WATER SUPPLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 74, 10 July 1869, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY.

PUBLIC MEETING AT WETHERSTONES.

I A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Sportsman's Arms, Wetherstones on Friday evening last, to take into consideration the desirability of addressing the race-owners with a" view of i getting a reduction in the price of water. The meeting was larger than has been in Wetherstones for many a day ; the hall being crowded ; in fact, not a single member' of the community appeared to be absent. This can easily be accounted for by the enormous price charged for water •by' the Phoenix Water Company and Messrs. Kiddle and Mooney. Mr. Bowes occupied the' chair, and opened the meeting, by stating its object, after which the following resolutions were adopted by acclamation. "That this meeting considers that the present, rate charged fo.r water, greatly retards mining operations, and that in consequence there is a great deal of ground abandoned, which would be worked if water could be had at a much lower rate. Numbers of the miners are leaving the district in consequence of the present high price charged for water. " That it is the opinion of this meeting the water should be supplied at half the price which is now charged. " That this meeting considers it desirable that a petition signed by the miners of Wetherstones, should be forwarded to the directors of the Phoenix Company ; and also to Messrs. Riddle and Mooney, showing them the desirableness of having the price of water reduced one-half. " That this "meeting considers it desirable that a deputation be appointed to wait on the directors of the Phoenix Water Race Company, and present the petition also to Messrs. Riddle and Mooney." It was suggested by Mr. Niddrie that the deputation should press the matter to the utmost, seeing the welfare of the district entirely depended upon the success of their efforts. Amongst the number of those interested in the object of the meeting, and who spoke during "the evening, "were Messrs. Whealan, W. Smith, Eobt. Johnson, B. Hart. And a deputation of nine, con sisting of Messrs. Hart, Smith, Bowes, M'Cluskey, M'Sweeney, Carr, and others, were appointed without any opposition. The following memorial was then drawn up, and has since been signed by about 70 of the resident miners and others. : — To the directors of the Phoenix Water Company.

"Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned miners of Wetherstones, do humbly petition the directors of the Phoanix Water Company to reduce the present rates of ; water. We, feel convinced that a considerable reduction in the present rates is urgently required, owing to the auriferous resources of the ground gradually becoming poorer ; thereby necessitating a larger quantity, of water to work the ground to v advantage. - We also consider :that it would be conducive to the interests of the Company as well as the district generally, by augmenting the population, considerably, winch' is now gradually decreasing, and causing a quicker and larger sale for all the water your Company may have available for mining purposes."

- It was agreed to ,send a ,copy of the above memorial to Messrs Riddle and Mooney' aldo.- -After which the usual vote ofthankstothe chair was passed and the meeting dispersed. [We wtould suggest to our Wetherstones friends that when they, have any special meeting which they wish reported, they' should send an intimation of such to the local press, which, at all times will be found ready to give full publicity to any grievance that may arise. — En; "..T.T. 1 "] .