NORTH SHORE WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 10

NORTH SHORE WATER SUPPLY.

~ IHFEBATIVE TO BE INCREASES AX LXTERESTLXG DISCUSSION. BY MAKL\E BOROUGH'S > w ASSOCIATION-. "• * £ at question of vital important to the ZL j:cii:Jents.. on. ths northern side of tuu "Wa-rteaiata Harbour is that of promptly securing an adequate water supply, not ■cijly for present, but for future rvquiruITiffesre. 'erarr'area that is ~t=etth?d. Some, time ago a Hoard of -;Control for Lake Takapuna was set up, last -se-ision the powers of that — body were increased, but the Marine ••■Boroughs Association evidently is or "opinion that still', greater powers are '.Cnccded to adequately gfc&pplft the proo-~li-ni of providing an ample water supply. matter was discussed at a racot—ing of that boily held last night in the ••office of Mr. A. Pickford, Swansnn ~£>tree£,- it -which vilie following were npreVerit; "Messrs.' A. M. PicKSord, J. HeuI'.lerson, P. W. llcTallum (l)evonport): ;;J. P.. AlcPhail. C K. Campbell (Hirkcn- — head I; , George Frascr. J. B. Tonsi a.:d H. Hopkins (Northcotej, and E. K. ■-lirrmwade (Takapima). -PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY BOARD. — Mr.- Griinwadc opened the discussion "by moving •'liiat tna association takes r'erejui ar the earliest possible date to * initiate legislation which ■ shall const;- ---: tute a Board to supply water to the boroughs of JJevoiiport, Nortlicote, ■ Birkenhead and Takapuna. made up a* ■ follows:—line member nominated by Hie two members each from ■- the four borough councils, such board * to follow the usual custom in similar •'- ibcdies of electing its own "chairman, r.'llie said board to have power to (1) .'I take over pumping , stajtioiia, Z (2) borrow money for tue purpose of water to be supplied by meter ~ IP the various boroughs at a price per 1000 gallons sufficient to cover interest -'ou loans and working expenses." ' Speaking tx> the motion, Mr. Grlm"■wade pointed out the need, ior prompt "; action., and said under his proposal it * woull be necessary to take over all ;; existing mains. Tae Takapuna Council -realised the importance to the health -of tbe residents that there should bu an adequate water supply provided ao -■quickly a= possible, and was prepared to cooperate with, the other districts in •eeeuring such a supply. .Mr. Urinnvadc ~referred to the seriousness of the falling -of the water in Lake Takapuna. He out that in March, 1913, tlu 71 water was 8 feet S inches above sea ■£ level: in ll>l4 it • had fallen to li feet ~1; inches, in 191-» to i feet i> inches, and ;--;n 1910 to t feet 7i inches. As far a--•Takapuna was concerned, the population -~'v..£ls rapidly increasing, and drainage -v.as urgently required, but that eouid T-iiot be done until there was- an amp! J IZ-water supply. The figures quoted prove £ conclusively that water could not be from the Lake, lie considered idea to augment the supply from -"-AVairau creek a pitiful scheme. Expert ~ advice was that the watershed would ■uliare to. he acquired, and the land there «T.ac "too costly, being in the centre of large and growing population. By " passing the motion he Had suggesteJ, JTthe Association would bo in a position T'to go to tbe Premier with an expression -■oi the desires of the people interested -•in securing a'water supply. The chairman suggested that two re

preventatives might not he consideisd

, c-'jttlcient from each of the four ,": boroughs. The best thing would be for • the Association to first Cecide whether L it would affirm the principle of eetticg

."•u;: .a-Water. Supply. Hoard as suggested .'•by Mr. Grimwaue, and matters ut dctad 5 could be- gone' into ' afterwards. Tae

U taking over of existing pumping stations Mas v big tiling. ■■ lie asked was it t'.'e JJJ wish of tne meeting to make that as .i - definite proposal at this juncture, or to : -leavc the matter a little open, a new

■" board, if appointed, to take over tie : - whole plants or not. Mr. 1-raser said taking over the pump-

**■ ing stations, as they stood, would m •; the first place mean £00,000 to £70.000. ~ Mr. Unciwade said the burden of the - :: £70.1)00 was borne by the people in the

=••■ various boroughs at the present time. 15*=. /Mr.,,Jfcndeison: -thought the proposals " ehoiild be submitted to the various borough, councils to coneider, before any cceLsion was arrived at by the tion.

'Mr. SlcCallum. who seconded the motion, said it was quite evident that the time bad arrived when something definite must l js> aross. Thu Wairan e?beme involved very heavy expenditure in purchasing a catchmeat area.. About half the population of the North .-hore was situated dn G4O acres, but outeide that area were ■thousands of acres with a much less j.opulation. The supply of 3.000,000 gallons froinWairau creek into the Luke ■mould . not meet the requirements in live rears' time. Then there was the question of representation. The richest •borough would pay the largest proportion of the , rate, so representation should be on a value basis. If the Boar.t was to take over the whole lock, stock and, barrel, and run the whole that would .be a Jong job. lo eupiilv. the water needed, the Boar.i must" have power tb strike a rate over the whole district, else what guarantee would bondholders have. Mr Tonar said this was not a system for augmenting the water in the lake, Init of getting a supply from further afield. He hardly Wicved in passing a resolution to take over the pumping plants at the present time. He admitted that it was a crime to have three pumpin" plants to do the work that om> could accomplish. The resolution seemed to sweep away the lake supply, but that he did not approve of. The chairman said to " borrow money for the purpose of providing water" did jiot mean doing away with the Lake sup-

ply- ! Mr. Henderson said until they had p. I comprehensive report from a competent engineer they did not really know where they were fn the matter of a water supply, lie moved as an amendment 'That t):o mayor of each borough wait upon the Premier, go into the whole matter of this water supply for the North Shore, and a.-k fur a comprehensive report from A. competent engineer." -lie said tho main tiling was to lind out what was the best fr-heme. Once that wan got, they could eoitsider the question of formation of a Jioard. Mr. McPhail, in seconding tho amendznent. said three of the boroughs required to consider a scheme carefully liefoie passing a motion like that nwzpcstcL l.y Mr. Gruuwade. The present Tioa.rd,haa. more power than the former ■■ oM/'lt would be a mistake to pads tli» S .«•?s*£?.&* .jig, fresenj juncture.

GREATER SHORE SUGGESTED.

Mr. Campbell, while thanking Mr. Grimwade for the suggestions, said he would support the amendment at the present juncture. It seemed to him what was really required was a union of the four boroughs in a Greater North Shore, and then it could attend to its own water supply without having a separate board set up for that purpose.

Mr. Fraser said they must go straight out for a bigger supply. The present amount from Lake Takapuna was 137,----000,000 gallons. It was allocated at o."> gallons per head for Devonport, Si for Takapuna, and Birkenhead and Northcote 12J gallons. To instal a proper drainage scheme they must have a supply all round at 40 gallons per head.

The chairman, said any scheme wouid be idiotic that did not provide for 10 gallons per head for the whole population. ,

Mr. Fraser: Then that wipes out Taka puna Lake and Wairau stream.

Mr. MePhail said he objected to altering the amendment.

Mr. Hopkins supported tlip amendment. He objected to Wairau creek, because that would bo looking up valuable land adjacent to a borough. The amendment was then adopted. Mr. Henderson remarked that a Greater North Shore must come. •• It was absurd to have four mayors, four Councils, four engineers and four starts for four boroughs, with a ■united population of 14.000 people.

It was that the various Councils should • discuss the matter of a water supply board before tbc mayors waited upon the Premier.