NORTH SHORE WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 218, 15 September 1925, Page 12

NORTH SHORE WATER.

WAIHAU SGUfit& CdtiDEWNED. "A vIRY GRAVE RISK;" JdASSEb 'COUNCILS UNANIMOUS. A meeting of representatives of the i Devonport, Takapuna, Birkenhead and | Northcote Borough Councils decided last Wehihg against introducing water from tml Tower Wairau Stream into Lake Takapuna to augment, supply for the North Shore bbrbuihfr. Mr..T. Lahidnt-, fehiirman. 'of the North jghore Water, Bojard, presided.. ~ .:" Explaining the jfofcitibri; .Mi\ Said th%t. since 1026 'the level of the lake bavi drbppea 16t% it wis lih I'dWer how than it was at the of the winter; andy was , only about" 211 above the lowest level that had been known" In view of this position, it was thought that some source of supply should be had in case oi a water famine. "'Can we take, the risk of a shortage," he asliSd-, 'In view of the fact that'by the enu of this year; both Takapuna and Northcote will have. drainage systems, and that will double or treble their consumption of water? -It Seems likely thati as the lake has dropped in spite of the heavy rains of the winter, it will drop still more during the summer." Mr. j". C., Walton, a member of the Water Board: I have consistently opposed this Scheme, because the Health Officer said the board was running a very grave risk in introducing \VairaU water -into the lake. I can haraly" imagine that the people of -North Shore would appreciate the water of the lake afterwards. There are Chinese gardens <and houses, and also what was 'once 'a sanitary 'depot along the stream-. I will be against the scheme Until the Health Department says there will be no "grave risk of contamination in that water. Particulars of the four schemes for augmenting the lake supply were briefly given by Mr. Wai't'on, who boffirhented that the .present supply would last until a comprehensive scheme could, he .put into operation. He was confident in protesting vigorously against the introduction of the Wairau Stream into th' 6 lake. Mr. C. A. Deuxberry, Mayor of Northcote, and a member of the Water Board, Warmly supported Mr. _-!umbht for his patient examination of one bf the most pressing problems of the -North, Shore, sr\d "Miimfended his ax%io_t<_n calling the present conference of Borough Council members. Mr. E. G. SkeateSi kayor of Brrkenheads My present council are decidedly against the Wairau scheme; Lfebhsider we are safe in leaning on Lake Takapuna for ten years. fir. Cheißon: The i&wer WairM S hot a suitable supply; it is not safe. I don't think you will find it necessary to go there. Samples of water that I re&ently took from the middle of the lake were of pure quality; and at the edges, though it was not quite so good, I found it was not impossible water. Mr. J. D. Morrison, Mayor of Takapuna: I agree with Mr. Walton that there is no immediate danger. We have a sealed reservoir at present, and I consider there is nothing to fear. Mr. F.E. Powell, engineer, to the Water Board; said that* in three "years' time; with average rainfalls, they might expect the level of the lake to be 10ft below what it was noW. At the lower level more, vrate> rdight grayitate towards the lake, but there would also be increased consumption owing to the growing population and the projected drainage systems.. ', The meeting decided unaniinbusly tiiftt it Was not Advisable to introduce water from the lower Wairau-Stream into the lake. Sdbsequently*, other sources of supply were discussed, the chairih&n remarking that water could be brought frßm Wtiitakere at 6d a thousand gallatia. Mr. Walton urged supporting the" Taupo water scheme; and the meeting resolved that each of the cbunclis Shbdld sign and seal the draft bill which would presently be circulated for fanning an Auckland Provincial Water Bdardi

Takapuna, Birkenhead and