RODING RIVER SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 April 1937, Page 5

RODING RIVER SCHEME

EIGHT POINTS IN FAVOUR SERIES OF ADDRESSES ON W ATER QUESTION CONTINUED COUNCILLOR HURST’S PARAGRAPHS In speaking at the Toi Toi Valley Ilall last evening, continuing the present scries of addresses by Councillors on the water question, Councillor 11. G. B. liurst said that much had been written and spoken on the subject during the recent past; but the following paragraphs, stripped of all extraneous matter, had converted him in favour of the Roding s’cheme.

There was only a very small attendance at the meeting. Mr K. Ross was voted to the chair.

Councillor Hurst’s points were:—

1. Nelson must have more water; the growth of the city demanded an ample supply. Under our modern conditions more and more water was being used. 2. The Roding Water Scheme was capable of giving 200 gallons of pure water per day to each person in Nelson, Richmond, Stoke and Tahuna. It had been proved surely that the water was available in the Roding. 3. With the Government grant the scheme cost no more than the Maitai scheme and gave the city’s neighbours benefit, which the speaker considered a great point. Mr Pattie had put it very well when he had said that the town and country were interlocked in their interests.

4. The Government grant was nearly one-third of the total cost of the scheme, and was not likely to be repeated if the poll was rejected. 5. The scheme gave not only an ample supply, but one of the cheapest supplies in New Zealand.

6. The scheme was recommended by this and the last City Council; endorsed by the Consulting Engineer and approved by the Public Works Department and the Loans Board.

7. The additional rate necessary would be very small (3d per week) compared with the benefits. 8. For this 3d the district would gain more protection from fire, assurance of more healthful conditions; new residents would be attracted; and industries would be promoted and developed. MENACE OF DRY SUMMER Councillor G. P. Russell said that by now the public should be thoroughly conversant with the details of the proposal. Councillor Russell referred to the period a few years ago when the Council had been at its wits end to know where the next 30 days supply was coming from; and since then the matter had been kept steadily in view The speaker traced the various schemes considered, until the Roding scheme had become the most favoured, serving Richmond, Stoke and Tahuna as well as Nelson city. The Engineer, Mr Williams had favoured the Roding rather than the Maitai. A lot of ratepayers were content now that wet seasons had been the rule; but what would be the conditions if a very dry summer occurred? The difference in cost between the two schemes was being borne by the country people, who had agreed that it was an equitable charge on them: and that would bring it down to a 3d rate. But if it cost an additional £1 a year who would demure, asked the speaker, if an abundant supply was guaranteed. OBLIGATIONS TO NEIGHBOURS The city had obligations to its neighbours; one could not put a barbed wire fence on the boundary and it was up to the people to take a broad view, the citj s interests and the town's interests being one. No definite reply had yet been received from Richmond, but the speaker thought that they would join the scheme. If Nelson had to bear the whole cost the rate would only be 4|d. Regarding the £35.000 grant from the Government, it was possible that it might not be available again. The sum was oflered providing the scheme was got on with. PLENTY OF WATER In icply to a questioner, who asked whether there was enough water in the livei, the Mayor, Mr G. L. Page, referred to signed statements from old residents in the locality. Mr Frederick Stiatioid. for instance, who had lived by the Roding for 80 years, saying that he had never seen it dry as some had said. Further. Mr H. Atmore, M.P. had referred only that evening to the fact that his name had been used in refer-

ence to a statement that there was not much water in the Roding. He had stated that the photographs he had taken had been taken just below Coad's point, where the river drained only the bare hills of the Mineral Belt. But where the Council proposed to take the water lower down the river drained a big area of bush country, and at Stratford’s crossing there was ample water in the river.