RUAWAI WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 11

RUAWAI WATER SUPPLY

APPROACH TO MINISTER

COMPANY'S PLAN FAVOURED

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL RF.PORTER] DARGAVILLB, Monday A possible solution of the water difficulty on the Ruawai Flats, where the available supply for human and stock consumption is both inferior and scarce, was placed before the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, by a large deputation at Dargaville to-night. It "was stated that when the land was balloted for settlers were told that ample artesian water would be available and the sections were loaded £25 cash for bores. Water had never been plentiful. It was heavily mineralised and was now failing, with the result that the dairy industry was menaced. Many solutions had been suggested and some tried and now the Hume Pipo Company had offered to bring water from the Kaihu Valley and sell it at Is for J 000 gallons, provided it could get a licence for 40 years. The company was willing to insert a clause in the agreement to permit the Government or/ a local body to take the supply over at any time at cost. . The settlers recommended that the Government should grant the charter to the company, and this was supported by Mr. F. A. Jones, Mayor of Dargavi 110, who said the borough would also take water from the company, as it contemplated a sewerage scheme. Support was also given by the representatives of a number of other districts which needed the supply. Mr. Semple said he would have no verv serious objection to the granting of such a charter, provided the local bodies could take the system over at cost. He would not be a party to giving the people's water rights away for all time. Ho had seen the highly unsatisfactory water being used and he thought that the Government had either to let the company instal the supply or provide the water itself. He would see that in any agreement the people were fully protected. He promised to take the matter up immediately on his return to Wellington.