MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8335, 18 January 1907, Page 5

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

WAINGAWA RIVER ENCROACHMENT. THE ABATTOIR WATER SUPPLY. ' ' A party consisting of the Mayor (Mr J. A. Renall), Crs Feist, Elliott, McEwen,-., and Temple, the Town Clerk, the Borough Engineer, and the Borough Turncock, yesterday afternoon, inspected the encroachment recently made by the Waingawa river near the headworks of the water supply and, also, visited the abattoir .>■ to consider what steps should be taken to remedy the defective water supply that exists there at present. On the way to the Waingawa the party were met by Messrs W. L. Falconer, R. McKenzie, and Telford, and proceeded to Mr Telford's house. From there they walked along the river bank to Mr Falconer's property at a point where the liver is encroaching on the land. They found that the river was running into a belt of scrub at the foot of a terrace on the northern bank. Settlers residing along the bank of the river stated that the tendency of the v stream for years past had been to encroach on the land. They considered that this encroachment had been caused principally through' the construction of a groin in the river to protect the property on the opposite side of the stream. The matter was discussed with the .settlers interested, ani the Council decided that two groins should be erected at •the points where the river threatened to encroach. The Council will supply the wire netting for the gfroins, and will subsidise. the necessary labour to the extent of £ls. The construction of the groin will help to turn .the water back into the old i channel and prevent the threatened damage to settlers' property as well as to the headworks of the water sup« ply. ;''■"" .-. The party then proceeded to the abattoir to discuss matters, relating to the water supply. They were met by Cr Morris and Mr D. Elliott, manager of the abattoir. An inspection was made of the present water supply; also the various places where it was throught water could be ob- , tained. The Councillors present were divided in opinion as to the best means of procuring an efficient water supply; Some of them thought it • might be possible to use the present well for washing carcases and the race water for cleansing the premises. Other Councillors, including the Mayor were of opinion that the only satisfactory way in which the difficulty could be settled would be to bring the water from the high pressure supply to the abattoir. It was pojnted out that the amount that ■ would be saved in the cost of pump- . ing, etc.; would be equal to the interest and sinking fund on the amount required to instal the high pressure supply. Facilities would also 'be given to residents in that locality to become consumers of the water. It was decided to obtain further information on the matter before coming to any definite decision. In v order ttf ascertain what quantity of water was going into the abattoir well, Mr Elliott was asked to cut off the race water, which at present is running into the well. While at the abattoir the Councillors took the opportunity to inspect the paddocks on which gorse is growing. It was decided to purchase fifty.gallons of "Lixall," and to send a man with Mr T. Miller to experiment on one patch of gorse. If Ithe experiment is successful, arrangements will be made with Mr Miller to' clear the gorse from all the paddocks.