WAIRERE FALLS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 27, 11 March 1942, Page 5

WAIRERE FALLS

RIGHTS TO WATER CLAIMED

INDIGNANT LETTER TO COUNCIL

The historic Wairere falls, which though now diminishing in volume, have still a direct and interesting link with the arrival of the fabled Matatua canoe, were the apparent bone of contention in a letter received by the Borough Council last Monday evening from a Mrs E. Summers, of Auckland. The falls which were described by Taneatua (the Tohunga of the Matatua contingent) before the departure from Hawaiki, were associated with the clairvoyant picture painted by that worthy, which prompted the voyagers to venture on their long ocean trek to the promised land. The letter to the Borough Council claimed that the writer's late husband had purchased the falls, in order to obtain the riparian rights to the supply for power generation and reticulation. The only persons who had legal access to the supply were the Maoris of the local Pa, who had been given special concessions in view of their historic associations. To-day the writer understood that that the falls were supplying water to- many homes, the pipeline having been illegally tapped in order to obtain free supply. The Maoris themselves had broken

their pledge, allowing others who were not of their tribe to have access to the Avater for a consideration. This action, she claimed broke any agreement AA r liich may haA'e been made in the first instance, and the question of depriving them of the supply Avas iioav being considered. Steps would be taken to disconnect all leads into private residences, other than those of Maori residents, or the police. "Well," said the Mayor, "I don't think that this has anything to do with the council. If the AA-ritet thinks she has legal rights to> cut the supply then she can take the necessary steps." Cr SulliA'an: "Don't the Maoris claim special rights?" The ToAvn Clerk-: "They had a special easement from Mr Summers, for the right to connection.!' Cr Sullivan: "The only thing for the European users to do then is paint themselves brown." Cr Cummings: "My section has been connected up for the past 40 years. I suppose I'm one of the culprits." The council decided to reply to the effect that it had no jurisdiction in the matter.