THE SEARCH FOR WATER

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 831, 4 March 1903, Page 3

THE SEARCH FOR WATER

FROM GRAY'S HILL TO WAIH

RERI

Continuing the description of Mondays outing; after tiic Councillors—m ihe ml crest s of the ratepayers, it was explained—had duly sampled the quality of the water at. each spring, a return was made townwards, though not necessarily for town. As tin brake descended the winding hill, the party had expressed admiration lor the charming landscape view oi the Gisborne plain. Regret was expressed that, sueti a pretty town had not yet, been supplied with water, and then the fun commenced again. Cr Miller said if the majority had iheir way the town would soon he supplied iroin the pure crystal source of Waihirere. “ Never," declared Cr Lysnar. ‘‘ If you get, your pipes there, there will he no water. Make your dam, and n will all disappear like that m mini of you. There you see it on one side and not on the other. “ Yes, that is a Rule dam,” said

Cr Mason. “Bui. the water disappears,” said (Jr Lysnar , 11 none of that foundation will hold." “ Why, it :s a bridge you are looking at all the lime,” said Cr Mason, amidst laughter. q ben some banter set in about the contest, at the poll, and information was sought as lo whether the water on tap on polling day was really from Waihircre. Cr Miller said there turd he no doubt about that ; some <?f the committee might, have enjoyed the joke of giving the anti-Waihirereitcs a taste of good ram water—in fact someone did waul lo have such a joke—buL I heir rev. president was 100 honest, and they had to go to the expense of getting a tankful down.

...Someone suggested that that Was wilful waste if they expected lo convince Crs Lysnar and .Whinray in that, way. The latter laughed, and Cr Lysnar intimated that lie. had a good many facts yet to give the other side; and Cr Miller was twitted with Saving fallen into a hole. /i'* “ If i did, there was good rock at the hot,lorn,” lie declared, “as there is at Waihircre ; don’t make any, mistake about that.” “ You’ll always touch rock there,” added Cr Hepburn.

Arriving at the. junction at Mr Nock’s store, Cr Harding was carefully driving on, oblivious of a challenge that had been made to visit, Waihircre. “ Who wants to go to Waihircre ? We’re all satisfied about that,” said Cr Harding. A brief debate ensued. The prnWailiirereit.es were clearly in the majority and did not desire the additional drive. In fact, the negative was carried on being put to the vote, hut it was rescinded on being explained that, the press representatives were present and would like to make comparisons, and that if the Waihirereites refused to go l.hej would he, showing t heir want of faith in that source.

The driver gave the whip an extra crack and talked forcibly lo the horses, which for the time being were named after anti-Waihirerc

Councillors. Cr Lysnar suggested that, any of those who were afraid to go up to the falls could remaiu ah the foot of the gully. “ Oh, no,” exclaimed Cr Miller; "if you get us that far we will go

all the way. You will have me on your heels wherever you go. We do not know what, yarns you would come hack with if you went up there by yourselves.” Cr Lysnar ; “ You did not come all the way on one occasion ; you got very tired then.” The laugh being turned against Cr Miller, he explained that on a memorable occasion he had undertaken to follow Cr Lysnar, and had gone to the reservoir site and did a good deal of travelling around, but tindiug .that

Cr Lysnar was apparently going to keep going eternally he. had cried off, thinking lie had done bin duty to the ratepayers and that, he was not, expected lo kill himself in the effort to convince a man who would not be convinced, who could see things that others could not, hut could not see t lie beautiful flow of water .that every one else could.

