FULL REPORT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4107, 2 March 1949, Page 12

FULL REPORT

WAITAWHETA WATER WORK OF MR M. C. BAKER TOWN CLERK’S CONFERENCE A full and comprehensive report covering the procedure involved in obtaining empowering legislation in connection with the Waitawheta water supply, was given by Mr M. C. Baker, town clerk, to the Paeroa Borough Council, at the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Town Clerks and Municipal Treasurers, held at Napier on February 14 and 15. Only three reports were presented at this meeting, Mr Baker’s being the second to be read to the 100 or so town clerks who represented almost every part of New Zealand. In the ensuing discussion on Mr Baker’s paper, many questions were asked and delegates seemed impressed by the fact that in the Waitawheta river there was a minimum flow of 10,000,000 gallons of water per day, gauged in the driest spell, at an intake site only six miles distant from the Paeroa Post Office. Delegates considered Paeroa to be in a very fortunate position in having such an ample supply of water within such easy Mr E. C. Westbury, town clerk to the Te Aroha Borough Council, expressed his concern that empowering legislation had not been obtained when undertaking Te Aroha’s water supply as it was at present endangered by further possible mining operations. Mr Westbury moved a vote of thanks to Mr Baker for his report, while other members of the association expressed their appreciation. When the mayor of Paeroa, Mr Edwin Edwards, was spoken to about the report, he said he thought it full, comprehensive and particularly well collated. While in Napier he had received congratulations from Mr W. F. Sturman, town clerk at Invercargill, who had presided at the town clerk’s conference. M He came personally to congratulate me on the work done by Mr Baker and the way in which the paper had bee delivered,” said Mr Edwards. Favourable comments were also made to him by a number of other members of the association.