ONSLOW WATER SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2418, 25 March 1915, Page 9

ONSLOW WATER SUPPLY.

Sir, —Might I bo permitted to make inquiry as to what has become of the supporters of the proposed scheme for a water supply f or Onslow? Several letters from ratepayers asking for information have appeared in your columns, and it would appear that the promoters of tho scheme realise that they understand it so little that they cannot supply the information, or else they now think the proposals are not quite bo good as they imagined, and are afraid that the more they discuss the matter the greater will be then embarrassment. Sly letter of tho 18th instant, in which I showed that the figures quoted by the Mayor were such that it would be a very risky thing for the ratepayers to rely upon them, has not yet been challenged, and until tha council held its special meeting on Moilday night it seemed doubtful if any answer to the various letters would be forthcoming, but when the council at that meeting decided to obtain further engineering and legal opinions, we must congratulate ourselves that to somo ex-' tent our advice has been heeded, and it is quite evident that our councillors are not now at all sure about the scheme.

We have been assured so many times by the Mayor that the'scheme is quite sound, and that no claims for compensation can be made on the borough by users of the stream, that we feel justified in asking that if such is the case why is he now requiring further legal opinion? The answer is of course that the Mayor and councillors probably now realise that the borough will be liable for very heavy compensation claims ii the water is taken from present users. Let me add, sir, that _ it is to he hoped the Mayor will publish the engineering and legal opinions to be obtained, so that the ratepayers may understand the position and not be kept in the dark as hitherto. —I am, etc., A. ID. BODD, Hon. secretary Committee of Ratepayers opposed to the scheme. Khandallah, March 24, 1915.