WAINUIOMATA WATER SUPPLY SCHEME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 3

WAINUIOMATA WATER SUPPLY SCHEME.

MEETING OE RATEPAYERS.

A meeting of city ratepayers was held on Saturday evening at the Athenamm, to discuss the project of borrowing £130,000 to carry out the Wainuiomata water supply scheme. The attendance was very email at first; but afterwards increased. On the platform were the Mayor (presiding), Councillors Eisher, Allan, Dixon, Thompson, Mr. Baird (City Surveyor), and Mr. Page. There being cries of “Adjourn,” The Chairman said that it was not competent to do so, there being no provision in the Act for an adjournment of the meeting, and further it was not necessary for them to do so, inasmuch as they could not settle the point at issue. He then read the clauses of the Act bearing on the subject and also the advertisement calling the meeting. He then called upon Mr. Page, who read Mr. Baird’s report on the proposed scheme. He then intimated that the plans, which were lying at the City Surveyor’s office, might be seen by those who wished to do so. A Ratepayer : “ Does the whole of the land belong to Government ?” The Chairman understood from the Engineer that there was about a thousand acres of private land. In answer to a remark about the water draining through a swamp he stated that the source from which they would take it would be far above the swamp. Mr. George Fisher proposed pro forma, —That this meeting approves of a loan of £130,000 for the supply of Wainuiomata water to the city as proposed by the City Council, and they also approve of the threepenny rate forming the security of that supply. The original estimate was £IOO,OOO, but upon investigation this was found not to be sufficient. The present supply was insufficient in dry weather, and with an increasing population it would require _ to be vastly increased. Apart from domestic purposes, water was needed for fire extinction, street watering and manufacturing purposes. To show that a water supply was capable of recouping all outlay upon it he instanced companies in Glasgow and London who were realising large profits from consumers. Industries had been kept back in this town through the want of water as a motive power, and he maintained that a community, to be prosperous, must depend solely upon its manufactures. As to the financial aspect of the matter, Mr. Travers had informed him that the surplus from the sale of water might be sufficient to meet the interest charged on ,the loan, but as they were told that the security must be more specific he agreed to place on the debentures a specific sum of threepence in the £, although

he did not think that rate would ever be required. It merely stood as a, collateral security, and would not be levied until the actual necessity arose. Even with the limited supply from Karori they had last year a surplus of £3OOO, and he believed this wouldrealise quadra; that. It had been argued that by the expenditure of £25,000 they could get a sufficient domestic supply from Karori stream, but it was a supply for manufactures that they required. Mr. Anderson asked how it was that 3d. in the £ would do for this purpose whereas 7d. was required for the street making loan. Mr. Dishes explained that the 7d. was fired because there was no immediate return from the streets.

Mr. W. T. L. Travers, as a ratepayer, would second the resolution. Some valuable Information might have been obtained from Nelson with respect to the value of water for manufacturing purposes. There water power was adapted to all purposes, and proved a great saving as a motive power. A very important manufacture—that of hematite paint—would have been introduced in Wellington some years ago had there been a sufficient supply of water to carry it on. Ha prophesied an immense development of industries with an increased supply. He regarded the Wainuiomata source as a most favorable one. It would ensure au abundance of pure water; whereas the water in the present reservoir could not remain pure during the summer. Instead of the threepenny rate being required, he thought the effect of the new scheme would be to relieve the city of a great deal of other rates. He viewed the past scheme as a great mistake, and if the whole thing was to give way tomorrow, he believed it would be a good thing for the city. When the new scheme was carried out, he was satisfied that not a man in Wellington would defile his mouth with water from the present one. (Applause.) Mr Wilson gave his support to the resolution. Mr. Allen - said as a City Councillor he had opposed the scheme they were discussing, and he now advocated in preference that of Karori, which by the expenditure of about £25,000 would produce an ample supply. Mr. Looan supported the resolution. The only private land the water ran through belonged to Messrs. Sinclair and Dick, and the cost of it would be very email. He wished to do away with an impression that the water came from au impure source, and stated that it ran over nothing but a rooky bed. There would be an abundant supply, and there would be nothing less than a 12-inch main to the further end of the town. Within the last week the insurance companies had proposed at a conference to increase the prices of insurance in Wellington 10s. per cent., and that had only been upset by one vote. This placed an additional value on au increased supply of water, and he trusted they would resolve upon it. Mr. Marchant, amid a round of applause, stepped on the platform. He explained himself as unbiassed on the subject. It had been said that the reservoir, with which his name was connected, had cost £BO,OOO whereas it did not cost more than £62,000, and he considered that Wellington was not in a position to entertain a scheme of £130,000. As a hydraulic engineer, he maintained that all the talk they had hoard about machinery was moonshine, and the cost of the pipes to bring in water from Wainuioraata would come t< £IIO,OOO. Eleven thousand tons would he required, and he estimated the cost, landed on the wharf, including freight and commission, at £lO per ton. Mr. Yottnq : Half of that would do.

Mr. M vuchant contended that the scheme could rot be carried out for the amount stated He v .3 strongly in favor of meters being used to prevent the waste now going on. Air. Youno : What would be the probable cost of two extra basins 2 Mr. Marchant : I have not taken an estimate, but I would say that the cost would not exceed £50,000. Mr. Young : For how long after spending the £50,000 would it be sufficient?

Mr. Marchant ; When the town reached thirty-five thousand people it would bo well t( get another. Mr. Dawson, as one considerably affected by the rates, objected to increased taxation, but a sufficient water supply was the first object for this or any other city. As a commercial speculation he believed it would pay, and he instanced in support of his argument that an extensive water supply scheme completed in Melbourne twenty-five years ago had since paid interest and nearly the whole of the original cost, therefore he supported the motion.

A ratepayer affirmed that the ruling wages in Melbourne twenty-five years ago was five shillings a day. Mr. Dawson in reply stated that artisans were then being paid thirty shillings a day. He also stated that the pipes for the Wainuiomata scheme could be delivered on Wellington wharf at £6 10s. a ton. Mr. Petherick moved as an amendmen! that the sum of £130,000 asked for be no; granted. This was seconded by Mr. Worth, and amidst a deal of uproar the amendment was negatived by 35 to 32. Mr. Petherick declared the affair was a swindle, and the chairman was about to announce that a poll would be taken in due course, but his voice was drowned by the confusion.