WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 12

WATER SUPPLY

NORTH SHORE SERVICE PROVISION BY CITY OFFER MADE TO BOARD LOWER PRICE WANTED A proposal to supply the North Shore boroughs with water from tho Waitakero Ranges was discussed by the North Shore Water Board yesterday. Tho chairman, Mr. H. F. W. Mciklc, of Devonport, said the Auckland City Council had instructed its Public Services Committee to negotiate with the board, arid he had received a letter bearing on tho mai ter. At his suggestion tho letter was discussed in committee. Subsequently it was learned that the City Council had offered to deliver water ut the Birkenhead reservoir at Is 4d per ICOO gallons, the rate to bo reduced to Is 3d if tho board would take 1,000,000 gallons or more a day. It was decided to refer the matter back to the council, stating that the price was higher than had been expected and asking the council to reconsider it. It was also decided to inform tho council that the board had received a lower offer from another source. The board accepted tho offer of Mr. G. Mills, Mayor of Birkenhead, to inspect Lignite Stream, one proposed source of water supply for the North Shore. Much discussion arose at the meeting, when Mr. E. H. Little (Devonport) moved as follows: —"That, in view of the present position at Lake Pupuke and proposals for supplementary supplies, this board is of opinion that tho time has arrived for the board to adopt a policy of taking over, at valuation, the assets of the three boroughs operating pumping plants in the lake basin and assuming control of the wholesale supply of water for the four North Shore boroughs." Mr. J. Guiniven (Takapuna) opposed the motion. Two of the boroughs had sanctioned a policy in opposition to this course. The motion was carried, Mr. Guiniven asking that his objection be recorded. PIPE LINE FOR 15 MILES CITY COUNCIL'S TASK In delivering a supply to the Birkenhead reservoir the Auckland City Council waterworks department would be faced with the ■ task of constructing a pipe line of approximately 15 miles in length. This is assuming the water would be drawn from the Waitakere filters. In that case the pipe line would be taken by a route that would follow the road to Hobsonville, where a good crossing could be obtained at one of the narrowest parts of the Waitemata Harbour. This crossing would be approximately two miles from the Birkenhead reservoir. In fixing the price for the water the City Council would have to provide for the interest and sinking fund on the capital invested in the pipe line and would no doubt ask the North Shore Water. Board to enter into an agreement for a term of years covering the period of the loan required. The construction of the pipe line would probably take eight or nine months. RECEIPTS OF THE BOARD CUIIRENT YEAR'S ESTIMATE ' An estimate that receipts for tho year 1933-34 would total £712, including £SBO from a levy of id per 1000 gallons of water supplied, was submitted in a provisional report by the secretary, Mr. A. E. Wilson, at a meeting of the North Shore Water Board yesterday. The total from levies was made up as follows:—Devonport, £406-; Northcote, £B2; Birkenhead. £92. The accounts for the year ended March 31, 1933, showed, after payment of £123 for the recent investigation of

Luke Pupuke, a balance at the bank of £9. The secretary stated that, in view of the fact that the first instalments of levies would not be payable before next July, he would suggest that the board apply for a small bank overdraft to finance its operations in the meantime.

The secretary's report was approved