WATER FOR OTANE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 8

WATER FOR OTANE

Our Own CorreBpondent.)

Expense Likely to Prove a Hurdle

(From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. A suggestion that a public meeting of Otane ratepayers should be called to find out whether a water-supply scheme was really wanted was made by Mr R. H. White at to-day's meeting of the Patangata County Couneil. The engineer, Mr J. C. McLauchlan, explained that he thought the scheme proposed would prove too expensive for Otane. "Otane cannot alford a water supply brought from Waipawa and costing £4000," he said. In addition to the sum stated, there would be the cost of the water, and unless Otane ratepayers could find all the money there would have to be a tax made. "Why the Health Department turned down the other scheme I do not know." remarked Mr White. "It beats me," replied the engineer. It was pointed out by other members that the objection to the earlier scheme had been because the water would pass through a swamp, but Mr McLaughlan asserted that the water was "as pure as any in Hawke's Bay. " "My experienee of Otane is that it is not an extraordinarily good plaee to collect money in," observed another member. It was decided to call a meeting of Otane ratepayers and explain the position to them, and to invite the Health Department's officers to a conference before the public meeting.