LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 18, 29 September 1987, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rangataua Drainage Mr Tim Warmington had made an assertion in the Bulletin 22 September that Ohutu Grazing has a dam, quote, "which appears at least in part to control the water table at Rangataua". Mr Warmington charges that, because of my ownership of Ohutu, and of my position as chairman of the Rangataua Sewerage Committee, there is a conflict of interest and that I should not be eligible to hold this office. I would like to issue two challenges to Mr Warmington. 1. That I will resign from my position as chairman of the sewerage committee if he can prove that the dam on my property 'Ohutu' has any effect on the Rangataua water table. The dam in question built at least 50 years ago is 38 feet below the mean level of Rangataua township. This level is taken from Catchment Board maps of the area. 2. That Mr Warmington if unable to prove his state-

ment will apologise, resign from his position as Secretary of the Rangataua Residents and Ratepayers Association and return to Wellington taking with him his ACA, ACIS, AKA, AIINZ, ANZIM none of which apparently have anything to do with drainage.

G.W.

Jones

Rangataua debate As a fellow councillor and riding member of Councillor Gavin Jones, I find the pejrsonal attack by Tim Warmington on him both unwarranted and despicable. It attempts to denegrate a principled and respected councillor and member of our community, whilst failing to further the debate on the Rangataua Sewerage Scheme proposal, The time and effort Councillor Jones puts into his public duties in considerable and his views during Council debate are impartial and well respected by Councillors. The basic cause of the drainage problem in Rangataua is that the soil structure only allows water to soak away very slowly, with the result that in the wet winter and spring months the water table stays very high, and this is the time of the year which has the highest population levels and therefore the greater prospect for pollution problems. Council's proposed scheme will remove all waste water from the township and reduce pollution to the minimum. Referring to the accusa-

tion that the water level at Ohutu Grazing is causing the high water table at Rangataua, levels taken by the Catchment Board in 1976/77 show that the level at Ohutu is 38 feet below Rangataua. Therefore any problem in the stream at State Highway 49 has absolutely no effect on the soakage in the township area. I wish to state that Councillor Jones as Chairman of the Rangataua Sewerage Committee, is explaining the policy formulated by the Council, and the benefits by way of the subsidy which is currently available.

D.S. Bennett Councillor Ohakune Riding Waimarino County Council

Rangataua Controversy over Sewerage &Drains They had a meeting on 5 September which I was unable to attend as I was away. But have since heard all about. I agree with all Mr Tim Warmington said. We do hot want the sewerage scheme as at our age, what a hassle. I have lived in Rangataua for nearly seventy two years, as well as Mrs Mills who is strongly against it too. In our younger days we had no conveniences and we never ever got any serious illnesses in my parents' family. Also my family as I have had seventeen children all at home, have never ever

been in hospital. I had no maids when I had them, I got out straight way and have done all my own work etc. I never got any illnesses, I brought up six grandchildren from babies as well and they never ever had any illnesses either from water and sewerage. About the drains Mr Warmington is correct also. I know the Council has spent money on drains here, but they recently cleared opposite the Town Hall but the water does not run away, it stands a foot deep all the time and the young children puddle up to their knees in it, as it attracts them with all the water. And the main drains can't run as they are a foot deep with overgrown grass also in them, so I see as every other ratepayer it is a lot of the cause of water here. I have lived in here for forty six years and have had no problems. They said that in September 1986 the health inspector took samples and found Coliform levels indicating human pollution Blk 3 but from where we don't know. But a big song has been made we think. So as old identities we are strongly against this sewerage scheme at our age of life. Pensioner Mrs Phillips Drainage problem As joint owner of the land on the south side of SH49 at Rangataua I must take issue with misleading statements made by Mr Tim Warmington in his cont'd on p. 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

