The Matamata Record Published every Thursday THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1919 WATER FOR MATAMATA.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 123, 13 March 1919, Page 2

The Matamata Record

Published every Thursday

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1919 WATER FOR MATAMATA.

The Only Paper published in the Matamata County

Office Tower Road P.O. Box 38 ’Phone 82

To insure insertion advertisements must roach the offico not later than Wednesday afternoons at 4 o’clock.

Changes of advertisements Must be gent in not later than Tuesdays at noon..

SINCE the Matamata Town board was formed, the demands for a water supply have been insistent, but the idea as to were it was to have its source was vague. Affurther impetus to the demands was given by the recent fire, and the town board at its very next meeting decided to wait no longer, but to secure the services of a competent engineer to gauge the strength of various streams. In the first place the board is to be congratulated on its choice of an engineer. Mr Gannon, who was written to and who promply responded by visiting the sites, is a man who has successfully worked many water schemes in the North Island, and who has the confidence of all local bodies who have employed him. Water is one of his specialities and he can be depended upon to do good service for the ratepayers in this connection. The board is also to be complimented upon’ having faced the question boldly. It. has been formed but eighteen months, and has readily recognised that it could not do better than spend part of its funds on a report regarding a water supply. N This year’s rates is the first money it has handled, and no ratepayer can say that it is not, in this instance, spending the money wisely. As will be noticed in another column a visit to the Ariki falls was made last Friday. The result of that visit is that it is now known that there Is an abundance of water for the use of the town, to be had in close proximity. The engineer stated that he had not ever previously been asked to prepare a scheme, which presented such favorable, conditions regarding distance and supply, and the water is good —of the best. If the board adopts the scheme to be put forward by Mr Gannon, and we have no doubt that it will, it will remain for the ratepayers to say if they will sanction a loan. The first progressive move a district can make is to provide itselt with water. Plenty of water promotes good health, industry, clean streets and clean dwellings. A water supply will allay a nuisance which can noti be got rid of without it in Matamata —the dust nuisance. It will also mean that there will be a chance of saving any dwelling (all too scarce) which may catch fire. These are only some of the advantages of a water supply, but they, alone, are enough to ensure that wheu the loan proposals are put to the people, they will rise to the occasion, and allow the engineer to complete the work.