James Carlaw

“ Still the supply was inadequate, and in January, 1872, owing to a drought, water was sold in the streets by hawkers, and resulted in the City Council augmenting the Domain supply by pumping 30,000 gallons per day from Seccombe's Well, Khyber Pass Road. Even with this addition, the supply was still meagre, and only fulfilled the mere necessities of living. There was no surplus for public or private baths, for garden or street watering, and, worse still, for fire-fighting—all of which are to-day regarded as essentials. ”

“ The water from Waitakere was turned into the City mains in 1906, and this, together with the running water from Nihotupu, is now supplying 107,000 people with 56 gallons per head per day. When the dam on the Nihotupu River is completed the available storage will be 840 million gallons. In order to preserve the purity of the water, the City Council controls over 10,000 acres of land in the ranges, embracing the watersheds of Waitakere, Nihotupu, and Huia. ”

“ Nothing was done in connection with the report, and the old state of things continued until 1869, when the Government laid a 6-inch main from the small lake in the Domain to the City, via Domain Street, Abercrombie Street and Wakefield Street; stand pipes being erected at various points en route. ”