EASTBOURNE'S WATER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 4

EASTBOURNE'S WATER

HUTT APPROACHED

BOARD SCHEME TOO DEAR

' Eastbourne's latest move in the water supply problem has been to write- to the Lower Hutt Borough Council asking whether it could supply Eastbourne with water, and, if so, on what basis, and how soon the water would be available. This action was taken by the Water and Drainago Committee and confirmed by the Eastbourne Borough Council at its meeting last night.

The council also had before it a letter from the Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Board giving particulars of the populations of the respective local districts concerned, and giving the.contribution for the year 1930-31 on an estimated annual expenditure of £5000. The figures were as follow: — Popu- Per- Annual Exlation. centage. penditure. £ s. d. Wellington City 107,800 7T.D2G 3S7U U 0 Upper Hutt .. 3,275 2.355 117 lv 0 Lower Hutt .. 12,500. 8.990. 4-W 10 0 Tetone 10,725 7.713.' 385 13 0 Eastbourne .. 2,050 1.474 73 11 0 Hutt County ... 2,700 1.942 ,97 2 0 Totals .. 139,050 100.000 DOOO 0 0 The Mayor (Air. H. M. Jones) said that as the two local bodies had given notice nominally to secede, from the board it appeared that there would be difficulty in holding the board together. It was likely that the percentage _of charges on the remaining local bodies, and also the Act controlling the board would have to be altered. At^present all was in the melting pot. He moved that the board's letter be received and noted.' He promised the council a full report on- the water question for next' meeting. The motion was carried. Councillor A. Walker thought that all the reports supplied to the council on the water question should be tabled and thoroughly discussed at a special meeting to reach finality. He had gone into the figures in the report of Mr. Hart, the City Engineer, and had been astounded at what the scheme would cost the borough. "It puts us out of court absolutely as subscribers to the big scheme," he said, "and also stops us nibbling at Wairfui.'' The Mayor replied that no one'at this stage could say what .was the best way to get water. All were equally, anxious to get it and to get it, at!the. least cost. Delayed as the scheme.had been, they still had. inquiries to make for a month or two. He was very-anxious to reach finality and hopeful of having a water supply for the coming summer. The Water and Drainago Committee was equally anxious to jsecure-water at the earliest moment/but there was no short cut to it. "Wo want a good supply and an economic supply," said Mr. Jones. "Along those Ijnes we are working, and, I don't see that we can hurry it up." . < 'Further.discussion took place between the Mayor and Councillor Walker, and it was agreed that the council should hold a special meeting'to. discuss every possible scheme.' ' * (