Hikurangi Topics

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 2

Hikurangi Topics

Water Supply Withstands Dry Spell

In spite of more than a month without rain, the Hikurangi water supply is withstanding the dry weather remarkably well, the intakes on Teesdale’s and Cunningham's Creeks continuing to provide the reservoir with ample water for the needs of the town.

If, however, there is no rain within a short time, it will.naturally become necessary to restrict, the use of water somewhat. As yet, however, ratepayers have not been called upon to exercise more , than ordinary care in the consumption of water. Public Works Use Curtailed. Until a few days ago the Public Works Department had been using a large volume of Hikurangi water for reading purposes at Kauri, transporting it from the town to the scene of operations in large tanks mounted on trucks.

This practice has been curtailed, and the department is now drawing its requirements from the Kauri. Stream by means of a power-driven pump. Little Shortage in Country.

The situation as still fairly satisfactory in most country districts in the Hikurangi area, although farmers are exercising all care ■, to conserve their water supplies. In most cases wells are withstanding the unusually dry conditions, although some on higher ground have refused to function, with the result that a few farmers are having to transport water on sledges from neighbours’ wells or from nearby streams.

An Opuawhanga farmer told an “Advocate” representative that conditions in that district were in the main still satisfactory, few of the farmers having td sledge water as yet.