CLYDE WATER SUPPLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 350, 8 January 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

CLYDE WATER SUPPLY.

This much vexed question was again brought forward in the Warden’s Court, on Tuesday the 29th ult. Mr. James Holt, the holderof the Town water-race, appeared by the request of Mr. Warden Pyko to show under what title he held possession of two heads of water, diverted from the Wai Keri Keri Creek, such water, according to Mr. Pyke’a letter, being required by agriculturists and others. Mr. Holt produced a certificate, dated December, 1860, and purporting to be a renewal—entitling him to two sluice heads of water for mining pur poses, and for supplying Clyde with Water for common use and in case of fire, under conditions that the holders of Agricultural Leases in the Wai Keri Keri Valley should not be deprived of water by the working of the said race.

Mr. Pyke remarked that, the question of the agriculturists diverting the water of the Wia Keri Keri Creek had been previously raised by a Mr. Bladier, and the answer was that, no person not living on the immediate banks of the creek could lawfully use or divert the water. He, Mr. Pyke believed that, the cause of complaint against Mr. Holt was, that he had sold water to persons along the line of his race, and by doing so, had deprived the inhabitants of Clyde and the Hospital from a .sufficient supply of water. This charge Mr. Holt denied. Mr. J. D Fcraud here interposed, and declared to its correctness. The interruption was promptly silenced by the Warden. Mr. Pyke said that, it vns the wish of no one that, any farmer requiring water should be deprived of its uses ;he believed that, if properly managed, there was more than enough water in the ‘Wia Keri Keri Creek for all persons that required it, but the water had been wasted.

Mr. Eeraud said that his land lay along two miles of the Wia Kuri Keri Creek, and he wished to save his crop, and denied that, all the water should be let run down the creek.

His Worship, the Mayor of Clyde, Mr. James Hazlett, who watched the case on behalf of the townspeople said that, with the exception of Mr. Eeraud, all the settler’s in the Wia Keri Keri valley were most willing that a supply of water should be diverted to Clyde. Mr. Pyke said that he looked upon Mr. Holt, as holding in trust a valuable public property, and it was his duty to see that it was devoted to its proper uses. If people chose to take the wat> r from the town, it was Mr. Holt’s duty to prevent it) If the case was pushed to extremities, he, Mr. Pyke would, after giving a portion of the water to the town, order the remainder to bo let down its natural channel.

This closed the inquiry. The ruling of the Warden appeared to give great satisfaction to all parties. During a later portion of the day, Mr. Hazlett, in company with Mr. Cope made an inspection of the Town Pace to the head of the Wia Keri Valley, and we have been given to understand by those gentlemen that, the race is in a shocking state of rapair, and that, at least, one half of the water taken in at its head is lost in the ground before It can reach Clyde. Also, that those who water their crops at the lower end of the Valley, direct the water from the race, and not from the Creek as the Law would compel them, the Creek here being at too low a level for purposes of irrigation. And lastly, that when the crops have been so very much watered, they have been injured by the process. Messrs Hazlett and Cope entirely endorse Mr. Dyke’s opinion that, “there is more than enough water for all parties, were it not allowed to be wasted.”

The Town Council have now a duty to perform to the public ; the matter of a water supply to Clyde is in their hand, and without injuring in the least the Agriculturists, even those not in the Wia Keri Keri Valley, they are in duty bound once and for ever to settle this most vexatious affair.