PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4427, 14 June 1922, Page 2

PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

INVESTIGATIONS PROPOSED. SUGGESTION TO COUNCIL. Mr. Lockie Gannon, of the firpi of Messrs Lockie Gannon and Worley, waited on the Hauraki Plains County Council in order to submit proposals for the reticulation of the Hauraki Plains for a fresh water supply. Mr. Gannon mentioned that he had carried out the Morrinsville, Matamata, and Papakura schemes, and had the Ngaruawhhia scheme in hand at present. There was no doubt the Plains would have to go in. for a water supply scheme. He offered to 'investigate all possible means of; carrying out a water supply, go into the matter comprehensively, free of cost, providing that iff it was intended to go in for a scheme his firm would.be asked to carry it out. He bad taken a flying trip through the Plains a few days previously. He had visited Karangahake and 'he had noticed that at the Waitawheta stream there must be 5,000,000 or 10.000,000 gallons per day flowing down that stream. Patetonga was better off for water than the seawa”d end of the district Patetonga could be supplied from the streams in that vicinity. Sometimes two or three small schemes were more economical than by bringing a large pipe from a long distance. Assuming that 15 gallons per head per acre were re-, quired, the amount to be delivered would be 1,600,000 gallons per day through a 21in pipe, with smaller pipes radiating from the townships. If Qiey could get a head 200fjt high and deliver water througn an 18in pipe .the cost of the scheme could be reduced by £25,000. Cr. McLoughlin said' a small scheme for Kaihere had been discussed. The chairman thought it advisable for the councillors to have meetings in their ridings and obtain the feelings of the ratepayers,. Replying to a question Mr. Gannon said he could not at present say what the scheme would cost. It would not cost the settlers anything untiil a scheme had been approved of. The chairman said Mr. Gannon could submit estimates, and it was for the ratepayers to accept or turn ic down. Mr. Gannon : But we will investigate all possible and feasible schemes It was a bit of a gamble, but he would investigate all sources of supply so that one of; the schemes mirt be accepted. Cr. McLoughlin mentioned the possib lity of the Government formulating a scheme. Mr. Gannon said be had never he-rd of'the Government going in for such a scheme. Cr. McLoughlin said much of the Plains land was under Government control, Cr. Parfitt said that if another engineer would submit a lower price than Mr. Gannon’s if schemes were formulated, wjiat would be the position ? Mr. Gannon said the Council reserved the right to submit the proposed schemes to experts for consideration as tp whetjier the costs were right and proposals practicable. If another man’s prices was lower within reason the Council would use its own discretion, but the experts’ advice should settle any such matter. In the event pf the Council approving of the proposals 'he would tour the country at his own expense to address the ratepayers in any pai't of the district. He also offered to take the councillors over the works at Morrinsviile. A vote of thanks, proposed by Cr. Whitechurch, was passed to Mr. Gannon for attending the meeting and submitting his proposition.