THE FREEZING WORKS SITE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9672, 10 December 1909, Page 6

THE FREEZING WORKS SITE.

MR LEADLEY'S REPORT. "WAINGAWA site is the BEST." NEGOTIATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF LAND. ' TENDERS TO BE CABLED IMMEDIATELY. It will be remembered that some time ago when the "battla of the hejzing sites" was at its height in tl.e Wairarapa, dissatisfaction was expressed by a number of Lower Valley shareholders in the new Wellington Meat of the previous inspection, and report made by the Company's Engineer (Mr A. S. Mitchell), in favour of the Waingawa site, as against other sites, more particularly Pigeon Bush. At the request of one of the South Wairarapa Directors, Mr G. G. Leadley, the well known South Island freezing works expert, was asked to visit the Wairarapa and inspect the various sites previously considered and in addition a new one, at Fernside, near the Tauherenikau River. Arrangements for the. visit Were u ach •■by Mr G. Pain with the approval of Mr J. (J. Cooper, Managing Director. It will be seen from the appended report by Mr Leadley that he has made the fullest possible enquiry into all the details relating to the j different sites. Tne report submitted endorses the , previous report of Mr Mitchell, and the judgment/jf the directors of the Company. The effect of the report is that most cf the properties under offer have been purchased at Waingawa, the deposits having been paid yesterday. JWr Reekes, Government Veterinarian, and the Company's Engineer will in the course of a few days visit the Waingawa to decide ou the exact position for the erection of the works. Mr Mitchell is now busy preparing the plans for the works and tenders :for their construction will be called almost immediately. The following is Mr Leadley'o report:— PIGEON BUSH. The pcsitiun pointed out has little to recommend it. The surface is rough and uneven. The water supply is small, even at the present time, and judging by its present volume would be liable in a'dry season to fall altogether. The only outlet for sewage water would, apparently, be the neighbouring lake, in which case, the utilisation of this waste product would be impossible. I cannot recommend this site. FERNSJDE.

This is a site which possesses many advantages. The position is good. The water supply fr6m the race, fed by the river, is ample and of good quality. If the water rights can be secured, and the existing race utilised, a very satisfactory and inexpensive system could be obtained, and I am informed that the permanence of the supply is guaranteed. Drainage.—This site offers the best facilities for the disposal of the sewage from the works, of any of the sites visited. The large area of almost level land available, , and the porosity of the soil leave nothing to be desired in this particular, while the lay of the land, being away from the railway, the almost complete isolation oi the locality—there being scarcely any resident popuhtion—are features strongly in its favour. The stony character of the surface would nmke it a little difficult to construct irrigation channels, but as there is such a large area of land available, these channels, when once made, might remain open for some years. Position of Works.—lf on this site would be almost alongside the line of railway, and a very loop line would connect therewith. Accessibility,—-As the road lines are fenced in this particular locality, it is not easy to see how the works would be approached from the surrounding country, nut I was given to understand that a road crosses the railway just at this point, and the one leading eastward would require to be opened up, and probably a new road laid oif to connect with the road leading to the river. If this site were chosen, it would be necessary ior the Company to secure water rights at the river head of the race, and

also to purchase the block of land lying immediately behind the Fernsidj station, as well as the larger block of land on the eastern side of the line of railway, for the disposal of the sewage, as previously looted. This site has many natural advantages, with which I was much pleased, and it would be very eligible ff>r the purposes of the Company. WOODSIDE. ' This position I regard as being very unsuitable. The locality is difficult of access. The suggested position for the works would necessitate the erection of an expensive pumping plant, either for the fresh water supply, or for the sewage. The land is rough and uneven, and of poor quality, while the price asked is. I consider, much too high. I cannot recommend this site. WAINGAWA.

This site has many and distinct advantages. Position. —This is good, and though the quantity of land available is not large, yet I think it would be sufficient for many years. Water supply.—This is excellent. The strong flow of clean water in the race, which is il am informed) iei by never failing streams, is all that could be wished for, while the numerous springs rising out of the terrace at the back of the block provide a splendid auxiliary supply. By the installation of a hydraulic ram in the race at the terrace, the water could easily be conveyed in pipes, and delivered at the top of the works, and thus do away with the necessity of pumping. In the same way, the variouß springs might be collected, and the erection of a pump, driven by an overshot wheel at the terrace, would also Hit the spring water to any height desired. At the same time the water power available at the wheel could be used to generate a supply of electric'light for the works. The fall for the disposal of sewage is ample, if, the works are placed at the point marked on the plan shown to me. The soil is apparently of fair quality for grazing purposes and sufficiently absorbent to take up the wastage from the works, and turn it to good account. Accessibility.— In this particular the Waingawa si te is the best of those inspected. The spot pointed out as a suggested site is a iair distance from the railway, but this is not wholly disadvantageous; a few additional chains of loop line will overcome this difficulty. It is well served with roads, and if this site is chosen, I would recommend that the road past the abattoirs and connecting with the butchers' paddock be made permanent, and that another road be opened leading from the main road throught the paddocka and alongside the existing water race, and up to the works site The improvements now upon this property (cotiages, fencing, etc), have considerable value, and can well be utilised by the Company. Tha Cost. —This, having regard to the quality

of the land, appears fairly high, but J the position nas so many advantages that I regard the price masked . tor the land as of secondary importance. The whole position lends itself admirably to the purposes required. Locality. —The greatest disadvantage of this site 1? its distance from the seaport, 63 miles as against 48 of the Fernside site, but its other advantages so outweigh, that the fac« tor of distance is to a large extent overcome. Added to this is the consideration that there is a possibility that should this point be left unoccupied it may be seized by a rival company, and supplies of stock, for which the Waingawa site seems the natural outlet, be cut off. It has been pointed out to me that putting the works down at th is site, the Company will lose a large quantity of stock from the lower district, which is essentially a fattenine district. Against that, it is well to remember that this part of the district (Fernside and Pigeon Bush) lies nearest to Wellington, and offers the best facilities for exploitation by the existing Companies. While on the other hand, works situated at Waingawa stand at the door of a vase area of grazing country, stretching away from Castlepoint to Herbertville in the North, and which, as time goes on, must provide an almost inexhaustible supply of the raw material, and provide a large and ready market for your manures. On the whole, therefore, I have, after careful enquiries and personal investigation, come to the conclusion that for the purposes of the company, the Waingawa site is the best.