Shannon Water Supply.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1914, Page 4

Shannon Water Supply.

At Eoxton Borough Council's meeting a letter was read fro in Mr ! T. Lind, oi vShannon, advising that at a meeting of Shannon ratepayers the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting of Shannon ratepayers is willing to accept the Pox ton Borough Council s proposal regarding the water supply, and will use its best eil'orts to get a poll carried for the necessary, loan should Foxtun decide to go on with the works." The Mayor (Mr Stiles) said that in view of the letter from Shannon the first thing to do would lie to draw up a stringent agreement with Shannon; he wanted to make one thing clear, and that was there was to be no dual control. The matter of dual control was farthest from their thoughts, and he wanted the ratepayers to be quite clear about this. At the meeting in Shannon lie had mentioned that Foxton was l<> be the absolute controlling body. Councillor Clirystall said tliey could not be too careful over details in combining with another body, an Uevery point of the suggested agreement should he carefully considered. Councillor Bead said he <|iiite understood from the commencement that Eoxtoji was to be the sole controlling body. Councillor Speirs suggested that a committee should he set up to draft ;ui agreement to be finally drawn up by the Borough solicitor. Councillor Coley was still of I lie opinion that Shannon should hear hall the cost of the headworks and main to Shannon. lie considered it a lot of rot to go in with Shannon for the sake of saving <£1 ; U) a year, which would he the amount of interest and sinking fund on their proportion the cost. On the oilier hand Shannon was getting the best end of the stick: they were saving some £'•3400, and were also gf-rting a bigger pressure of water. The Mayor still held that it was absolutely in the interests of i Foxton ratepayers to allow Shannon to join in on the basis already agreed upon, provided that loxton did not lose anything in the way of supply of water. There did not appear to be any fear in this connection, however, as Mr Suggate estimated there was sttflicienl water in the stream to supply ;"»()()0 people. Foxtoirs offer to Shannon was a sprat to catch a mackerel. The upkeep of Ihe scheme might be large, and he considered it a good stroke of business to bring Shannon in on half maintenance. Then, again, they were also to pay half the cost of a catchment area, if purchased. Foxton was safeguarded iu so far as the supply was concerned, as Shannon was only to get the same proportion of water as they paid towards the cost- - one-third. If they paid half they would expect half the water. It was decided on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Spiers that a committee consisting of Councillors Coley, Spiers, Chrystall and the Mayor go into the matter of an agreement with Shannon to safeguard Foxton s interests, together with the Borough solicitor, and report to the Council. The Mayor said he had worked out some figures in reference to the scheme, but. these were not complete, and he would therefore bring the completed ones forward at a future meeting, as he did not want incomplete figures to go out to the ratepayers. Councillor Barber suggested that under the the circumstances they should go into committee to discuss the matter. Councillor Coiey objected to going into committee on matters connected with the water scheme. Everything should be done in open Council. if, however, it was the intention of the Mayor to have a discussion on the matter in open Council when tne figures were complete he hail no objection to a preliminary discussion in committee at the present juncture. The Council then went into committee. Mr Cheuery Suggate was also iu attendance, and on resuming business a resolution was passed on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Coley, lhal Mr Suggate be appointed engineer to carry out the scheme should the poll be carried and the work gone one with, his commission to be live per cent if he employs clerks of works as required up to three, or two and a half per cent if clerks of work are employed by the Council, commission to be based on the estiunite furnished. Jlerald.