THE CROMWELL WATER WORKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 691, 16 July 1875, Page 3

THE CROMWELL WATER WORKS.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE DON'S'!'AX TIMES.) Sir, —There is perhaps no question of more importance to the residents of CromweT than the Water Works, which has for the last six years, being the subject of much discussion and difference of opinion, while it and Block IX. have been stock capital for the several candidates for municipal and mayoral distinction on which to expatiate. As it is not unlikely that some of the ratepayers take a deep interest in the subject T propose briefly to scan the action of the Council in connection therewith, and to show the useless, nay, reckless expenditure of the public funds. It is now six years since this subject first cropped up in the Council, and the great splitting point was as to the source of supply, viz., Mount Pisa or Firewood Creek, and it was only recently that the latter place was fixed upon, though opposed by one or two common sense members. 1 will give an estimate of the two sources, and by fi ,urcs prove the extravagance of which I complain. To |stavt with, the exorbitant sum of L7OO has to be paid to Strachan and Barker for the water rights. Some six years ago John Wilson Thompson sold a fourth share in this water for the sum of L 9, of which however, there was but LG paid, leaving a balance still due to him of L 3 ; and taking this sum as the then ascertained value, and there being four holders in the race, we arrive at LUG as the absolute value of the water. It is apparent that there cannot be as much auriferous ground to work now as there was then, and that the water for mining purposes is now of no more value than it was then. How then has the purchase been fixed at L7OO, and what, if any evidence, had the Council before it on which to sanction such an expenditure ? It does to me appear strange that this should have been smuggled through the Council without the ratepayers having a say, or so important a measure being submitted to arbitration. But, some may allege that the water was urgently required. True, but here is the summer fast approaching, and yet nothing has been d me. The present scheme will prove abortive, as the whole of the L2OOO borrowed capital with the inteiest - L4OO of which is already swamped -will be pretty well absorbed in bringing the water on to the town, and the residents on the Cromwell Flat will be left to look after themselves, or depend upon the generosity of the race holder, while another rate, in all liklihood, will have to be struck to make good any deficiency. Of lata the Council seem to have Blundered and gone off in one of the Fakir’s trances. The Firewood Creek scheme means the expenditure of L 1905 10s, made up thus : Purchase of Water Eights ... L7OO 0 0 Reservoir, or Dam .. ... CO 0 0 Pipes (.70 chains to Stewart’s

corner) ... ... 445 10 0 Pluming over the river ... 400 0 0 Laying Pipes ... ... 300 0 0

L 1905 10 0 This is only for bringing the water into the town, hut it may safely ho concluded that to render the water available for all the

citizens on tlio Flat, an additional mill- ,y will bo required, which may fairly bo csti- I mated at another LI2OO, thus giving a total j on the whole scheme of L 3105 10s. To any casual observer it is patent that the citizens will slowly, but surely, float into hopeless insolvency, and it behoves them to take warning while there is yet time. Another thing is that if tho residents on the Flat are to have water it will have to be forced up the streets, the pipes being liable to be choked with sediment, and tho Homing over tho river to be broken by tho frost, whereas, by tho Mount Pisa scheme, a clear saving would have been effected, and these contingencies rendered impossible. I estimate the Mount Pisa scheme as under : Purchase of water for present purposes ... ... L 350 0 0 40 chains from present Tank to Municipal Boundary ; 55 chains to tho base of the hill ; 8 chaihs to the first race, and 54 feet to top race; making in all 109 chains, or G194 feet at 4s Od per foot, inclusive of carting and cost of Pipes... 1391 13 0 Cost of Surveys, laying pipes, &c. (say) ... ... <IOO 0 0 L23-1I 13 0 Which demonstrates a clear saving of L7G3 17s as between tho two schemes, while the Mount Pisa supply would increase the value of property upon the Flat, and the water could lie conveyed in open cut faces to the residencies thereon, and utilised for domestic purposes. In making this calculation 1 have endeavored to keep everything rather under the mark than over, being clearly satisfied within my own mind that by judicious supervision a saving of something like a thousand pounds would be effee'.ed ; and I invite any of the supporters of the Firewood Creek chimera to point out any miscalculation or falsity in my figures. The L2OOO so generously advanced by tho Bank, is still lying at interest, and the Council have not yet got a valid title to the water, while their rash expenditure of L7OO will remain as an indelible blot upon their public career, and will furnish food for animadversion for years to come. It is to be hoped that the citizens will bear these matters in mind when candidates woo them for their votes, and that at the approaching election they will see that men are retained who will not squander the public funds, hut will use their best exertions to tide over the present financial crisis.—Yours, etc., ScRUTATIR.