WATER SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1939, Page 17

WATER SCHEME

INVESTIGATION SOUGHT

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to the "Evening Post.") BLENHEIM, August 10. An investigation into the whole of the Awatere water scheme, including the present cost and that estimated for completion, was asked for last night by a lai'gely-attended meeting of ratepayers of the county when a resolution was passed asking the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to release one of his engineers to make such an investigation. and report fully to the County Council. The meeting was the result of a report presented at the last meeting of the council in which it was made clear by the engineer, Mr. H. M. Richardson, that the amount required for the completion of the scheme would be £10,700 in excess of the original estimate of £.445,000. Of the £10,700 an amount of £4000 has been offered by Mr. Semple conditional on the remainder, £6700, being found by the settlers concerned."

At last night's meeting dissatisfaction with the present position was generally expressed, the main complaint being that the scheme was reaching a cost where it was in danger of becoming uneconomic. Members of the County Council who were present said that the council would welcome an investigation, and the engineer took the same attitude. Representations will be made to Mr. Semple when he arrives in Blenheim for the opening of the new Taylor River Bridge on Saturday. -