CATCHMENT AREA.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 281, 28 March 1929, Page 1

CATCHMENT AREA.

FOR WATER SUPPLY. A Matamata Request. The urgent need for reserving a water catchment area in the ranges for the Blatamata town water supply was stressed by Mr. J. Buchanan, chairman of the Town Board, during the visit of the Minister of Lands on Friday.

Blr. Buchanan said the present increase in population and the increase v;hieh would follow closer settlement made it imperative that the future requirements of the town should be safeguarded. Thirty-six thousand pounds had been spent on the water scheme, and they now desired to conserve part of the surroundings of the intake. They asked that a block of precipitous country be acquired by the Forestry Department to cover future needs and at least 1000 acres to be declared for immediate needs. I The block required was about 4000 acres as a whole. Mr. Forbes : Does it cover the watershed ? Blr. Buchanan : The whole area does. This matter has been going on since 1920, and while we received sympathetic replies in connection with the matter in the past, it is now requested that something be definitely fixed. Mr. F. D. Thomson : You want us to buy it and then to make it over as a gift.

Mr. Buchanan : Well, for the Forestry Department tc acquire it. Blr. Thompson : It is the same thing—conservation.

J At a later stage in the meeting Mr. / Thompson, Under Secretary of Lands, said the board was practically asking for a gift. The usual thing was for the local body concerned to find a big proportion of the money and for the I Government to subsidise that amount. [ Mr. Forbes said the Forestry Department was only 100 willing to do what it could in such cases. If the Town Board placed a proposition Infore him he w« •" ’ . he could in the board’s ::: with the Minister of Finance.