LAKE TAKAPUNA.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 214, 8 September 1921, Page 9

LAKE TAKAPUNA.

THE WATEJR. SCARE. DISCUSSION AT DEVONPOKT. The ?»orth Shore boroughs' "waterecare bogy." as it was described by the Mayor of Devonport I Mr. H. S. \V. King), was discussed last evening at the Devonport Borough Council, the subject being raised by the reading of a communication from the Marine Borough Association containing certain recommendations for the approval of the council.

Mr. E. T. Michaels said that if the reports on Lake Takapuna's shrinkage were correct, the position was serious. It had been stated that next summer there would be a bigger fall in the lake than had ever happened. At all events h* thought it. was distinctly advisable for the council to be prepared. Mr. S. W. Luxford said he would like, to see the supply at Mount Cambria further investigated. Mr. G. V. Pearee pointed out that a large supply of pure water had been tapped at Rangitoto Island, thus bearing out Mr. Sanford's idea on the subject.

The Mayor h» dad sujreested to the Marine Boroughs Association that it would be in the interests of all the horoughs if the association thoroughly tested Mount Cambria supply. If there were Mifiicicnt water there to meet Devonporfs demands, that would ease the position for the other boroughs drawing from the lake. That was something: taneible to act upon, and he suggested that should be the first step taken. The Mayor added that the present alarm had been raised time and again, and had always passed. It was very regrettable that the public should be alarmed with a bogey raised in that way about the water supply, because he really did not think it was quite so serious as was thought. Regarding the communication from the Maritime Boroughs Association, the council approved of the four boroughs joining in an application to the Government for 600 acres in the Otaha watershed to be held as a reserve foi water supply purposes. On the motion of the Mayor, it was agreed that the other noints in the letter were for the Board of Control, these points including a recommendation that steps bo taken to settle definitely details of a comprehensive water scheme apart from the lake, and also that each of the four boroughs be recommended to impose a supercharge of Id per 1000 gallons on all water consumed by private consumers, with a minimum of 1/ per half year per consumer, to provide funds to meet preliminary expenses of investigating and formulating proposals to augment the water surjplv.