply reached them it would be necessary for them to send round cans and borrow water from the more favoured ratepayers on the lower levels.
The writer pointed out that baths, patent closets, etc., were rendered useless by the constant stoppage of the water, notwithstanding which they were compelled to pay at point of summons for an all-important requisite which was not given to them. He thought that if the Council could not supply them with water they should stop the supplies to engines and other large demands for certain times each day, or as compensation for shortness of supply, provide each ratepayer whom the Council could only supply with water once a week, with a small tank, thus enabling them to store a little water.
Councillor McKenzie thought a system might be established by means of a cistern, as in England. No action was taken.
Councillor Petherick would like to ask the Engineer whether there were any more cracks that required repairing. The Mayor said they were endeavouring to see if there were any more leakages.
Councillor Petherick said he had told the Council that they had taken over a bad work, and they must admit now that he was right. It was a great mistake to put the race where it was, and the Councillors and Engineer (a Mr J. D. Baird) knew of the bad condition of the race when they took it over.
Councillor Coombe: That’s another libel.
Councillor Petherick asked the Mayor to call Councillor Coombe to order. If he (Councillor Coombe) had no sense, they should teach him.
Speaking again in reference to the race, Councillor Petherick said he would not be surprised if it was carried away some day. They must admit that it was very weak. He again stated that the members of the Council knew of the condition of the race when they took it over.
Councillor Danks: No! No!
Councillor Petherick remarked sarcastically that they were all engineers then, but it turned out now that none of them were. It was a slovenly job, and the Mayor knew what he said was true.
The Mayor said if he had known anything was wrong he would have taken care to have it rectified. He never knew of any break in the race. It was all very well for Councillor Petherick to talk now.
Councillors Danks and Coombe: Hear, hear.
The Mayor continued: He (Councillor Petherick) had made very grave charges, which he should not have made unless he was certain they were true.
Councillor Petherick said he was certain of them.
The Mayor said that Councillor Petherick’s remarks about the race washing away were all moonshine. He (the Mayor) thought the course could be repaired for about £20. He considered it very unfair of any Councillor to make statements that were untrue.
Councillor Danks questioned whether a better race had ever been constructed anywhere, and said the waterworks had been as successful on the whole as any in the Southern Hemisphere. He hoped that Councillor Petherick would take an early opportunity of producing evidence in support of his statement, and unless he did so he should be branded as a “great story-teller.”
Councillor McKenzie said that Councillor Petherick had no right to bring such a charge as he had against the Councillors. He had insinuated that they had taken the ratepayers’ money to pay for faulty work. As far as he (Councillor McKenzie) was concerned, that was totally untrue. It was not fair that such a sweeping charge should be made against the whole Council.
Councillor Young would like to ask the Engineer what the cost of the damage would be. The Mayor had said it would not exceed £20, but he thought it would be nearer £200.
The Mayor considered £20 a rough estimate.
Councillor Benzoni thought there might be some leaks that the Engineer had not seen. The Mayor said the Engineer could only make a rough estimate like himself.
Councillor Smith said that a great deal had been made out of the accident to the race. He considered that when it was repaired it would be as good as new. From his own observations he did not think there was anything like a collapse in the race.
Councillor Coombe did not like to sit there and hear Councillor Petherick make sweeping charges against the members of the Council. He considered it shameful that people outside the Council should be interfered with. He believed that before tomorrow night Councillor Petherick would have to make an abject apology for the language he had used that night.
The Mayor said he had seen the concrete mixed and put in the race, and he would say that he had never seen better concrete in his life. He could not say the same of the dam, because he had not seen it.
Councillor Young said he had seen “pebbles” in the race as large as his hand.
After some further discussion the report was adopted.
Councillor Coombe suggested that the Councillors should make arrangements to go out to Wainui, as it was very necessary now.
It was eventually decided that the Mayor and several Councillors should go out on Saturday.
