Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 543

9

447

of statistics

25: I therefore recommend that, for the future, water-supply statistics be Arrangement arranged by the "water-year" extending from 1st May to 30th April inclusive. by the Table III gives the statistics of the years 1895-96 to 1900-01 arranged in this

manner.

+

"1

water. years re- commended.

TABLE III. ·

Shewing Annual Supply afforded by Water-works compared with Rainfall. Arranged by Water-year.

Year.

Millions.

1895-653.8₫ 805.5

190,000

11.6

139

15.5

96

1896-7 67.70 1,004.3

187,000

14.7

351

14.9

1897-8 99.18 1,087.9 190,000

15.7

365

15.7

1898-9 55,58

1,121.9198,000

15.5

335

16.1

> 9.5

1899-0 76.07 1,203.5 204,000 16.2

343

16.4

10.8

1900-1 76.25 1,309.4 209,000 17.1

352

17.3

Remarks.

made in

years.

26. The Water Authority therefore should, in future, report to Government Return to be annually, on two dates, namely, as soon as practicable after 1st October, and again mordance at or after 1st May. The first report should state the stock in hand, on 1st October, with water- and the maximum stock, in the reservoirs, during the wet season and at its conclusion. The measures of restriction, which should be taken, during the coming dry season, should also be set forth.

The report, rendered as soon as practicable after 1st April, should set forth, in full, the operations which have taken place during the elapsed water-year, namely, the quantity of water collected from various sources, during the past water-year, and the total supply given to the City and Hill Districts with the balance, carried forward. In short, all the information, which is now given in the (calendar) annual reports of the Water Authority, should be recorded, but it should be arranged by the water-year and not by the calendar-year. The annual report of the Water Authority may contain a resumé of the results of the calendar-year, but this return will only be of use with regard to financial matters.

these reports.

27. The regular submission of these two reports, will call the attention of the object of Water Authority and of the Government, to the situation, as regards water-supply. It will be seen whether the stock in hand will probably suffice to carry on the supply unrestricted, during the coming dry season, or whether restriction will be necessary, and if so, when and how it should be applied.

For example, if the reservoirs have not filled, by the end of September, and if their level is falling, at that date, it will be well to apply severe restriction and continue it until they are full, or until sufficient water is in stock, to maintain an unrestricted supply with safety, during the coming dry season. If welcome rain should fall, during the dry season, then the constant supply may be re-established, forthwith. It will be better to apply restriction, during the wet season, when, even in dry years, the natural moisture is abundant, than to defer it until the winter months, when the greatest commercial activity prevails in the City, and when the demand for water is greatest. In short, at the end of September the Water Authority should submit a budget, setting forth the stock of water in hand, with