“ Why,” said Cr Lysnar, “ i will undertake to say (here is not enough flowing there now to half supply one of. the freezing works.” Cr Miller : “ What, rubbish you do talk. If there is not a drop of Wafer flowing over there to-day that •does not after the position. In these' matters, we must take expert, opinion and we have it on the authority of a foremost engineer like Mr Mcstayer that sufficient can he conserved -at Waihirere to serve our population for years to come. Yon always Torget the point that the supply is not gauged hy (lie How hut, hy the rainfall and the quantity that wili be obtained on the catchment, area.” “ Why, it will all run away a puddle,” exda'imed Cr Lysnar.; The latter then went on to declare that under any circumstances the Waihirere would not give sufficient to supply machinery, while the Waimata would give an inexhaustible supply for less cost. The Gisborne Freezing Works alone would willingly pay £3OO or more per year for water, and that would amount to not far short of the whole cost of [lumping, and town and suburbs would be most plentifully supplied., The freezing works were now put to very hard straits ft) secure sufficient water to keep going. Indeed where they had J(ion sheep' a day put through they could only manage to deal with 000 owing to the shortage of water, am! it had been seriously discussed n to whether the works would not have to he shut "down on that account. Cr Hepburn asked why'they did no , put down wells by which they could get. any amount of water. Cr Lysnar said that wells had hern put down all over the place and dtained dry....lie went on to refer to the expense of condensing and said all that could he avoided if there was a sufficient water-supply. This was Cr Mason s chance and

I hen a spi riled technical discussion ensued, Cr Mason bringing worldwide experience to hear in the disputation, 1 lie force of Ids argument, firing that, for economical purposes condensers would be would be used regardless of there being a good oi

poor supply of water. Cr Lysnar held to his point that at anyrate it- would he a good deal oi saving and that the company would gladlv [iav from £3oh to £lhd a year for a" regular supply of water. At an earlier stage it was found that the 21 inch pipe had been left behind and the. Waihirereites were chaffed tor having designedly forgotten the pipe.... Then it, dawned on the other members of the company that the ft inch pipe had also been left behind and they declared that this was the design of the other side. The remainder of the journey was enlivened by dignified Councillors scrambling for jam litis to use as pipes. Cr Lysnar succeeded in getting a 3-inch tin, though the driver was urged to push on in a hurry. Then Cr Miller went one better hy finding a large tin which Cr Whinray said might lie tilled if the bottom were not, taken out of it.

On arriving at the foot of the gully the Councillors had rather a sorry spectacle. Some vandals,, it was found, had been destroying the lovely scenery,"and for the first time since leaving (own the Councillors were unanimous—first, that it was a good

limit; ior the borough iln* charming; scenic resort, had been secured for the people ; and, secondly, that it. was necessary by some means to pnt a slop to ihe cutting down ot the trees for firewood. Coat less, and armed with jam-tins and hot,lies (empty), the aneroid and the camera, tlie party clambered up the stony way, the veteran Cr Whinray (who lias been on so many quests for water without result) giving the younger men points in alacrity. The pro-Waihirereites were here reinforced by Cr J larding, who, on Leaving tlie box-seat, metaphorically speaking, kept the whip in hand and lashed into the anti-Waihireroiies at every opportunity. “ Look at the water tliere,” said Cr Uarding. “It we only had that/ into the town !” “ Wouldn’t it be splendid,” said Cr Miller.

“ Wait awhile,” said Cr Lysnar , wait till you see it lying stagnant.” “Stagnant!” exclaimed Cr Harding ; “ why, look at the force with which it is running, and how beautiful and clear it is.” “7 don’t take kindly to water,” chimed m Cr Miller, or words to that effect, “ but really, as representing the ratepayers 1 must take a drink of ibis.” (He sips, and gleefully gives tokens of relish, at the same time advising Crs Wliinray and Lysnar to moisten their lips from the stream. “ l did bless Crs Wliinray and Lysnar when they wanted to drag us out here," said Cr Mason ; “ but I am very pleased that. 1 did come, for I am agreeably surprised. T expected to find a much lesser quantity of water here.” “ ThereLs any amount of it,” said Cr Hepburn. “ Wait a while," retorted Cr Lysnar.- His chance came on nearing a sluggish pool, where the slime had gathered. ‘‘Look at that,” he exclaimed, “see (lie putrid water there Would you ask anyone to drink that And what will it lie like if stored up for months under the heal, of the sun, if by any means you could store it in a dam ?” “ Drink it !" said Cr Harding ; “ i would like to have a swim in it !” “ So would I,” said Cr Mii&pn. “ Then you must have a taste,” retorted Cr Wliinray. The rapid exchange of verbal musketry continued until Ihe falls were reached, when the lun became more furious, all of course being in (lie best

