ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 18 January 1901, Page 2

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

THE WATER SUPPLY

SPECIAL MEETING

A special meeting oC the Onehunga Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night for the purpose of considering a communication from the Manukau Water Supply Board, of which the following Is a copy:—"Take notice that it is the intention of the Manukau Water Supply Board after the expiry of one'month from the date of your receipt hereof to interfere with the following roads under the control of your Council, namely:—(l) Spring-street, from near its Intersection by Princes-street to its junction with Grey-street; (2) thence westerly

along Grey-street to its intersection by Queen-street; CM thence northerly along Queen-street to the boundary of the Borough of Onehunga; for the purpose of constructing a water - .-ace within the meaning of 'The Water Supply Act, 1891,' and to break up and dig into the surface of and lay water pipes under the said roads." The Mayor (Dr. W. R. Close Erson) occupied the chair, and Councillors Edwards, Brown, Bradley. Yates, Shaldrick, Hill and Howe were also present. The Mayor said in his opinion this was a most ungracious communication. He moved: "That the consideration of the matter with regard to the notice from the Manukau Water Supply Board be referred to the borough solicitors, and that they be instructed to take the most strenuous measures in opposition to the s:iid Board interfering with the water supply of Onehunga, considering the generous manner in whicli <tlie Onehunga Borough Council desired to supply the outside districts and the city of Auckland with water at the actual cost to the borough, together with one penny per 100(1 gallons for the purpose of keeping ihe said water in a thoroughly sanitary condition by drainage."

Cr. Shaldrick seconded the motion, and expressed his regret iliat it was necessary to call a special meeting to protect the Interests of -Onehunga. He hail hoped that instead of such a meeting, if they (the Council) had been called together it would have been for tlie purpose of settling the matter of a water supply in an amicable manner. He was compelled to resent what appeared to be an unwarrantable attempt by an outside body to interfere with the rights of Onehunga. 'I'he Council had on several occasions met the Hoard and discussed tho supply; they had also gone to expense amounting to about .GISU in settling definitely the resources of tlie springs and carrying a poll whereby a sum of £16/000 was voted lo extend the water supply. Yet. notwithstanding all they had done, the Board had in a contemptible, shabby manner silently declared all negotiations off. the first intimation of which was the notice they had met to consider that night.

Cr. Rowe supported the proposal, but he felt that the Council should go further. He had the greatest confidence in Messrs Russell and Campbell, but he questioned whether such a ease had ever been considered in New Zealand, and consequently he felt that money should "be no object to know the exact position tin? Council was in. As far as he was concerned, it would not be so. and before a street was broken in Onehunga by the Manukau Water Supply Hoard the question would hay* to be settled by the Privy Council. The Manukau Supply Hoard had thrown down the gauntlet, and he accepted the position.

Cr. Hill was not surprised at the turn affairs had taken. He foresaw that for months. He reminded them of the many times they bad considered (he question, and then eventually tbe Board purchased a piece of land adjacent to the pumping station, which it was clear to him was for tbe express purpose of taking water with impunity.

Cr. Yates said she could not vote for the resolution in its present form, as it did not protest against the Manukau Wator Supply Board entering the borough and cutting up the roads. When the Onehunga Council wanted to lay mains to One Tree Hill they had to get the consent of the One Tree Hill Board. They had met to protest against the action of the Board, and it should be as emphatic as possible. It was clearly the duty of the Council to take such steps as adviseu by their solicitors.

The Mayor pointed out that the resolution was necessary to .enable tho borough" solicitors to protest on behalf of the Council against the Board.

Crs. Bradley and Edwards also took part in the discussion, after wTiich the motion was carried. ..

The Mayor and Cr. Bradley were appointed to wait upon Messrs Russell and Campbell to ask thorn to confer with another linn of solicitors. The names of several solicitors were menlioned. but it was eventually agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the borough" solicitors to obtain a second legal opinion.