PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4613, 12 October 1923, Page 1

PLAINS WATER SUPPLY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT SUBMITTED. At the las,t meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council Mr E. FAdams’ report on a water supply was 1 read and discussed. The i eport was as follows:— U I think it is possible by a shorn cut to enable your Council to decide if I am wanted any further in the matter of the water supply. This will possibly save expense and time, although the instructions pf your letr ter of August 23 ate not being strictly adhered to. “Tn regard to the flat area of your county west of the Piakb River: In my opinion there is a sufficient) supply available to serve this area without any particular engineering difficulties. In stating this I am going on my knowledge of the streams in dry weather, and also by an assessment of them in terms of similar catchment areas of which I have tjhe dry weather record. At the same time it would be inadvisable to proceed until systematic summer gauging and tests of purity have been made. T am sure that if your Council applies to the District Health O/ficer, Auckland, that their laboratory will quickly furnish you with the information as to suitability of the supply of each stream, either as potable water or for use of stock only. “Assuming the purity and sufficiency of the supply, is it commercial; ly practicable ? In order to enable your Council to decide this I have put in a considerable amount of work on the following lines : (a) The works to be substantial and permanent within at least the period of the loan and over'; (b) the delivery to be sufficient up to the full productivity of the lands dealt with. In the second clause I assume a reasonable farm storage. It is inevitable in any caseFull productivity I have taken at one and a half cows to the acre to represent the peak demand of, the first quality land. On the above standards I have worked the cost of the works. “From this the commercial aspect of the undertaking is deducible, and for this it is necessary* to take another standard of productivity. The standard here is 60 cows to 100 acres ojn the fully grassed first-class land. If the whole 28,500 acres of occupied land of the Plains west of the Piako River and within your county were to this standard the annual cost of the waterworks per cow would be much less than the present) cost, which I estimate at 8s per annum. As the lands carry more stock the cost per cow will decrease, “Naturally, before the final designs of the layout are completed a very careful further dissection of the lands would be made, far more searching than I have been able to make for this general estimate, and this will probably reduce the figure stated aobve. in' the meantime the 8s per cow per annnum may be taken as safe. In the 28,500 acres referred to neither the improved nor unimproved Crown lands as yet withheld from lease is included. The aiea represents the lands disposed of and W occupation between the Piako River on the east and the. foothills on the west and from the sea on fhe north to the county boundary on |he south. “As the subject is an interesting one, and has been to me for some time, I exceeded your instructions and investigated the remaining area between the Waihou and Piako rivers from the sea to the south of the Awaiti Settlement. Here there is a settled area of 34,560 acres. It is quite pratcicable to ’establish here also a system of water supply to the same standing of efficiency as described for the area west of the Piako for within the figure of 8s per cow per annum. “I do not think it is worth while giving estimates of surveys, levels, designs, etc., for the layout if the commercial aspect as stated does not meet with your Council’s approval. If, on the other hand, your Council considers the figuA a practicable one, I have several suggestions to submit?’ Cr. Parfitt said that the rate would not go on a cow basis. It[ would have to be on a valuation basis. He thought the proposition coramerciailly sound, and moved that Mr. Adams be asked to furnish the suggestions he referred to. Cr. Harris seconded, and the motion was carried. The question as to whether a report, pn a scheme for the whole of the county, should be obtained was brought up. Cr. Hayward said that this would delay the matter. In his opinion the matter was more urgent in the Wai-takaruru-Pipiroa area. Crs, Mayn, Parfitjt, and Madgwick concurred, and said that the opinion of the ratepayers of the area west of the Piako River should be obtained prior to any actipn being taken. Cr. Parfitt said that the report was not exactly as requested. [A report on each stream was required so that any area could proceed on its own if tfib other areas were not favourable. , Cr. Hare said that no farmer <fii any .part of tjhe Plains would turn ths? proposition down at 8s per cow, urged that the Council proceed with a definite scheme, preferably from west of the Waihou River. Cr. Madgwick said that it looked like a big proposition, but a water supply would help the ratepayers to meet their other obligations. Cr. Hayward suggested asking the Government to prepare a scheme, A subsidy might be available. Cr. Parfitt said that the Pipirtoa riding jvas prepared to pay for its own scheme. Speaking to Mr, Adams, he had learned that if a, big scheme

was proposed a small scheme at Waitakaruru would be a great benefit as it could be used as a “booster.” Smaller pipes to Waitakaruru could then be used. Cr. Hare pointed out that the Ohinemuri County aflid Paeroa Borough would gladly come in with a big scheme from Waitawheta. This ivould greatly reduce the cost. Cr. Hare moved that the clerk write to the Minister of Public Works asking if his Department would carry out the work on the estimate given, and what subsidy his department would contribute in consideration of the fact of the huge amount of Crown land on the Plains and the hardships of the present settlers owing to the lack of suitable water.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Madgwick and carried.