PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4439, 12 July 1922, Page 2

PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

PUBLIC WORKS SCHEME. CONSIDERED TOO COSTLY. COUNTY COUNCIL’S OPINION. The Public Works Department’s report on the possibilities for a fresh water supply for the Hauraki Plains was read at the meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council at Ngatea, on Mopday. The report provided for a scheme to bring water from the Waitawheta Stream at a cost of £BlO,000. The report was recently published in the “Gazette.” The clerk (Mr. E. Walton) read the report. Cr, Mayn: It’s a pretty costly scheme. Cr. McLoughlin: We can’t consider that proposition at all. It was queried whether the Government would subsidise the scheme, The Chairman: I don’t think we can consider this till we know more about the water supply. Cr. Mayn thought the Government would subsidise the scheme as it was in the Government’s interests. Cr. McLoughlin did not think the Government would add to the cost of their land. Cr. Parfitt moved : “That in view of the high rate it would entail this Council does not deal with the Gov-: enrment water report unless a substantial sum is forthcoming from the Government. Cr. McLoughlin seconded the motion, which was carried. MR. GANNON’S PROPOSALS. WATER FROM WESTERN HILLS. A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY. After the consideration of the Public Works Department’s report Mr. Loekie Gannon was admitted to the meeting to make a statement regarding his recent proposals to the Council.

Mr. Gannon said that since the fine weather broke he had spent a week investigating the sources of supply in the western ranges. The Kaikaka, Torehapa, and Kaihere streams had been investigated. On the western slopes there were numerous streams, and there was very little difference between the June figures and the summer figures of the flow. He had met some of the older settlers, who assured him that there was no difference 'n the flow in summer or winter. Where there was a rapid flow the water got away quickly and did not vary. In the Kaikaka stream there was a flow ofl '300,000 gallons a day, tne Kaihere stream 400,000 gallons, and the Toiehape 350,000 gallons. The Waitakaruru stream, with a head of 150 ft had a flow of 800,000 gallons i day. He had gone to the head of the Waitakaruru stream, eight miles from Waitakaruru, and one branch had a flow of 270,000 gallons a day. The Public Works Department’s scheme, said Mr. Gannon, was expensive. He had tried to get an economical scheme. He had only a skeleton plan and could design it in such a way that if the money w,as procurable the work could start immediately. Th?re was sufficient water to supply all the settled part of the Plains, approximately 60,000 acres. He would have to see whether it would pay have a scheme to aim to reduce the crossings at a minimum. To cross the Waihou River it was expensive and dangerous. As the district grew there were other streams which would supplement the supply. There was sufficient, water for. many years to come. In the event of; a big city on the Plains in years to come there was the Waitawheta scheme. The largest main in his present scheme was a 12in pipe. If in the future the County bad to go to the other side of t.he river for a larger supply of water his proposal would still be a permanent scheme. It would act as an auxiliary. In the event of a leakage or accident in one scheme, water would be procurable from another main. He had aimed at keeping the pipes small, only sufficient to supplj 7 requirements. A' 22in pipe would be far more expensive in every way than the small pipes. THE COST. In reply to a' question Mr, Gannon said he could give no answer with regard to estimates, but he thought the cost would be two or three times cheaper than the Government scheme. He had allowed for a beast, to the acre. He had not had the water, in the streams tested. They were mountain streams, and he thought the water would be all right. It was the duty of the Council to have the water analysed before the scheme commenced. Tn reply to the chairman Mr, Gannon said the terms made at the last meeting were that he would make plans and estimates for all possible sources of supply in the district, and he asked that in the event of the scheme being carried out his firm should be asked to carry out the engineering work. It would not cost the Council .anything till the work, or a portion of it, was started. The firm was not going to get out .he scheme if another firm was asked to carry it out. Cr. Hayward thought the Council could not commit itself at that meeting. It was a costly affair, and too big for a council to say anything definitely. He suggested that they defer the matter till they could get more information. Cr. Whiteehurch : Would 5 per cent, cover all the survey work ? Mr. Gannon : Yes. Or. Parfitt: What water schemes have you done ? Mr. Gannon : I h,ave been employed on practically every water supply scheme in the Auckland district. Cr. Mayn asked if any agreements made t'her would be binding on other future councils, Mr. Gannon : Yes. If no work was done they would not be committed to any payments. Cr. Whitechurch moved, that the Council consider Mr. Gannon’s report, at the next meeting. Cr. Hayward seconded. DIVERSITY OF OPINION. Or. Hayward thought there was no desperate need for water. He had

been experimenting and had got better results from the Piako- River water than from bore water. There was one portion where the cattle do as well as in Taranaki. He thought the land wanted top-dressing more than fresh water. It was not the water that was the trouble. They must see that they were not rated off their farms. Cr. Mayn : We want the water all right. The present .way was not a satisfactory way ofj dairying. The water scheme would tend to cleanliness. If they were to go on with the supply they must, get someone to get estimates. It would not be wise however, to hurry the Council into it In Kaihere and Patetonga the settlers wanted water, and had asked him to ca l ! a meeting for Mr Gannon to address. Or. McLoughlin said both Patetonga and Kaihere settlers had been advocating for a water system. They had water there better than any other part of the Plains. Depending on bore water was ridiculous. It was absolutely essential to give a. cow the best of feed and water.. The Kaihere settlers were going to have their own scheme if the rest of the County would not co-operate. Cr. Parfitt .regarding the settlers’ desire for water, said that at a meeting o f Pipiroa settlers a resolution had been carried unanimously (proposed by Mr. Buchanan and seconded by Mr. Porter) that the meeting considered the cost of the Public Works Department’s report puts that out bf aciton. and that the Council should accept Mr. Gannon’s scheme. Though some men got good returns from bore water, continued Cr. Parfitt, it was not to say they could not get better water. A prominent veterinarian claimed that the cattle wanted better water. The acidity wbuld only be remedied by fresh water. The chairman said that by accepting Mr. Gannon’s proposals the Council was only giving the ratepayers an opportunity to accept the proposals or not, and the Council whs not committing itself in any way. Mr. Gannon had therefore no claim on the Council if the ratepayers did not accept. It was decided to give a decision after the next meeting.