Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 25 June 1946, Page 4

Readers Write

In reference to Lake Omapere, mentioned in your article regarding Mount Te Alui Ahu tunnel, the Rev. Samuel Marsden v’l'ote of LAKE OMAPERE holding a service on the shores of this lake in, I think, the year 1825, but he called the lake by the name of “Manawalu." The name Omapere (G-mapere) may mean "Of Mapere—"the lake of Mapere.” Who, then, w r as Mapere? Maybe some kaumatua of Ohaeavvai, Te Ahu Ahu or Ngawha is able to answer this. “PAKEHA MAORI."

The coming annual election of officers of the Ratepayers' Association prompts me to mention a few points

to be borne in RATEPAYERS’ mind. The associaASSOCIATION lion can he a welcome addition to the community, but care must be taken to elect an executive that will give careful judgment in borough concerns and not cause needless concern and wrongful impressions. A particular instance is where an executive member’s estimates of the cost and capacity of a water supply scheme for Kamo were shown to he all astray. This will very likely cost the borough many pounds for unnecessary survey and tests. The same member spared no effort to condemn the Hatea water supply scheme, which proved of inestimable value during the severe drought. I hesitate to think what would have happened without it. I was an opponent at first, but am now 100 per cent, behind the waterworks committee. We need a ratepayers’ association, but the executive should be prepared to use good judgment.—GENUlNE RATEPAYER.

A few days ago a small advertisement on the back page of the Advorato notified ratepayers that the Whnn g arei Borough AUXILIARY Council proposes WATER SUPPLY to apply to the Board of Health for an order giving permission to extend a water main from the top of Mill Road to the Whau Valley reservoir, and that objections must he lodged with the town clerk before 4 p.m. on June 26. As this main will only be required if the Hatea Water Extension Loan is carried, it is evident the borough council intends to compel the residents to drink Hatea water while good Maunu water is to be sold to Wilsons Cement Co. for cement manufacture.

The council is trying to put it across the people, because if no objection is lodged the health order will probably be made, and then there will be no necessity to ask the ratepayers for a loan that the council knows full well would be turned down.

If the Ratepayers' Association has taken no action it deserves severe censure, and the present executive deserves to be thrown out. —“RATEPAYER.

[ln reply to an inquiry made by the Advocate, the town clerk stated that if the Board of Health agreed to the council's application for a requisition under the Health Act, the council could raise a loan by special order, without taking the steps and expense necessary to hold a poll. The council, however, before taking these steps, would have to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the proposal.—Ed.l