of humor. Cr Miller laid fallen a few paces to the rear, and it, was hinted Uiaft he was’ nervous at. approaching lest the supply should be less than he ex pee tv ed to sec. Me was, however, soon rallied to Hie front, where Cr Harding, in eloquent language and dramalie style, referred to the wafer flowing over the falls, and in reply to Cr Lysnar’s allusion to the “ putrid ” condition of the water in the big hole below the falls, Cr Harding said lie was pleasingly surprised to find such a supply. There is a reservoir provided here already,” said Cr Mason. “ Yes for a slimy frogpoml," said Cr Wliinray, who was waiting unt.il he had got, the party above l,he falls. Preparations were (hen made to test life (low. Cr Wliinray was - given charge of a pick witii which to smooth the , outlet, and measuring rule, jam-tins (with ends knocked out and other devices were utilised to test the flow.. Opinions differed to Lite extent of several inches. Mr Redstone was appealed to as an impartial judge, but beyond venturing the opinion that there was more water than he expected to see, he maintained a discreet reticence. Eventually, it was narrowed down to the Waihirereites allowing that there was at least four inches, while the opponents kept it within three inches. Mr Cooper, who had driven up from Gray’s Hill, said he would admit he could not hold a candle to the Councillors in the way of water supply declarations. Before the testing was completed, Cr Wliinray slipped into a damp spot, and it was suggested that he was having a. hath. . He, for his part, repeated his declaration that all there was to show was a place with only sufficient Water for frogs to disport in. An inspection was then made of the reservoir site, Cr Lysnar pointing to the broken ground, and challenging anyone to say that it, would hold'water if a dam were erected. He poittled (o the sand and clay formation where the ground had been trenched by Major Winlcr in making tests as to Ihe formation. Cr Miller said (lie Council had Major Winter’s assurance that he had bored down and proved liiat the foundation was of solid rocklie was quite satisfied to take the assurance of n, trustworthy man like Major Winter in such a matter. Cr Mason took a like view, as also did Cr Hepburn, while Cr Harding stated anyone could satisfy himself that it was rock foundation.

Or Lysnar then called attention to tlie sluggish condition of the water course, but as ;t was now nearly sixo'clock, the majority of the party desired to return. On getting hack to the falls Cr Lysnar pointed out that, the stream came from two gullies one of which was to he shut, off hy the dam. Lr Miller repeated that it was the rainfall and not the (low they would depend upon, and they had an expert opinion to go upon in that, matter. “Well give yon Waihirere water yeti

tn spite of yourself,” added Cr Miller ami Cr Mason prophesied the lime would come when Cr Lysnar would he grateful to them for not taking his advice in regard to Waihirere. “'lhe worst of it, all is,” said Cr Miller, "that though we come here we have not the slightest hope of convincing each other. <l But the ratepayers would soon he convinced against it if they came here and saw it, for themselves,” said Cr Whinrav. ...

"They would think it high time it was brought- into town,” said Cr Harding. Why,there wouldn't be enough to supply tiic freezing works,,’* said Cr Lysnar. *• They would use more every day.” (hi the way home Cr Lysnar went mlly into the Waimata scheme, and the advantage it would he to have an inexhaustible supply. He claimed that, such a scheme could easily he carried out, and that filtration would make the water pure. He said that the Whataupoko people were pushing on with their scheme, and would have it in operation while the Council was wasting time over Waihirere. Then.

when tiie people had such proof, they would soon drop the Waihirere proposal. The party got back to town at halfpast ten.