GoopALL.— Water Supply for Auckland. 35 
Art. VI.—On the Probability of a Water Supply being obtained for the 
City of Auckland from Mount Eden. By Јонх Gooparr, С.Е. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 10th November ала 8th December, 1873.] 
AUCKLAND, advantageously situated as it is on an isthmus between two fine 
harbours, the Manukau and the Waitemata, commanding both sides of the 
island, is rising fast to be a fine city, and will doubtlessly some day be one of 
the most magnificent in the southern hemisphere. In spite of its many 
advantages however, it would always remain one of secondary importance if, 
in its progress, it could not obtain a sufficient supply of water. Happily there 
is no lack of this needful commodity ; perhaps, for the present, it had been 
better for Auckland if so many sources of supply had not been known to exist, 
for then the question might have been settled, and the pure element flowing 
through Auckland, refreshing its inhabitants, purifying its atmosphere by 
sweeping away all refuse into the sea, saving life and property in the 
extinguishing of fires, thus adding health and preserving wealth to its 
citizens. 
Had there been only one source of supply, probably that would have been 
in Auckland by now, as the only delay seems to be caused by not knowing 
which source to choose, which, after all, is a purely financial question. The 
varions sources are known to be good and abundant, therefore all that remains 
is to find out which can be most cheaply brought into this town. The 
Nihotupu gravitation scheme would yield more water than is required at. 
present. The western and Onehunga springs would yield, by pumping, 
much more than is wanted. Lake Takapuna, North Shore, has also been 
talked of as a likely source, but the cost of the engineering works requisite for 
bringing the water over or under the Waitemata would be a sufficient 
hindrance for that source to be entertained at present. 
All these sources, excepting the Nihotupu, arise from the volcanic forma- 
tion at and adjacent to Auckland, yet this city may at any time be scourged 
by a pestilence or burnt to the ground for want of an available and sufficient 
supply of water. These varied schemes have been from time to time pro- 
pounded by their supporters; it is not the intention of this paper to enter 
into their various merits, but to bring under notice another scheme which 
may prove to be as good, and which is close to Auckland, namely, from the 
scoria and lava beds of Mount Eden. 
We all know that in the vicinity of Auckland there is a vast tract of 
volcanic country, consisting of extinct volcanoes, tuff cones, and lava streams, 
extending over twenty or thirty square miles. Almost the entire rainfall over 
this large tract of country is being stored by Nature in the porous lava rocks, 
