THE HEADWORKS AT TE ARAI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3706, 16 December 1912, Page 3

THE HEADWORKS AT TE ARAI.

“CIVIC FATHERS” PAY A VISIT,

HOW THE WORK OF RE-IN-STATEMENT IS PROGRESSING.

A party of Borough Councillors, accompanied by the Engineer (Mr A. J. Paterson), travelled to Te Arai by motor car yesterday on a visit to the head works., there to inspect the big reserve ana to view personally the progress being made. Freed from the cares of their every-day existence, the “Civic Fathers’' set out to make the day an enjoyable one, and the wea-ther-god was with them, the journey being made through pleasant country in the full radiance of a shining summer sun. All were enamoured with the prospects of the countryside and favorably impressed with conditions at the waterworks. FOUR MILES ON FOOT. His -Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Pettie), Crs Hepburn, Brown, Sawyer, Webb, Smith and Wildish, Messrs H. J. Grieve and Murray and the Engineer comprised the party, which left town punctually at 9 a.in. and made a good trip to Waingake, stopping at Wilson’s and covering the remainder of the journey—some four miles—on foot. The reservoir work excavation, preparatory to the construction of which is being carried out with all possible celerity, was the first centre of interest and the Councillors made it a subject of closest inspection. The Engineer apprised the inquiring Councillors of all the information desired and, with data in his possession and facts at his finger tips, was able to satisfy the heavy demands made on his fund of knowledge. The reservoir and settling tank, as is generally known, is timed for completion four or five months lienee, and the Engineer is sanguine of satisfying expectations. The excavation is well advanced, but difficulty is being experienced in getting sand and cement regularly on to the site. These are | but a few of the innumerable difficulties which have to be faced in carrying out a big work so many, miles from town, but the present propitious weather conditions clear the way considerably and advantage is being taken of the sunny spell. The completion of the reservoir will mark an important niche in the progress of Gisborne’s water supply scheme, and the means of water conservation will make townspeople breathe easier, so to speak, in that a surer and steadier supply will lie assured. The first reservoir will have capacity for half a million gallons, 400,000 in the main portion and about one quarter of that in the settling tank. As the town expands, of course, it will bo necessary to extend the reservoir scheme, but the present needs should be amply satisfied by the present tank. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. This is a slight diversion, however, from tne subject of the tour of inspection. As the Mayor remarked to a “Times” reporter, “for the present, wo want to assure the people that good work is being done and was done during the winter and • spring, because, within a few weeks, the pipeline will be complete to the higher intake, where the purer water is to be had.” From the reservoir, the councillors traversed the pipeline in course of re-construction, to the head works, the journey being made on foot for the especial benefit of those members who bad not previously inspected the works. A good deal of the piping which bad, in accordance with Mr Paterson’s suggestion, to be taken from the creek and relaid on the new track, was seen, although this portion of the work is net yet quite complete. It is, however, already within a few chains of the settling tank, with the exception of two bridges, which have yet to be constructed. The bridges will be constructed of wood on piers, higher Tip the creek. The whole of this work should be complete and the pipeline totally restored before the. end of January and the upper intake utilised. As to the two bridges, the materials have been the cause of delay, but everything has now been conveyed as far as Wilson’s and will be taken to its destination very soon. ADDITIONAL WATER AVAILABLE.

Up at the top intake, a good, deal of work has been done and the position is satisfactory. The water falls into a basin on toj> of the' original head work construction, and goes into 15inch pipes, instead of the old intake, which has been cut off altogether. The piping for the new intake being constructed continues until it readies the first stream on the left hand side coming down. Provision is there made to take the water in the summer time, a little way above the creek. There is an intake here, wlierebv the water can be taken by means of a. bypass, if required. This will be a considerable addition to. the quantity of water available. “There was,” Mr Pettie sums the position up, “general satisfaction that the whole work is on a safe and sound basis indeed There might still. . of course, be the danger of n si in under exceptional circumstances, hut the pipes are on higher land and would he more easily got at.” The caretaker’s cottage has been shifted from near Mr Parker’s residence to the site of the settling tank The new registering meter has been placed in position, hut is not yet in action. WHY THE WATER WAS OFF. Below Wilson’s, new bridges have been erected over two very bad crossings, at Flood’s Crossing and Stewart’s Crossing. Over Stewart’s two sets of pipes instead of one, were fitted yesterday. In place of the usual 15-inch pipe, there are two 9-incli pipes, one on either side, so that the weight is equalised. The water is led hack into one pipe again. This operation was responsible for the town supply being cut off yesterday and a similar operation at the second bridge will necessitate a further day’s stop in the near future. When this has been done, Mr Pettie says, it will be practically safe and the necessity for a pumping station at Mr White’s will bo done away with. Altogether, the “Civic Fathers” put in a right good and profitable day, regaling themselves with the contents of a bulky hamper and returning to town in the early evening.