WATER SUPPLY FOR STOCK

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 14

WATER SUPPLY FOR STOCK

MALVERN AND OXFORD COUNTIES

SCHEME REFERRED TO COUNCILS

A to improve the supply of water for stock for their respective areas, which involved taking water out of the Waimakariri river and, at one stage, carrying some of it across the river at the Waimakariri gorge bridge through a 30in pipeline, was discussed last night by councillors from the Malvern and Oxford counties and the chairman of - the WaimakaririAshley Water Supply Board (Mr F. Sheat).

The meeting was called by the Malvern Council, which originally contemplated finding a supply of water for its own area but which later believed it might be possible to supply all three areas, thereby reducing the cost. The scheme proposed by the Malvern County has been prepared and investigated by Mr H. G. Royds, consulting engineer, of Christchurch. The plan envisages taking water from the Waimakariri river at the south bank near Kowai Bush, bringing it by tunnel and-water race partly down the south side of the river and partly down the north side of the river to the gorge bridge area, where the supply would be divided, some being diverted to Oxford and the other areas on that side of the river, and the balance brought across the river by pipe to join the Malvern water race system at Waddington. The pipe would be level with the carriageway of the bridge. It is expected that about 30 chains of 30in pipe would be needed to cross the bridge and its approaches. The meeting, which was attended also by the chairman of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr R. M. D. Johnson) and two of the board’s engineers, discussed the proposal fully and decided to refer it to their respective councils and board for decision.