cont'dfromp.2 letter to your paper on 22nd of September. 1. The culvert under SH49 is sitting on the grit pan he mentions and is NOT three feet above as he claims. 2. This grit pan is the true bed level of the drain although some silting and weed build-up in the drain raises the water level some two to three feet above this. 3. The two foot pipe under SH49 is adequate to cope with the flow of water down this drain. 4. The dams on Cr Jones' property are by no means large and at best form small ponds, not lakes as Mr Warmington would have us believe. Furthermore there is a fall of 10.64 feet (3.248m) in the bed level of the drain, or a fall of 11.29 feet (3.425m) in the water level over the distance of 1989 feet (606m) through our property. This is a mean gradient of 1:1400. There is a further fall oi approximately four feet (1.2m) over the 660 metre distance of the drain through the Mangaehuehu Reserve, and a further fall of 13 feet (4m) from the Marino Street culverts to the boundary of the Reserve. As the above information is publicly available Mr Warmington should cease his personal attacks on our councillors and let the people of Rangataua make an informed decision on the Rangataua sewerage scheme.

Mike

Punch

Provision of sewerage services to Rangataua Warmington invites comments on his letters to date. I was going to write but decided initially to treat his ravings with the contempt they so richly deserved. That a "Johnny come lately" wishes residents to be exposed to the health risk that, Oh so easily could manifest itself, is callous disregard for his fellow men. My son has attended functions at residences in the village and I feel strongly that residents must act responsibly and provide the most basic of health facilities. Rangataua is built on a high undulating grit pan and no amount of drainage will solve that problem. I farm land nearby and can vouch for that. To state that the drain out of the village is the problem and the dam which is 30 to 40 feet below the village level on Mr Jones place stops drainage is childish and mischievous in the extreme. Residents have seen a large increase in values of their land as a result of demand and they cannot selfishly try to stop others building on land they own. They have been offered a heavily Government subsidised scheme which will further enhance values, solve sewerage problems and was only made possible by the time so unselfishly given by the likes of Gavin Jones.

Keep it up Councillor Jones we need more of your calibre, don't be discouraged by the selfish few.

Bill

Peach

Entertainment I would like to explain the reason for a $9 door charge at the recently successful 'Mantastic Mansexuals' live performance at the "Hot Lava Nightclub". Firstly it must be pointed out that this live show was never advertised as being professional. If people got that impression it wasn't from the organisers, nor was it promoted as an overseas act. The reason for a door charge $2 more than the 'Raunchy Revue' is as follows, costs were added on top of the strippers, these costs are: 1. stage and light director, 2. his assistant, 3. Acacia dancers, 4. doorman, 5. hiring of lights and costumes, 6. lady - compere, 7. high quality posters as advertised, 8. two hosts entertaining the ladies. As you can see a show for just one night has added expenses. The general comments about the show have been mixed but so this is with any form of entertainment, many people turned up and stayed, possibly because they enjoyed the night, let me tell you girls, that added expenses made the organisers come out at a loss. The expense was ours.

Organiser

Entertainment I reply to "Ripped-Off's letter of your issue dated Tuesday 22 September, 1987. Replying to a nom-de-plume, and replying in print, is setting somewhat of a precedent for me; I believe that if something is worth saying it is worth putting one's name to it. Could I however make two points in an effort to resolve "Ripped Off"'s dilemma: 1. The Mantastic Mansexual's Revue was in no way connected with this company's operation. 2. By it's correct title, The Ski FM Snow Thanksgiving Dinner at the Sunbeam Lodge was a great success; with the primary objective being to offer a very reasonably priced morale booster for local workers and business people. As such the dinner succeeded admirably, and although the food was of an American theme, the option of dressing accordingly was just that; an option. I am sure that many would agree that strip shows promise at the best, flesh: I would expect little more. If dressing for the occasion is of letter-writing importance, then I would urge "Ripped Off' to purchase a ticket for the Ski FM Ball on Monday 5th October; Fancy or Formal Dress optional.

G.F. Solly Ruapehu Radio Ltd