WATER WANTED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 10 July 1942, Page 5

WATER WANTED

APPEAL FROM KEREPEEHI X . DEPUTATION TO COUNTY EAST WATER SUPPLY SCHEME A deputation consisting of Messrs L. Tye, T. Lynch, H*. Taylor, D. Hill, F. J. Bennett, S. Edmunds and J. Kneebone, representing the settlers on the Kerepeehi block waited on Wednesday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council to ask that that area be connected up with the East Water Supply Scheme. Mr D. G. McMillan introduced the deputation and asked* the council to give the application reasonable consideration.

Mr Tye, president of the Ketrepeehi branch of the Farmers’ Union, stated that the Farmers’ Union had been approached by the settlers of the Kerepeehi block to support their application for water. He related how little the stock liked the bore water and how much they appreciated the present water supply. Stock drank their fill of the East Water Supply and accordingly production was better.

If the Kerepeehi block was given a connection to the East Water Supply Scheme the production in that area would rise which was highly important these days. All the settlers asking for water were returned soldiers and were entitled to the fullest consideration. Margin of Safety Mr Lynch said he considered that the Kerepeehi block had justice on their side in tljeir application. He asked that the area be given a temporary link-up to the East Water Supply Scheme, assuring the council that the settlers ' affected were prepared to lend the piping already installed in the area if thd county would make the pipe available for the linkup. ' . ■ He stressed the need for a goon water supply, adding that he was of the opinion that the necessary water was available in the East Water . Supply Scheme to meet their needs. He quoted figures to prove that, even after the Kerepeehi block was supplied with water there would, still ’be a sufficient margin of safety. It would, he urged, be a good business proposition for the council as for a very little expenditure the council would get regular revenue. (Continuing, he said that it had been stated that when the East Water Supply Scheme was first mooted Kerepeehi block settlers had opposed being included in the area but although he had made inquiries he could find nobody who had done this. The whole of the settlers were disappointed at not being included in the scheme. He then read the following petition from 27 settlers on the • K ei ’O~ peehi block for a temporary connection to the East IVater Supply Scheme. Petition From Settlers The petition read as under: — . “We the undersigned, in support of our representatives who will be placing the position regarding water supply for the Kerepeehi block before you at the next meeting of the council hereby agree to: —(1) Lend to the council all the water pipe at present ‘being used by us on the three pumping plants now working on the block. (2) In the event of the council having difficulty in procuring labour to do the work we are prepared to find the labour. Mr D. Hill endorsed the remarks of Mr Lynch and assured the council that the area could afford to pay for the water if connected. He agreed that there were one or two bad ratepayers on the Kerepeehi block but the rest of the settlers should not be

penalised. Mr H. Taylor emphasised the need for increased production in the country’s war effort and to d° the best on the Kerepeehi block good water was needed. “It is the duty of you men, the leaders of this district, to assist in. every way possible to increase production whenever possible,” concluded Mr Taylor. Mr Bennett endorsed the remarks passed by.the other speakers. Not Out of Scheme

The county chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt assured the deputation that the Kerepeehi block had not been left out of the East Water .Supply Scheme. The council had, he explained, gone to considerable expense to provide a pipe line to supply the water to the block when the settlers Were ready for it. The council had had conferences with the Lands Department and had agreed when a scheme for reticulating the Kerepeehi block, however a hitch had occurred in the Lands Department and held up the scheme. Touching on the question of the . water supply available he explained

that the figures quoted by Mr Lynch while perhaps correct in theory did not work out in practice. Mr Lynch’s figures were based on an even draw off over the whole 24 hours. In practice the highest draw-off of 24 hours was in the daytime and very light at -night. He pointed out the council had a duty to guard against a shortage occurring in a very dry spell. The council had asked the Government to grant permission so that a further stream could be linked, up to provide water for Kerepeehi and they had agreed to do so but to date had not set the necessary machinery in motion. Right to Restrict

“Personally I think that water could be granted as a temporary supply conditional on the Kerepeehi. area agreeing to the council retaining the right to cut the supply off or at least restrict it in the event of a dry spell and water being in short supply,” concluded Mr 'Parfitt.

Mr McMillan said he appreciated the attitude of the settlers who were prepared to help themselves. Water was very important to the Kerepeehi block and he considered the request was reasonable. If the water was available the application should be granted. Mr J. F. Mayn also spoke in support of granting the request. He said the council should take advantage of any opportunity to sell water when water was available. Water was of great importance to the farmers in question.

Mr J. W. Neate said he was pleased to see the Farmers’ Union had taken up the matter as it was a duty in which the organisation could assist farmers. There were, he continued, many difficulties to overcome before the supply could 1 be granted to Kerepeehi but if the water was available and the difficulties could be overcome the supply should be granted. He touched on the difficulties, faced by the council, which affected the supply being granted. A report from the Water Supply Engineer, Mr E. F. Adams, on ‘the question of linking up other areas to the East Water Supply Scheme stated that there was ample water to include the area of other streams at the intake were connected up with the scheme.

It was decided to hold a special meeting of the council on Wednesday next to discuss the question of connecting further areas to the West Water Supply Scheme, the Water Supply Engineer, Mr Adams, to attend same. ■