LOWER WATER RATE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 102, 24 January 1935, Page 4

LOWER WATER RATE

Napier Decision HAWKE’S BAY JOTTINGS Dominion Special Service. Napier, January 23. Residents of Westshore are in future to enjoy a lower water rate. A decision to this effect was reached at a meeting of the Napier Borough Council, acting on a recommendation by a special committee set up to consider the question of the Westshore water supply. The reduction granted by the borough is subject to the county council,charging the same rate for commercial supply as charged in Napier. Provided this is brought into effect the AVestshore inhabitants will be treated as bulk consumers and will be granted a discount of 25 per cent, to date from July 1, 1934. The reduction in effect will lower the rate from 1/- to 9d. per 1000 gallons. Streams Drying Up. Alany of the creeks and streams in and about Wairoa are at present drying up, and in some cases have actually dried up. If the present weather continues, difficulties in the matter of water for stock and pastures, as well as household gardens, will become serious, and with this in view, residents should exercise the greatest care in the use of water for all purposes. Reducing Losses by Drought. A decision was reached at a meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Comlnerce, to call a meeting in the near future of local bodies likely to be interested in the establishment of an irrigation scheme to cover the Heretaunga Plains. Air. F. E. Smith, in putting the proposal before the meeting, said that it was difficult to understand why the district should continue to suffer production losses amounting to probably 50 per cent., through drought, when rivers flowed on both sides of the plains. Mr. Smith pointed out the success of irrigation schemes in Australia, where greater difficulties had to be overcome than would be the case at Heretaunga. He added that it was time local bodies and others combined to find some means of avoiding the terrific losses suffered by the district year after year through dryness. Careful Use of Water Necessary. Moderation and care iu the use of |. water from the borough supply has been appealed for by the Alayor of Hastings, Mr. C. O. Morse. In a report by the en- ' gineer. Air. AV. D. Corbett, presented at a meeting of the borough council, the seriousness of the position with regard to the town water supply and the undue volume of water consumed were pointed out. So far there has been no necessity to impose restrictions on the use or water for the hosing of gardens, but in view of the long spell of dry weather the supply' has fallen somewhat lower than normal, and the mayor has been forced to appeal for moderation in the use of hoses. Unless this is done there is a possibility of the necessity of restricting their use arising. Recently the daily average consumption has been 3.000,009 gallons, or over 150 gallons ner head.