MANUREWA WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1936, Page 12

MANUREWA WATER.

COMMISSION'S INQUIRY.

REPORT TO BE FURNISHED,

Lengthy evidence was rendered on Monday and yesterday to the Manurewa Water Inquiry Committee, presided over by the Hon. John Alexander. The hearing was concluded yesterday when it was announced that a report would bo forwarded by the committee to the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, in due course. , A good deal of data was presented to tho committee dealing with the position of the water bores in Manuwera and their chemical content. Mr. R. P. Worley, engineer to tho board, said the cost of the Papakura scheme would be £19,200, which included three miles of a six-inch main from the Papakura boundary, also, a small reservoir in Puriri Park for storage purposes. The water would be filtered and chlorinated before being supplied to Manuwera. The entchment area in the Hunua Valley was about 3000 acres. Papakura proposed to charge 9d per 1000 gallons. Tho- water from the Manuwera born turned black when boiled in a kettle. To Mr. Alexander: The annual charge on the Papakura scheme would be £1050 and a rate would need to be struck fou. the purpose of the loan. The rateable value of Manuwera was £425,850 and total indebtedness was £41,285. To Mr. McXaughton: All the farm lands in the board's area would become potential building sites in the event of a water supply coming.

Town Board's Attitude, Mr. IT. E. McEntee, chairman of tli* Pa pa k lira Town Board, said that his board was prepared to carry out the proposed agreement -subject to certain legal details. There was 110 question about there being plenty of water in tho Papakura head works. Dr, R. IT. Magill said the Mahia Stream was liopcless for a domestic supply, it came from a peat swamp, which was full of decaying organic matter. There were distinct evidences of pollution in the stream and several pig styes drained into it. To Mr. Alexander: No doubt the installation of a water supply would demand a drainage scheme. Also the. quality of the Papakura water was excellent. The demineralising of boro water was not a simple matter and still would be dangerous. Mr. D. MeNaughton, representing the Manuwera Ratepayers Association, said they did not oppose a water scheme, but did object as ratepayers tosthe method the board had adopted by appealing to the board of health. Mr. H. F. Allsop, farm manager of thy Nathan properties said that the bores on the Nathan farm were giving every satisfaction and there were 110 complaints as to quality. Mr. W, W. Rodgers, director of the IZM radio station, said that he had visitors from all parts of the Dominion, and could not give them a drink of water because of the scarcity. The local blacksmith, Mr. P. Neild, said that he repaired all the bore pump rods, and in every case the affected parts had boon rusted by ironisod water. Mr. Worley gave further evidence as to the probable cost of a bore scheme as against the proposed Papakura scheme. The cost of pumping, filtration, overseeing, etc., would be about 7d per 1000 gallons. The Papakura royalty was 9<l per 1000. Also there was 110 certainty of getting enough water from the bores—at least 80,000 gallons daily. The chairman of the committee, the Hon. J. Alexander, asked Mr. McNaughton if, after hearing the evidence of Mr. Worley he would say that, with safeguards, the Papakura scheme was tho best. Mr. McXaughtonVs answer was to the effect that he was satisfied, but he thought that the ratepa3'ers should be consulted first. i That ended the evidence, and Mr, Alexander thanked all the parties for their help, and announced tlvat the decision would be conveyed to the proper quarter.