KUMARA GOLDFIELD WATER SUPPLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1458, 31 May 1881, Page 2

KUMARA GOLDFIELD WATER SUPPLY.

A public meeting was held at Reynolds’ Hotel, Hillman's Town, last evening, for the purpose of hearing the result of the labors of the Kutnara Goldfield Water-supply Committee, who had been appointed by public meeting, in February last, to take means to lay before the General Government the necessity of an increased water-supply for this goldfield. That commitee was also requested to strongly and respectfully urge on the Government the immediate necesssity of having the sludge-chaunel blocked, so that it could be utilised for the purpose for which it was constructed ; and the names of the committee appointed at said meeting were : —Messrs Hungan, Morris, White, Agnew, Barrowman, Wheeler, Hugh

Flaherty, R. MTCenzie, and Ambrose Creeber. These gentlemen considered they had now fulfilled, as far as lay in their power, the task for which they had been appointed, and called this public meeting to deliver their statement and tender their resignation as a body. Mr P. Dungan was voted to the chair.

Mr Dungan said he would briefly bring under the notice of this meeting the object for which it had been specially called. It was to hear the report of work done by the Water-supply Committee, and to place their resignation in the hands of the meeting. The first step taken by the committee was to call a public meeting in Kumara, at which a large committee of townspeople were chosen to co-operate with the Dill man’s Town Committee. Mr Martin, Government Engineer, visited Kumara shortly after this, and the committee waited upon him, and informed him of the urgent necessity for an increased supply of water for mining purposes on this goldfield. Mr Martin replied that so far as he was concerned, he would report favorably ] and, in reply to his despatch, a communication was received to the effect that the matter was under the consideration of the Government. After that a resolution to the same purport was forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, and the reply to this was that the matter was referred to the Minister of Mines. Then Mr M'Kerrow was appointed by the Government to inquire into the wants of the goldfield; and Messrs Agnew, M‘Kenzie, and Dungan were deputed to interview that functionary, Mr M'Kerrow seemed very anxious to gain all the information he could, and he was told that unless a larger supply of water could be obtained, mining on this goldfield must languish. Next the committee communicated with our Representatives in Parliament Gisborne, Reid, and Seddon—to use their influence in the desired object. A telegram was also forwarded by the Secretary to the Minister of Mines, and a fortnight ago a letter was received by Mr M'Kenzie, our secretary, from the Mines Department. This letter was published in the Kumaka Times on the 23rd inst. [Letter read.] He (Mr Dungan) considered the committee had concluded their labors j they could do no more; and they now tendered their resignation. It is. for you, gentlemen, he said, to consider if any other steps are desirable. Mr KETTLE'said he had a resolution to move. He hoped there would be no apathy shown in the matter of watersupply. He thought the committee had left no stone unturned. Nothing seemed to be accomplished without agitation, and he would repeat the old cry—Agitate! agitate! agitate!' Roads, bridges, and many other works were but secondary to the all-important matter of water-supply to this district. The resolution he had to.move was—- “ That the present Water-supply Committee be respectfully requested to remain in office until a requisition he got up by them, and presented to Parliament.”

Mr A. Leslie seconded the resolution.

The Chairman remarked that whenever the miners weie unanimous on a given object; they generally got what they wanted. Mr Agxew supported the resolution. As one of the Water-supply Committee, he might mention that a number of double-area claims had now been taken up, and a large number of miners were still waiting and anxious to take up claims ; and he was quite sure the supply would be totally inadequate to the reqirements of the district. The Chairman said he had no donbt if the petition were well supported, it would be attended to.

The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr Creeber had a suggestion he would like to make, and that was to give the Committee power to add to their number. Two or three members had left the locality. Mr Leslie proposed that the name of Mr Kettle be added to the Committee.

Mr M. Barrowman proposed that the Committee have power given to them to add to their number the name of any person they may think suitable. Mr Loumann seconded.

Messrs Reynolds, M. Barrowman, Kettle, and Leslie were then nominated as members to act with the Committee, and the motion was carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, moved by Mr Kettle, and seconded by Mr Reynolds terminated the business of the meeting.

A meeting of the newly-appointed Committee was held after the public meeting. It was the unanimous opinion of the Committee that nothing

short of 100 heads of water would be necessary for the proper forking of the sludge-channel. Two hundred would not be too many, and could be profitably used; in fact, one member stated he believed 500 heads of water would be used if such a number could be provided.