WATER FOR MANGERE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15566, 25 March 1914, Page 10

WATER FOR MANGERE

BOARD'S SCHEME FAVOURED. TOTAL COST OF £20,700. POLL ' FOR. LOAN NECESSARY. A meeting of ratepayers of Mangere was held on Monday, night to receive and discuss the board's report upon the proposed water supply scheme for the district. Mr. ,M. B. Kirkbride, chairman of the Road Board, presided over a large attendance. In his report Mr. R. F. Moore, engineer to the boawj, stated that it was proposed to erect a reservoir with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons on the top of the Mangere Hill. It will be -situated 350 ft above the lowest point in Mangere, and would give a "pressure of 1501b to the square inch. The water would be obtained by sinking a well after the source had been tested by boring. To provide funds for the carrying out of the scheme it was proposed to create three rating areas, which were set out in detail in the report. The first area embraced a, valuation of £343,395, the second of £103,930, and the third £108,220. The estimated cost of the scheme, including | plant and storage, for the first area, was £15,500. This amount would be raised by loan, the interest and sinking fund upon which would total, at 6 per cent., £900 per annum. This charge would be distributed as follows :—A halfpenny rate in the pound on the first area, producing £715;, a rate of one-third of a penny on the second area, producing £144; and a one-sixth of a penny rate on the third area, returning £75. It was ' also proposed to charge Pukituti a rate of one-twelfth of a penny, which would produce £4. A total sum of £940 would thus be derived.

Proposed Reticulation. The proposed reticulation of the first area was outlined as follows: —Mangere Bridge to Otahuhu railway crossing, and along Bucklands Road should Papatoetoe be supplied, 480 chains of 6in piping (should Papatoetoe not be supplied 2in piping would suffice for the 70 chains of Bucklands Road); Walmsley Road, through Favona to the Otahuhu railway station, 138 chains of 3in; around Mangere Mountain, 83 chains of 3in; to Greenwood's Corner, 72 chains of 2in ; and down Point Road, 20 chains of 2in. The reticulation of the second area would be as follows: —Mackenzie, Kirkbride, and Massey Roads, joining Roberston Road, 265 chains of 4in piping; Ascot Road to the junction of Ourarangi Road, 50 chains of 3in; Westney Road to Ninety-five Gate, Ihumata, 10 chains of 3in; Greenwood Road, 95 chains of 2in ; PukakiRoad, 55 chains of 2in. The estimated cost of this section was £3600. The third area would be supplied as follows: Ninety-five Gate, Walmsley to Ourarangi Road, 185 chains of 3ih piping; Nixon Road, 20 chains of 2in; Wills Road, 40 chains of 2in; Ourarangi Road, 40 chains of 2in. The estimated cost of this work was £1600. The total cost of the water scheme, as set out above, was estimated at £20,700. The Demand for a Supply. . The interest on the proposed loan would not go on for a period covering the sinking fund out of rates. It was proposed that all moneys i obtained from the use of the water should be returned pro rata to the ratepayers, thus diminishing the rate and, should the consumption return more than the amount of the rate, the balance would be available for other purposes. To pay interest, sinking fund and wages, allow for depreciation, etc., it was estimated that 55,000 gallons per day would'' require to be consumed at a charge of Is 3d per 1000 gallons. The population of Mangere was estimated for the purpose of the report to be 1200, and stock at about 3500 head, but by the time the water supply was completed the population would be much larger. It was understood that Onehunga would not he able to supply itself in another five Or six years, and would take available water from Mangere. Papatoetoe required water, and arrangements, could probably be made to supply this locality. A Valuable Asset. - Should the scheme be sanctioned, a test would be made of the capacity of the water area, as defined by Mr. Mason, to sustain an output capable of supplying the district for a population calculated at four times the present requirements- Mr. Mason had no doubt as to the supply required being where he indicated. Should Papatoetoe or Onehunga take water from the board, the amount charged would be practically all profit. In the opinion ox Mr. Moore, the water supply would be self-sustaining in at most three or four years' time, and from then onwards the rate would not be necessary and, like all other places where water had been installed, Mangere would have a very profitable and valuable asset.

Scheme Approved.

An animated discussion took place on the report. Several ratepayers objected to pay anything towards the scheme on the ground that those who were going to get tHe water first should bear the whole, cost. A resolution was finally carried approving of the scheme, and requesting the board to proceed with the testing of the water supply. Mr. K. R. Mackenzie, replying to criticism of the scheme, on behalf of the board, stated that the members, knowing they held the .confidence of the ratepayers, were determined that Mangere should not be kept back by their action. He predicted —after the bridge was . completed— Mangere would be a suburban area. Messrs. J. W. WJiyte, Consadine, arid several others, also spoke in favour of the scheme, and stated they had every confidence in the members of the board, and would be prepared to leave the matter in their hands. The chairman stated that after the next meeting of ratepayers, if the water test proved satisfactory, the board would take a poll to raise the money required for installing the plant, reservoir, and laying the pipes in the first area, and the further money required for the second and third areas would be raised as required. If the second and third areas required the. water at the same time as the first, all or part of the works would be carried out together. It was almost certain that if the scheme were adopted, -the supply would be available by January, 1915.