WAITOHI WATER SUPPLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1929, 13 August 1889, Page 3

WAITOHI WATER SUPPLY.

A meeting of persona interested in the Waitohi Water Supply question was held last Saturday evening in the Wallingford Hotel. On the motion of Mr Talbet, seconded by Mr Newbury, the chair nas taken by Mr A. M. Clark. The chairman explained that the object of the "meeting was to discuss the County Council’s proposal to get a water supply for Waitohi. He called on Mr Talbot to address the meeting. ; Mr Talbot asked the chairman to explain his reason for calling the meeting. ' Mr Frew asked whether any change could be made after the vote was taken. Mr Talbot j said of course the; details could be altered. The simple question was whether it was desirable f 6 go in ' for itor not. A majority of ratepayers, as well as of voles, would be required. It was right to know how the thing stands. The matter was put at the Waitohi meeting so as to frighten people because the council proposed 't6 borrow more than was necessary. The original estimate was £2OOO and in that case it would greatly alter the rates. The cost of maintenance would probably be. nil, as the water ran through na. jral channels. The engineers anticipated no trouble, and £SO instead of £l5O a year, would be sufficient for maintenance. The money could be borrowed at 5 per cent, or 6 at the highest. The c»st at that rate would be £l2O, and the maintenance would be only £SO, eh that it wou'd not be over 6d per acre. This question was, Was it worth 6d or 9i per acre ? He certainly would say it tens worth 9d. It would be extinguished in 26 years, and that would mean £1 per acre in 28 years, and Ist them ask themselves would it be worth that. They all know hat dammed water gets worse year after year, and as time went on it would get worse. / Ninepence per aero looked very large, but if they put sheep in a paddock •without water thsy would not be long losing it. He wanted the requirements of a home,, and he intended to make a borne there ; but Mr Clark possibly did not. That made a great difference. He hoped they would pass it, as it was very raueh wanted. Mr Palmer said there ware places where it was impossible to put the water. There were 812 acres, and only about 30 acres of it could be watered without catting a v drain. Mr Qoodeva was never short of water, but where he wanted water they could not give it to him.

Mr Talbot said (hero was not a foot of Mr Goodeve’s land that could not bo watered.

Mr Goodeve said £SO a year would not keep it. He had very little land but had too much water. He believed for one year's rate they could get a good supply of water. He bdievad it would cost £SOOO.

Mr Frew s*id there was one thing ; The surplus Water was to be directed into the Rangitira Creek, and he was afaii it would not be pure then. Mr Talbot said the Opihi water was better than the Rangitira creek. Mr Frew said the Rangitira creek at his end was pure spring weter, aod the water-race would reduce the quality of his water supply. If the scheme was improved so that he would get clean water he would aot object to it. Mr Orr said bo had been talking to a man who had water, and yet was in favor of this schetn?, because he thought it would improve (he value of the land. Mr E. Mitchell said the more valuable the land the more taxes they would have to pay. Mr Palmer said it was a Vogeltau scheme. Vogel was not out of the colony yet. It was a wild, mad scheme. .The chairman said he could not supply much information as he had to go to Christchurch. It was a mistake on Mr Talbot’s part to think that he (Mr Clark) was opposed to a water supply. He was notj but ho thought it would be wise to inquire whether a better scheme could be devised. Tho amount proposed to bo borrowed was £2600 at 6 per cant, which would come to £l5O per annum, and there would be £l5O more for maintenance, making an annual tax of 9d per acre. Another thing was the position they placed themselves into. If the head works were swept away the County Council could get them reconstructed without their sanction and tax them. That was a dangerous power to give the council. Mr Talbot said they might as well tay that with regard to any bridge or road in the district. There was nothing in that. Mr Clark continued: The headworks coat £I7OO and that was too much too sink in the bed of the Opihi. Mr Talbot said very little of it would be spent in the Opihi, It included the race. Mr Clark continued and warned them that no pigs woald be allowed where there was water. This was a serious matter for people who kept pigs. It was possible that a better scheme could be devised. It was well known that there was an immense current of water passing underneath the flat, and supposing that they could get a reservoir at the head of the flit, and get an engine to pump tho water, it might be better. They could get an engine for £250, and a pump for £BO, He thought ihat possibly could be better worked in that way, Mr Talbot asked Mr Clark to read tho letter he had received from the engineers. Mr Clark did so. it was to tho effect that they had reported on the matter six years ago, and that circumstances had altered since. Their estimate then for the headworks and race was £I7OO, but as that included purchasing land which now could be taken under recent legislation for compensation, that amount might be considerably reduced. Mr Talbot pointed out that the engineers' original estimate was £2OOO, and that now they asserted in their letter to Mr Clark that possibly that amount might be reduced owing to recent legislation. As to putting themselves in the power of the 1 connty council, they must do that in every case. They could not da anything wnthont putting themselves in the power of the council, but there was very little danger of the works being swept away. As regards the pigs of which Mr Clark made so much there was nothing in it, as in any case if a man above another was polluting the water he was liable. This was made out of a case at Orari where a man turned 100 or 20© pigs into a paddock where the water was. That was altogether different. He (Mr Talbot) would be glad if tho poll could be delayed for a month to let the people think over it, but it could net be now. He heartily hoped the proposal would be carried, as he very much wanted it. After some further remarks the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.