CITY WATER POLL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 86, 13 April 1926, Page 5

CITY WATER POLL

• • ! LOAN OF £470.000. RATEPATERS' DECISION TO-MORROW. I MAYOR REVIEWS POSITION. ! On the eve of Auckland's water poll, j which takes place to-morrow, the Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon i finally reviewed "the. position in an interview this morning. ] The matter, lie observed, had been j so thoroughly threshed out that there i was little new to be said in the way of further information; but tbe council; desired to emphasise that, at the pre- '• sent time, there was little margin ! between the available supply of water! and the daily consumption. The pre- j sent available gravitation supply would j meet the city's requirements until 1030.! and it would then be imperative to have the Hjia supply completed. The loan ; authority asked for was for a supply ; by gravitation—the cheapest possible method of obtaining water. One important statement made against the proposed supply. continued the Mayor, was that there might be some doubt as to the reservoirs being filled in dry seasons. '' This has been a constant cry since the dam first was erected.'" he commented: '"but it has rot been borne out in fact. It has been stated that in 1019 there was no overflow at the Nihotupu dam. whereas, as a matter of fact, the dam was overflowing for 12 weeks, during that period." Continuing Council's Policy. Reference was made by the Mayor :o a pamphlet addressed to the Auckland city ratepayers which had been circulated this week. It contained, he said. a number of distorted and inaccurate statements. The council was merely continuing a policy laid down many years ago and supported by the most eminent authorities obtainable, who had been consulted from time to time. The quality of the water from a purity standpoint was undoubted, and the scheme 'had the endorsement of the Minister of Health, who wished the council success in its endeavour to increase the quantity. It was proposed to correct the discoloration by the modern filtration plants provided for in the loan. The proposal placed before the ratepayers was quite apart from J(ny other scheme suggested, and the council desired their proposals to be considered purely on their own merits. The source of supply could not be improved on for an upland water; and the close proximity to the city made it additionally valuable. Only One Other Suggestion. "The only suggestion apart from our own for a supply to Auckland within a reasonable time is that from the lower Waikato," explained the Mayor; '"'but, from the surrounding conditions that must be a contaminated supply, and is three times as far away as Huia." Regarding the allocation of the £470,----000, the Mayor stated that it was as follows: — Construction of Huia dam £140.000 Aqueduct and pipe lines 147.000 Filtration plant at Huia 40.000 Similar plants at Nihotupu and Waitakere 70.000 City reservoir extension 60.000 Contingencies 13,000 " Should the loan proposals be authorised," the Mayor observed. " during the next three years there will be a total supply available of 14_ million gallons daily of filtered water from uncontaminated sources." In further comment the Mayor said that the supply from the Huia Valley involved only 15 miles of water mains, between the dam and the city, a considerable distance of which was already laid at the city end. The Taupo scheme would involve between 150 and 170 miles of pipe, at least ten times th» length of the main required for the Huia supply. •

Speaking of the amount of water available he stated that the question of "having -sufficient data, of rainfall had been raised. In point of fact the council had, for the past 15 years, kept consistent rainfall records at Waitakere, Nihotupu and Huia and had full information on this matter. It might also be pointed out that, for the last 75 years, rain gaugrings for the city of Auckland were available. In conclusion, the Mayor said that the council, feeling that they had the confidence of the ratepayers, requested their support in the present endeavours to provide an adequate supply of pure water at the lowest possible cost. Twenty-Five Booths'. The polling arrangements are under the control of Mr. P. F. Xotley, returning officer for the city. The polls will be taken from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. tomorrow at 25 booths, which are as follows: