Still, there's something soothing and edifying about the splash and plash of bit of the old H20, especially when you've got a fine espresso in hand and are watching the world go by, as you can so indulge at the nearby cafe.
For such a substantial edifice, though, it's been remarkably mobile. Officially dedicated in 1881, it was built with money donated by Wanganui citizens in gratitude to then mayor William Watt for his generous "gifting" of Westmere Lake as a city reservoir (more on the "gifting" bit later).
At the advent of the previous century, the city was growing like Topsy. It was on its way to becoming the nation's fifth most populous city, and the Ridgway St and Victoria Ave intersection was starting to clog. Although the odd new-fangled automobile was making an appearance, traffic was still basically horse and cart - a space-consuming mode of conveyance with certain manoeuvrability issues also.
Conceived as a grandiose drinking fountain, punters hydrated by dipping the supplied cups-on-chains into the upper recessed pools and the lower girdling trough was for the four-legged friends,
The resulting dalliance by both man and beast was conducive to congestion, but the tipping point came with the decision to go with the fancy new tramways. Wanganui was about to become the first provincial city to hook up the electric tram, and the fountain was smack in the middle of where the tracks would have to go.
So, come 1906, the Watt fountain started a walkabout. First it went to Cooks Gardens, then languished in a council shed for a time, then on to Queen's Park. But the council could see it was homesick and the trams had disappeared back in 1950. So, in 1993, the Watt fountain came full circle, back to its original possie on the Avenue. After all, given that the opening line of the dedication on the fountain's south side reads (with reference to Mayor Watt): 'Honour to whom honour is due', it was really the only honourable thing to do.
However, some contend the mayor's gift horse could have done with a sound dental inspection. It seems a deal was quietly done whereby the mayor, in return for his watery services, ended up with a gratis 800 sheep dip on his farm. Not a bad council gesture given that the original sum - donated by Wanganui citizens - to cover the fountain's construction costs was just 250.
All said, having the Watt fountain founting again will mark the welcome return of a wonderful downtown feature.
-Frank Greenall has a master's degree in adult literacy and managed Far North Adult Literacy before moving to Wanganui.
