248
( 6 )
7. The estimated cost of this project is given as follows:-
Reservoir,.....
10" Cast Iron Main,.
No. 1 Tank,
No. 2 Tank, Fountains, Fire Cocks, Contingencies,
Total,.....
.£ 2,225. 7. 3 11,907. 3. 8 1,730. 6. 3 3,940.13. 4 600. 0. 0
885, 0. 0 2,128.17. 0
.£23,417. 7. 6
8. The area of the City to be supplied by these works and the existing tanks was bounded on the north by the harbour, on the south by Bonham Road, Mosque Street and Robinson Road East, and on the east by the Seamen's Hospital.
9. This project was referred to a Committee which recommended that it be adopted with the exception of the construction of the reservoir, as they were of opinion that further provision beyond that provided by the construction of a suitable intake on the stream was unnecessary. The height of the proposed dam was therefore lessened, the storage capacity of the reservoir reduced to 2,000,000 gallons and the estimate amended to £22,700.
10. The project as amended was adopted and completed in 1863 at a total cost of $170,000 which was met by a water rate of 2 per cent. on the value of house rentals.
11. In a despatch from Sir RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL to the Right Honourable the Earl of CARNARVON dated 27th August, 1866, His Excellency states that the supply obtained from the water works hitherto constructed during the dry season only amounts to 408,000 gallons per diem, and urges the immediate construction of an impounding reservoir in the Pokfoolum Valley.
12. Mr. W. Wilson's Project.— In a brief report dated the 10th of May, 1866, Mr. WILSON states that the yield of the catchment area above the intake of the 10-inch main is only 108,000 gallons per diem during the dry season, though from May to October inclusive a sufficient supply is obtained.
13. Mr. WILSON, after calling attention to the large flow of water in the Taitam Valley, considers that any scheme for conducting its waters to the City of Victoria is impracticable owing to the distance, and recommends the construction of an impounding reservoir to hold 100,000,000 gallons in the Pokfoolum Valley.
14. However, the size of this reservoir was subsequently reduced, and one of a capacity of 68,000,000 gallons and having a catchment area of 416 acres was constructed by throwing an earthen embankment 50 feet in height across the ravine at a short distance above the intake works constructed by Mr. RAWLING. Top water level 554.6 feet above Ordnance Datum.
15. This work together with the construction of two small dams on streams crossing the Pokfoolum Road was carried out during the years 1866-1871 at an approximate cost of $223,270.
16. Further additions to the water works were also made during these years by the construction of intake works on the Wongneichong and Tai Hang streams and conducting the water of these streams to the eastern portion of the City.
The cost of these intake works was :-
Wongneichong, Tai Hang,
Total,.
.$ 817.32 1,850.00
$2,667.32
17. As the built area of the City extended to the higher levels, the small supply of water obtainable from the Gleanely Ravine became quite inadequate to meet the requirements of the tenants of houses situated above the level of the area supplied from No. 1 Tank, and a project was proposed for the construction of a conduit contouring the hill at a level of about 500 feet above the sea from the outlet of the Pokfoolum reservoir to the Glenealy Ravine.
18. Pokfoolum Conduit.-The project for the construction of the Pokfoolum conduit does not appear to have assumed a definite shape until after the appointment of Mr. J. M. PRICE to the office of Surveyor General in 1873 when the urgent need of an increased water supply was again receiving the earnest attention of the Government.
19. The construction of this conduit was not, however, commenced till 1876 when contracts were entered into for the construction of a covered conduit commencing at a Gauge basin to be constructed immediately below the Pokfoolum reservoir dam and contouring the hillside at a level of about 500 feet above the sea to the Albany Tanks situated on the east side of the Glenealy Ravine.
20. This conduit has a total length of 17,840 lineal feet and over the greater portion is constructed of brickwork and masonry, rectangular in section, being 1' 6" x 1' 6". Cast iron inverted syphons