OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1939, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY (To the Editor.) Sir,—Regarding the Lansdowne water supply, the Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson. states the case in part clearly. The Opaki water race was the only water supply Lansdowne had for years and would have been now, if Maunsell’s dam had not broken away in 1924. It was for no fault of the water, that the change was made to the Waingawa supply. The people of Lansdowne were as healthy then as they are now, and no complaints of pollution were made. Mr Mabson says: “It was never considered very satisfactory, because it passed through numerous farm properties, and on occasions, when Lansdowne was supplied with water from this source, dead stock had to be removed from the race.” Stock are more valuable now, and farmers are very careful they don’t lose them that way. Mr Mabson greatly exaggerates the pollution that takes place along this race. If a good volume of water went through, such pollution as there is would be greatly reduced, and with a three-chambered filter at the intake of the pipe line it would be practically eliminated. Is there no taint of pollution in the Waingawa supply? It may not pass through much farm land, and is got from near the mountains. These mountains carry a fair number of wild animals —pigs, deer, sheep, etc. The dead bodies of wild animals are generally found near water. In the tributaries of the Waingawa these animals will mostly die and their bodies will not be removed and their numbers will not be known. In a comparison of purity I think the odds are in favour of the Ruamahanga supply. Masterton requires more water and has the choice of two sources, one will be very costly and one can be obtained for very little. —I am. etc.. JAS. LENNIE. Masterton. November 22.