WATER SUPPLY OF FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 271, 21 August 1925, Page 10

WATER SUPPLY OF FUTURE

4 5300 ACRES TO BE PURCHASED LOCAL BODIES COMBINE WITH CROWN The Mayor (Mr. C. J.- B. Norwood) announced at last night’s meeting of the City Council that it had been decided to acquire 5300 acres at Akatarawa by various local bodies round Wellington for the purpose of safeguarding the water supply, as the needs of the district grew.

The following letter from the city solicitor (Air. J. O’Shea) to the Commissioner of State Forests (Sir Heaton Rhodes) was approved:— “I am directed by a conference of Alayors and chairmen of the following local bodies around Wellington—Lower Hutt and Eastbourne Boroughs. Hutt County, and Upper Hutt Town Board—to forward to you the following resolutions in respect of Mr. A. 11. Miles’s property at Akatarawa that have been arrived at by these gentlemen in conference in respect of the proposed acquisition as a partnership by the Crown and these local authorities. They propose, subject, of course, to ratification by statute:—

“1. That the land, consisting of 5300 acres, more or less, be immediately purchased at the rate of £2 per acre. The Government to pay half cost of purchase, and the local bodies around Wellington as shall be joined in the scheme to also pay half cost of purchase in proportion to their respective populations, that can benefit by the use of this land for the purposes of water supply. The amounts of these respective populations to be fixed as at March 31, 1925, by the Government Statistician, whose decision shall bo final and conclusive.

“2. The land shall be vested in the Crown and specially reserved by statute for the purposes of forestry, electricity, and water supply, having regard to the special inteests of the local bodies contributing. . “3. The administration of the land shall, be undgr the State Forest Service. The income from the block to be applied first to meet administration expenses and tlie balance to be divided between the Crown and. the local bodies contributing in. proportion to their respective contributions. If these proposals be given effect to by legislation it will enable the local bodies to carry out these proposals and give statutory effect to these proposals. The legislation will also provide for giving effect to the various purposes for which the land shall be held.” The Alayor explained that the purchase of the property had been in keeping with proposals' laid down by the late Mr. W. H. Morton. Ho had gone on with the scheme, feeling sure that the council would approve of his action. Tn conversation with Mr. L. M. Ellis (Director of State Forests) he had learned that the valuable tract of timber on the land would, in time, pay for it. The Government would receive half the proceeds of timber sales, but the other half would go to the local bod'es concerned. The Mayor was congratulated all round on the action he had taken.

It is believed that expenditure involved in developing and improving the block may be recouped by proceeds from the sale of timber. Under the control and management of the State Forest Service, the block would yield continuing crops of timber. The conservation of this tract of forest is important also from the point of view of future water-supply, and there is the further consideration that the Akatarawa stream may later on be harnessed for purposes of hydro-electric generation. The maintenance and improvement of Che forest will at once ensure continuing crops of timber, permit a maximum use of the stream as a source of watersupply and power-generation, and set limits to the spread of shingle and other flood-damage to lands into and through which the" stream discharges.