WATER NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 3

WATER NEEDS.

FOUR BOROUGHS. NORTH SHORE SUPPLY. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. WAIKAU STREAM FAVOURED. A strong recommendation to harness the Wairau Stream, to augment the existing '.ake Pupuke supply for the North Shore boroughs, is contained in the report of the committee which was commissioned by the North Shore Water Board to inquire into the whole question of the future water requirements of the boroughs of Devouport, Takapuna, >'orthcote and Birkenhead. The report, which will be considered at a special meeting of the board next Monday evening, is the result of au inquiry undertaken six months ago bv Jlr. H. Yickerman, a former Public "Works engineer, and Mr. T. L. Ward, public accountant, of Wellington. In their investigation the made a detailed survey of the water resources of the four boroughs and compared the relative merits of a Waitakere or a AVairau supply to satisfy the growing needs. Recognising the importance of relieving the position at Lake. Pupuke, where the ievel has fallen in recent rears as a result of increased pumping, the committees came to the conclusion that the Wairau Stream would provide an adequate flow for an auxiliary supply to be used in conjunction with the lake. It is understood that a suitable eke for harnessing the stream is within two miles of the lake, the catchment area lieing a large valley partially used for grazing purposes. Although the. committee's report is of an advisory nature, and the recommendations are therefore not mandatory, it is expected that the board, in determining its future policy, will attach considerable importance to the conclusions reached, but opinions expressed in local body circles on the Xorth Shore indicate that the opposition will not be negligible.

The comment made by Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, chairman of the board, was that the report would go a long way towards «learing up the whole situation, and he eaid it was a well drawn up report, which should prove very valuable. Mr. Meikle declined to discuss the iontente of the report until the board had had an opportunity to consider it. Considerable space is given by the eonimittee to a review of municipal development on the North Shore, and particularly to Lake Fupuke as a water supply source since the ratepayers of Devonport decided in 1892, during the mayoralty of Mr. E. W. Alieon. to establish a lake scheme. The initial cost was £1.3,000, and the districts of Devonport and Takapuna were reticulated on a very economical basis. Later Xorthcote and Birkenhead developed schemes on the shores of the lake, but in recent years Birkenhead has been obtaining water from the Auckland City Council's Waitake.re reservoir by means of a pipe line laid across the upper harbour.