32 The Mourne Water Scheme. 



Mr. Greenhill — I inferred from Mr. Macassey's remarks 

 that he estimates that the present arrangement will provide for 

 a double population of Belfast. I think if manufacturers 

 increase their works as they have been doing in the past, it 

 will require a very much larger quantity of v/ater than double, 

 assuming that the population of Belfast increases to twice the 

 present number. Many wells in Belfast have become practi- 

 cally dry, and those who have adopted the Commissioners' 

 water will not regret it. I had several cases under my imme- 

 diate observation where the greatest possible advantage arose 

 through taking the water from the Commissioners rather than 

 from wells. With regard to the steel pipes, I would ask Mr. 

 Macassey whether it would not be safer, instead of bringing the 

 water in a large pipe, under an enormous pressure of perhaps 

 150 to 200 lbs. to the square inch, to bring it in sections, 

 because if an accident occurred it would in all probability cut 

 off the supply until the pipe was repaired. Would it not be 

 therefore wiser, from a mechanical point of view, to use a 

 number of small pipes side by side ? 



Mr. Macassey — As regards the steel pipes which have been 

 referred to, there is no doubt that chances of failure to the 

 pipes would be reduced by having a number of small pipes. 

 ■The objection is the matter of expense. It comes to be a 

 matter of policy whether we save ,^10,000 and run the risk of 

 a loss of j^ 1 00 a year, or whether we shall spend ^10,000 and 

 not run the risk I have mentioned. It is proposed that at the 

 risky places the pipes should be duplicate, so that in the case 

 of a failure we could turn the supply and send it on. As I 

 mentioned in connection with the service reservoir, we reckon 

 on the possibility of having a failure which may take a week to 

 repair and be able to keep up the supply. As regards the 

 Stoneyford scheme, it was framed to give about 3 or 3|- million 

 gallons a day, and it has given that by actual experience. 

 There is no loss of water at Stoneyford. I think that what has 

 given rise to the point is the fact that the Commissioners are 

 bound to send down compensation water to the millowners. 



