Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 970

Minute by the Director of Public Works.

965

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

In reply to His Excellency's query, I would point out that the difficulties in the way of ensuring a supply of water to all houses in a City such as this, under the intermittent system, are very great.

To begin with, the houses in the City vary in level to the extent of 600 feet and at the Peak 800 feet. The mains are of comparatively small diameter, being designed for a constant supply, and the result is that the houses on a lower level are able to draw off the whole supply and thus prevent water reaching those on a higher level.

The water, in passing to the low-level zone of the City is employed in work- ing motors to pump up the supply to the high-level zone. When the constant system of supply is in force, practically the whole of the water supplied to the lower level zone. is used in working the motors, but, when the intermittent system is in force, the bulk of the water has to be allowed to flow through bye-passes, without working the motors, which are too slow in their action to allow the large quantity required to pass through them. Consequently, the motors can only · pump a very limited quantity under existing conditions.

Fortunately, the steam pumping engine, which is used for the Peak supply, can be utilized instead, otherwise the High Levels would be practically without

water.

From what I have stated, it will be gathered that the intermittent system involves much arrangement and trouble to get it into proper working order, and this has been the greater on this occasion on account of the personnel of the staff employed in connection with waterworks having been entirely changed within the past two years. There is also the fact that enormous extensions of the City have recently been inade both on the high and low levels.

Every endeavour has been made to ensure a supply to all houses, with, I believe, large, though evidently not complete, success.

The case of Mr. C. S. SHARP, which recently appeared in the newspapers, well illustrates the difficulties I have represented, as a neighbour of his, whose house is closely adjoining and at a higher level, has. I am inform #1, received a share of water daily.

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With regard to Belilios and other Terraces, from which complaints have also appeared in the papers, the difficulties I have referred to are aggravated by the fact that, in most cases, all the houses are supplied through one service, the result being that those served first obtain all the available supply and prevent it reaching their neighbours. I have given instructions for a fountain to be fixed in this case in order to enable the upper houses to obtain some water.

In the case of tenement houses, the landlords should insist upon the ground- floor tenants contenting themselves with a reasonable allowance of water s that the upper-floor tenants may stand a chance of obtaining some.

Judging from the diminution in the number of complaints reaching me, I infer that the arrangements are now working well. I regret that I should have appeared to treat complaints with indifference or discourtesy, but it would have been impossible for me to reply to them without almost entirely neglecting my numerous other duties.

28-11-01.

W. C.