425 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
might be prevented by adopting a process invented by Dr. Angus 
Smith, chief inspector of alkali works in England, whose plan was 
to heat the newly cast main or pipe to about 5oodeg. Fahr., and 
then dip perpendicularly into a mixture of pitch and heavy coal 
oil, maintained at a temperature of about 430deg. Fahr. With 
regard to the mineral matter in the water, the amount of solids 
was very small, and these were of a perfectly harmless character. 
An animated discussion followed, during which it was elicited 
that the artesian basin appeared to extend from Leeston to Salt 
Water Creek, but that attempts to get water by this means at 
Templeton had proved failures. The water from the shallower 
wells in Christchurch, about goft. in depth, has a constant tem- 
perature of 55deg. Fahr., while the water from the lower stratum, 
2ooft. deep, has a temperature of 57deg. Fahr. 
Mr. T. S. Lambert thought that the difference ot level to which 
the water rose in different wells was due in great measure to the 
relative porosity of the stratum from which the water was derived. 
He mentioned that the two wells sunk on the Exhibition ground, 
which were 7oft. deep, threw water to the height of 8ft. 6in. above 
the surface of the ground; and that the filling of the swimming 
bath at the Gloucester street school had, on one occasion, nearly 
dried up all the artesians within a radius of four chains. 
Dr. Symes thought that the water was too pure, it would be 
better if it-had more lime in it. ae 
The President drew attention to the intermittent flow of wells 
which only just ran over ; these flowed at night, and on days after 
holidays, when the majority of the surrounding wells would have 
been shut off. He contended that it was within the power of the 
people of Christchurch to conservetheir present magnificent supply 
of drinking water by simply not allowing it to run to waste, and 
he thought it would be well if the authorities were to compel them 
to do so. 
Mr. E. Dobson was of opinion that no private individual hada 
right to draw water at pleasure from a public reservoir like that 
lying below Christchurch. He explained a simple method by 
which waste water could be prevented, and at the same time the 
water could be used for extinguishing fires. 
Mr. Appleby said that the difficulty was to get the working 
classes who were ratepayers to vote for any improvement, no 
matter how important, that necessitated an increase in the rates. 
Christchurch, 3rd May, 1883. Professor F. W. Hutton, 
President, in the chair. 
New Members—R. M. Laing, W. P. Evans, and Dr. Bakewell. 
Papers—(1.) ‘“ On the economic limit to the use of reservoirs,” 
by E. Dobson, C.E. The author explained that in the water 
supply of towns a high-level ‘‘ Storage reservoir” received its 
supplies irregularly but gave out regularly, while a low-level 
‘‘ Service reservoir” received regularly from the “ Storage reser- 
voir” by the ‘“‘ Storage main,” but gave out a variable supply by 
the ‘‘ Service main” according to the requirements of the town at 
different times of the day. If there were no service reservoir, the 
main from the storage reservoir. would have to be twice the 
dimensions of a storage main leading into a service reservoir, if the 
