HOKITIKA WATER SUPPLY QUESTION

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1948, Page 2

HOKITIKA WATER SUPPLY QUESTION

Hokitika Borough Council received a letter from the Minister of Health, Hon. Miss Mabel Howard., advising that the department wouid have to. make further inquiries oefore agreeing to the water scheme as it apppeared that- the water .contained even more corrosive matter than the present scheme. Cr. Havill (chairman of the Water Committee) said that apparently the Minister had receive'd the wrong report. The supply from Lake Kamen had been described by Dr. J. H. Blakelock, of the Health Department as the purest in New Zealand, if not in the world. Apparently the Minister was confused with the report of a sample of water taken from a bore put down on the banks of the Hokitika river at Kanieri. This supply was of no use. The Council del- - that Cr. Havill forward a report. to the Minister, with details of the Health Inspector’s analysis of Lake Kanieri water. Mr A. J. Fairmaid’s report on the inspection of- the contemplated supply from the intake of the power house, was before the council. Thy council desired to know whether the present line from, the power house to Hokitika would stand a booster pump forcing the supply through to the resevoir. The amount of water that could be sent through the hne was a matter for the engineer co assess, but he was of the opinion that the Condition of the line to bring the' increased pressure was really a practical question. The line was just on 48 years old/ and h might pay to leave well alone. Dr. Lyness agreed that the question was important. If a booster pump were used, the whole line might give away, and the town b? without the present supply from this source, and would have to depend entirely upon the pumping station at Hokitika, which could hardly cope with the demand. It was resolved to ask Mr Fairmaid to come to Hokitika to discuss the problems. Cr. Havill said he could not see how any person could tell the condition of the line that had been down 48 years. The consulting engineer to tne council advised that the plans for the new resevoir and the repairs to the persent resevoir were ready. The council decided to handle requests for silt for roadside lawns through the Beautifying Society. One member mentioned that the council would have to exercise extreme care in providing silt for lawns. In some previous cases the silt had found its way into gardens and lawns. It was decided to ask the Beautifying Society to supervise the roadside lawns. x t The request of Westland District Progress League to have a resident Magistrate for the West Coast was supported. , . , The Railways Department advised acceptance of the council’s offer to kerb the footpaths along Railway Street; The .application of a resident for a footpath along the northern side of Upper Stafford Street was referred to the chairman of works and the overseer. An application to rent a section in Whitcombe Square was not entertained, the council being resolved that the area be set aside for recreation. The Reserves Committee, is to make an inspection of the area on Saturday morning and report to the council. ’ The Greymouth Borough Council advised as to the Royal visit, and it was decided to inquire as to travel arrangements for school children. The Mayor and Deputy-Mayor are to attend the next meeting of the •executive and report back to the council. , The Transport Department asked for an opinion iif regard to a universal speed limit. It was decided that the council could not support any special limit, but agreed that the condition of the road and special areas should decide the limit in each case.