Cambridge was originally a colonial military outpost established in 1864 on a crook in the Waikato River by the 3rd Waikato Militia, on what was part of the Ngati Raukawa tribal area, part of the Tainui confederation. Much of the town that grew up around the redoubt was built on a flat area above the Waikato River valley. By at least 1880 it was surrounded by a town green belt, predominantly leased for grazing stock.
The lack of a reliable water supply with good water pressure stood in the way of setting up a fire brigade at a time when many Cambridge houses had wooden shingle roofs and insurance companies were wary of covering buildings with a high fire risk. Sanitary conditions within the town and the occasional drought also highlighted the need for safe, reliable water. Since at least 1881 various proposals had been put forward for a Cambridge municipal water supply. In 1882 William Moon suggested the springs on the Domain Board land he leased, (known as Moon's Springs) as a source of clean water, with an engineers report estimating a flow of 604,000 gallons (2,745,900 litres) over 24 hours. The proposal was supported by the Mayor, Thomas (Tom) E. Wells. But ongoing difficulties with funding, and resident support, meant the project was delayed until the early twentieth century.
Incredibly simple devices that involve a tower, a tank and a pump, water towers utilise the pressure created by the height of the structure, As part of a system for town water supplies it gained popularity during the Industrial Revolution. Basically constructed as a water storage container holding a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurise a water distribution system. The pressurisation occurs through the elevation of the water. Every 10.2cm of elevation produces 1kilo pascal (0.145psi) of pressure. It was common for such imposing landmarks to be ornately covered such as with fancy brick work, (as in Cambridge) or other decorative elements. They are usually cylindrical, a shape recognised as being extremely strong for a tall slim structure.
The first decade of the 1900s was one of growth for Cambridge, with the population reaching 1000. The Water Tower was constructed during William F. Buckland's first period as Mayor (1898-1903). Remembered for his dogged determination that the borough would steadily progress, his watch saw the introduction of a sewerage system, drainage works, the construction of the Victoria high bridge, the introduction of gas lighting and the construction of a number of key public buildings. Buckland later claimed that while he was the originator of the water scheme, he initially opposed the Moon's Creek supply as he had observed it drying up periodically, but it was the best of the several sites the council had inspected.
In late November 1901 a sample of the Moon Spring water was sent to the Department of Public Health in Auckland for analysis. Mr J.A. Pond, the Colonial Analyst, responded: 'This is soft water of great purity, and will rightly be classed as first class potable water.' A brief enigmatic piece of gossip in The Observer of November 1902 suggests the Water Tower planning if not construction was well underway. The town belt land the tower was situated on had been leased and it was not until the 25th June 1903 allotments 2,3,4,5 and 6 were leased from the crown by the Borough of Cambridge.
The Water Tower cost £1077 to construct and it was thought it would supply 3000 people, sufficient for many years to come. The tank at the top of the Water Tower was used to increase water pressure rather than for water storage per se - reservoirs were built closer to the springs. The tower was paid for through Council taking out the Cambridge Waterways Loan of £6,000 amidst much speculation about how the money was spent. Thus, (the by then the ex-Mayor) Buckland published a list of the people and firms involved in the project along with the financial details. The cost of £5974 19s 9d included the tower, laying the mains pipes with 100 connections, associated structures and machinery.
Mr Ashley John Hunter (1854-1932), a civil engineer of Auckland, did surveying work (£22) and the engineering (approximately £220), overseeing the whole project. The tower appears to be his design, with the water supply reflecting 'much credit' on Hunter. Mr F.C. Bunyard, CE, is listed as working 21 weeks on the project for a total cost of £63.
Mr J.J. Holland of Auckland was responsible for building the Water Tower, the dam at the springs, the bed for the engine and extras for £1288 3 s 3d.
Mayor Buckland detailed records of the equipment suppliers and associated works have survived, along with the costs right down to the legal services and charges and advertising outlets and costs that provide a valuable insight into the type of materials used at the turn of the nineteenth century and costs at that time.
