Kuku Water Races.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 15 January 1918, Page 3

Kuku Water Races.

THE SUPPLY THAT FAILED

A new water-race, recently constructed at the Kuku, caused considerable perplexity at Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council- It taps a supply that was supposed to be ample for needs, but whereas there is a full head of water at the intake it dwindles away to three inches lower down. The Engineer reported :—The principal work going on in the Otaki Hiding has been the Kuku water-frace vextension which was practically finished, but he regretted to say the supply was altogether indequate. judging by last week. The rain came along and saved the situation but not before there was a shortage in supply. He was convinced that a storage reservoir would have to be provided. This need not be expensive as there- was a. splendid place on Mr Scholes' land where a million gallons might be stored, cheaply. Replying to the chairman the Engineer said he could not find a leak in the race. The Chairman said the settlers had not treated the Council fair--1 ly. They definitely agreed at the time the work was done to appoint their own overseer, but they did not come up to the mark. Cr. 'McLeavey said there was so little water that 140 bullocks had to be taken off the McDonald Estate. Cr. Murray said tile settlers came to the Council and were so sure that they had a man who could act as overseer that the Council agreed to go on with the expenditure. Cr. McLeavey said the expenditure of this loan of £700 was left to the Council to carry out: If ,tlie settlers did not appoint on

gnaMCTnaqßaaaß—— B—»bb— overseer the Council sliould have taken action. The chairman: We did so and j what happened ? Cr. McLeavey said he understood a deputation would wait on the Council to tell them what happened. The Crs- for the riding, with Cr. McLeavey, were authorised to inspect the race with power to act. Later on Mr W. lievau waited on tlie Council in reg-aril to the matter. He said his wife's property was in the original scheme and it was not getting nearly enough water now that the new race was opened. He suggested that the new race through Mr Homes property he shut off until the old race was served with water. On Sunday he found that the water It ad been shut out of the old race which supplied 1000 head as against TOO liead by tlie other raceThe chairman said the Council had appointed a committee which would inspect the races.