PAEROA WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5237, 10 February 1928, Page 2

PAEROA WATER SUPPLY.

WASTAGE CHARGE UNFOUNDED.

FULL INVESTIGATIONS MADE. Following on the letter signed “Fairplay,” relative to the alleged wastage of water, and published in Wednesday’s issue, careful inquiries wqre made at the office of the Ohinemuri County Council, and the chairman has been interviewed in connection with the matter. This morning a representative of this paper, with the county engineer, visited the property of Mr Alex Coxhead on Old Te Aroha Road, where the alleged waste of water was, taking place.' A careful inspection was made, and as a result the allegations are quite unfounded. The true position, as seen this morning—and the occupier of the property had no warning that an inspection was going to be made was that a half-inch pipe fitted with a tap leads, to a wooden trough, which is not used as a drinkiilg trough for cattle, but solely for the purpose of containing water for washing buckets and milking utensils. Alongside the, trough, or tub is a washing-up bench, and as the utensils are Washed the water is tapped into an old creek-bed. It has; only been, during the past few weeks that this marshy place has dried up, and even now there are several soft spots, especially where the dirty water has been thrown. In these places the pigs 'have wallowed and churned the mud up. There is no trace or sign of undue waste of. water, either by the contents of the trough overflowing or the tap being left running. The small area between the trough and the centre of the creek-bed is dry, and apparently has been so for a long time.

A proof that there has been no wastage of water has; also been obtained from settlers, living above Mr Coxhead on the same road. Owing to the long length of small-gauge pipe over almost dead-level country, an d consequent lack of pressure, any water drawn off on Mr Coxhead’s, property immediately affects the supply farther up.\ Right through this summer these settlers have riot lodged a •complaint with the county officials about shortage of water at any time. As to one of the county council employees “travelling round in a motorcar,’.’ as stated by “Fairplay,” reference is made 'again, no doubt, to Mr Coxh'ead. The chairman has stated, arid his remarks, are endorsed by: the engineer, that on several occasions during the course of his duty in inspecting water connections or other work it has been necessity to carry certain tools and gear for a considerable distance. In order to save the expense of hiring a carrier or taking the county lorry off more important work, Mr Coxhead has discarded his, bicycle and uses his own car for the purpose of carrying the county’s gear on to the job. This, it has been authoritatively stated, is done by Mr Coxhead at his own expense, and for which he gets no allowance whatever from the county office.