Several people commonly associated with the tower's construction are not mentioned in Buckland's list, namely: the bricklayer George Russell Fellows, Robert Morse and Bill Morse, who was training as a carpenter under his father Robert's tutelage. Other versions also include William (Bill) George Tucker, labourers Thomas Vickers and Arthur Davies. At least one source suggests the builder Robert Sanders was also involved. They may be what were simply referred to as 'outside labour' at a cost of £710s, or they may have been employees or subcontractors of someone on the list.
Morse had an old black horse appropriately named Darkie worked by Tucker to pull the bricks to the top of the wall. It was said that school children regularly visited the building site, slowing the work by feeding apples to Darkie, which was frustrating for Robert Morse. He regularly tendered for Council contracts: in 1887 alone Morse had tendered to re-roof Cambridge's public hall, for alterations at the Cambridge Saleyards, for the Cambridge Public Library additions and for building a wooden water table in Duke Street.
The bricklayer George Russell Fellows migrated from England to Darlington Australia, to New Zealand, arriving 1882. By 1885 he was in Onehunga, Auckland, filing a series of patents related to the construction of furnaces used in metallurgy. Some of these furnaces are likely to have had imposing brick chimneys, similar in construction to towers.
The pumping machinery was next to the spring in an engine room at what would become the gas works, on the Domain Land on the Waikato River flats, forcing the water to the top of the Water Tower. The tank on the top of the Water Tower could hold 20,000 gallons [90922 litres] with an additional storage reservoir at Moon's springs holding a further 10,000 gallons [45461 litres]. The gas driven Tangye's Vertical Treble Ram Pump could handle at least 5,000 (22731 litres) gallons per hour, which could be supplemented by an oil driven pump produced by the same manufacturer, which handled a further 5,000 gallons (22731 litres) per hour, and capable of raising the water 200 feet (61 metres). The springs produced approximately 125,000 gallons (568262 litres) each day, on average.
Work on the tower proceeded quickly, without 'the slightest friction between the Council, the engineer, and the contractors', so that an irregular meeting of the local Domain Board was called on the 9 March 1903, to decide on the water supply to the domain to enable the engineer to arrange to have the pipes laid prior to the water being turned on. At this time the Cambridge Lake Reserve (part of the domain) was considered by the Undersecretary of Lands 'second to none of the Domains in the colony'.
The Water Tower was officially opened two days later on Wednesday 11 March 1903. Despite inclement weather, there was a good crowd assembled when Mayor Buckland started the pump before walking to the tower, where the water was turned on, then proceeding to Victoria Street where a hose was attached to a hydrant to demonstrate the water pressure: the water spouted 40 feet (12.2 metres) into the air: Buckland and Hunter were cheered by the crowd. The Mayor commented that the water was 'as pure as anything in the world,' and declared the water works 'a sign of civilization and a distinct advance in the affairs of the town.' At an impromptu gathering at the Criterion Hotel afterwards, champagne toasts were engaged in (some provided by Messrs Williams and Graydon). Hunter pointed out that despite having 10 miles (16 kilometres) of mains, it was one of the cheapest water supplies in the country, a fact he attributed to the pipes used; he had taken a risk recommending a make and variety of pipe not used anywhere else in New Zealand at the time. He also spoke very favourably of the capabilities of the Council's Engineer, Bunyard.
The construction of the tower created income for Waikato plumbing firms such as the Hardley Brothers and John E. Hammond, who advertised well in advance of the opening, encouraging households who wanted to be connected to the council supply to order pipes, taps, baths basins, etc. The Water Tower also paved the way for the formation of the Cambridge Fire Brigade in 1904.
