THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1922. PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4440, 14 July 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1922. PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

There is nothing at the present day of more absorbing interest to the farmers on the Hauraki Plains than the proposal to supply the Plains with fresh water. Within the last few weeks there have been two schemes outlined, and both have been before the Hauraki Plains County Council. Though the long-delayed Public Works Department report has been considered too costly, and will be shelved by the Council, if no Government assistance is forthcoming, it has not entirely lost its usefulness. It will serve as a guide and a means of comparison with other schemes which may be submitted, also, it may be necessary in years to come. Mr Lockie Gannon, a well-known engineer, has interested himself in the matter, and has offered his services to the Council. He has already made preliminary investigations. While the Public Works Department looked to the eastern ranges, Mr Gannon attacked the proposition from the western hills. His scheme differs materially to the Public Works scheme, which provided for the water coming from only one source of supply. The water under Mr Gannon’s proposal will come from several different streams, therefore smaller pipes (12 inch instead of 22 inch) will be required. The water has not to be brought nearly so far, and thpt in itself should make the scheme a cheaper one. According to the Government report, i,790,000ga15. per day would be essential, and with the streams mentioned by Mr Gannon, the Kaikaka (300,000), the Kaihere (400,000), the Torehapa (350,000), and the Waitakaruru (Boo,ooogals. per day), there is available a total amount of water exceeding the Public Works Department’s estimated requirements. We do not propose to criticise all the engineering points — that is entirely for an expert — but on the face of it, it appears that Mr Gannon’s proposed scheme will be as suitable and a cheaper one than the Department’s, but whether the costs will be two or three times smaller (as stated by Mr Gannon) is debatable. The Council, however, is quite justified in giving no immediate decision in the matter, as it is a big proposition, and the Councillors are to be complimented on the amount of consideration they have given to it, and on the attitude they have adopted.