In 1903 it was claimed that 'the spring is a never-failing one, there is not much probability [of] the inhabitants of Cambridge running short of water. Even should this supply not be sufficient, there is another spring, of equal capacity, within 100 yards [91 metres] that can be utilised at a few hours' notice.' In 1910 the Borough Council (led again by Mayor Buckland) intended to purchase a spring and water supply area that belonged to John Sharp, a nurseryman, at a cost of £200. A lively special Council meeting tried to have this rescinded, complaining that the decision had been sprung upon them. Councillors Lewis and Dickinson had since inspected the current water supply and while the pumps had been working hard all day there was plenty of water, so they did not think the purchase of more land prudent. Dickenson suggested building an extra storage tank for a lesser sum of £50. Buckland believed that the activities of the Drainage Board were affecting the water supply, that the current source of water was not as reliable, and that purchasing Sharp's springs would save the council £50 per year in the cost of running the plant, rather than the current situation of 'straining one pump 16 to 18 hours a day'. Councillor Fergusson also argued that the future was looking very bright for Cambridge and he expected they would soon need an additional water supply. To which Councillor Priestley 'pointed out that if the Borough springs went dry, Mr Sharp's would do also as they were practically from the same source.'
The Borough Engineer's report presented at the same meeting noted that 'the greatest daily consumption of water during the late dry weather was 95,000 gallons, [431,879 litres] which leaves 30,000 gallons [136383 litres] of the daily supply unused.' However, at the three daily peak periods more water was required for both pumps to work. This could be achieved by either increased storage capacity or Sharp's springs, 'which latter would allow the pumps, both working together, to go for the full 24 hours if required.' At the time, two pumps could be used for no more than two hours at a time, and he estimated a storage tank of the same capacity would allow the pumps to work a further two hours. A fire during peak periods could run the system short of water. The decision was postponed until after the next elections, but Sharp Springs was eventually approved, and a 10,000 gallon (45460.9 litres) storage reservoir was built.
The large National Hotel fire in 1912 showed the limitations of the water supply, with inadequate pressure to save the building, resulting in the fire spreading. In 1914 lawn sprinklers were made illegal in the borough, with Council workers tracking those who left the water running overnight by 1916. The same year the Town Clerk said that:
Pressure obtained [by the water supply was] about 30 lbs per sq in [2.112 kilograms per square centimetre]...General efficiency...satisfactory..the tank meets the need for domestic supply to the Borough and suburbs, but for emergencies, fires, etc, we get greatly increased pressure probably double the above, by direct pumping into the mains.
Mr T. Dix was the Council engineer from 1923-1937, and as such 'was in charge of the water supply. In the early 1920s it was discovered that the water was becoming contaminated, attributed to the growth of housing in the vicinity of the springs. So on the 16 August 1926 Mr Dix turned the first sod for laying pipes to a new water supply from Maungatautari, with the intention to turn the water on before Christmas. Costs were reduced by using day labour and the scheme was opened by Mayor T.F. Richards. Thus in c1926 the tower was decommissioned.
'Long before World War II' Moore and Hardy were contracted to make repairs to the lead roofing on the very top of the tower. Their young employee, Fred Morriss, carried out the work.
[He] found the inside stairway was no trouble, but to step to the outer edge of the wooden platform, slightly unsafe...and [to] climb the steel ladder and over the top was a bit hair raising. Even more so was the descent, creeping to the outside edge of the roof and feeling cautiously for the top rung on the shakily secured ladder.
In 1972 G. A. Hughes and Fred Morriss suggested that the Water Tower be developed into a viewing platform. The idea won some public support but was not actioned. In the mid-1970s the area was named Payne Park after Stan Payne who did much of the fundraising for establishing Resthaven (next door), and a joint Jaycees, Rotary and Lions project landscaped the park. Further landscaping was done in 1981.
Waipa District Council contracted Hamilton-based firm Stiles and Hooker, architects and engineers, to carry out an earthquake risk assessment in 1997. In 2009 there was some interest in buying the tower for reassembly on another site and conversion into a home.
The complex Cambridge water supply project involved around 28 companies, from local firms, to those from Auckland. The tower is a testament to the bloody-mindedness of the then Mayor, W. F. Buckland and to the design and coordination skills of the engineer, A. J. Hunter.
