PETONE WATER SUPPLY PROPOSALS.

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 11

PETONE WATER SUPPLY PROPOSALS.

A meeting of Petone ratepayers was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday evening to consider the proposal to borrow £4500 for a water supply. There were over a hundred persons present, and Mr W. J. Kirk, chairman of the Town Board, presided. The Chairman explained at some length the proposals of the Town Board. They recommended a more extensive scheme than that previously proposed, ,he said, for they thought it advisable to lay the larger pipes—six inches along the esplanade and four inches in the other streets—with the view that the insurance companies might take into consideration the efficiency of the water supply and reduce the amount of premiums. The Board proposed, almost unanimously, for only one member dissented, to connect with

ftha Wellington mains from Wainui. By so doing they would obtain a good water supply in much less time than if they went in for a separate reservoir, in which case, too, the liabilities would perhaps come very heavy on the ratepayers. By connecting with the Wellington supply they would be able to ascertain whether they could get an independent supply at a cheaper rate elsewhere. If they could get a cheaper one, then by all means let them do it. The Wellington Corporation had offered to sell them the water at 9d per thousand gallons. Mr Kirk, in his report, based his estimate on the supposition that there would be 280 houses to supply 60 gallons each per day. This, at 9d per thousand, would cost for the year, say £229 19s. The cost of maintenance per annum would be £IOO, and interest on loan at 6 per cent. £270. It was proposed by the Board to have a sinkingfund of 1 per cent., and this would bring the total charges up to about £644 19s. For immediate use it was estimated that £3OOO would meet all requirements, aud until 'it was required the surplus of £ISOB could be reinvested at, say, 5 per cent., which would reduce the aunual charge to £569 19s. A 5 per cent, water rate on the 2SO houseß and land would bring in £431 8s lOd, leaving a deficiency of £l3B 0s 2d. To cover this deficiency it was proposed by the Board to guarantee a special rate of 6d in the pound. Of course it did not necessarily follow that the rate would be levied—only such portion as would be sufficient to cover the deficiency after striking the 5 per cent water rate. This question of water supply was one of the most important they had to dekl with. Last summer had been one of the driest for many years, so dry that it had not allowed the waste that had taken place in Wellington, in consequence of which there had been some little inconvenience in town. He had no doubt, however, that the annual supply would be quite sufficient for their requirements, as well as those of the city. Mr Kirk went on to point out that the want of a water supply had been the means of keeping a great many people out of the district. It must also have some effect upon the health of the inhabitants, for he noticed that one of the doctors in Wellington was of opinion that the plentiful supply of water there had no doubt prevented any gr at increase of sickness. He (Mr Kirk) hoped there would be a good majority in favor of this proposal when the matter went to the poll. He knew there were some people in the district who were in favor of separate supply, and this, he believed, was the first step toward it. In any case they would have the pipes laid. He waß of opinion, however, that if they had a separate reservoir now, the after-charges might prove too much for the district, and they would have to go beyond their debt. In answer to Mr Battersby, the Chairman said he had not got with him a copy of the Engineer’s report on the water supply. After some discussion, in the course of which several gentlemen complained of the reports not being produced, Mr R. C. Kirk, town clerk, obtained and read to the meeting copies of the reports furnished by Messrs Baird and Ward 7 on the original scheme, and of his own on the present proposal. Mr Kirk added that he was informed that the insurance associations might reduce their rates 25 per cent, if such a supply as that now proposed were established, as they had done recently in Marton. He pointed out that the Board’s object in raising £4500 and thus providing a surplus of £ISOO, was to make provision for the extension of the supply, when necessary, to parts of the town that would be cut up and settled. "The Chairman moved, That this meeting approve the proposal of the Board to borrow the sum of £4500 for the purpose of providing a water Bupply for the district. Mr Collett seconded the motion, agreeing with the Chairman’s remarks upon the necessity for a water supply. In answer to a question, the Chairman said the only guarantee the Board had that the Wellington Corporation would supply the district with water was its letter in reply to the Board s letter. Mr Edmonds asked when that was ? The Chairman could not tell the exact date. Mr Edmonds said he hai seen it stated in the newspapers that there was no more water at the Wainui than was wanted, and Mr Cudby at the Hutt told him that he had been notified that the Wellington Corporation would not supply either the Hutt or Petone Town Boards. Mr S. Curtis thought the Corporation’s letter was a poor guarantee. The Chairman was sure the Wellington Corporation would be only too glad to obtain revenue in this way. (A Ratepayer : And at such a price !). Mr Edmonds moved as an amendment to the effect that the water supply be obtained locally by a separate reservoir, and not from the Wainui. He did not believe that would cost as much money as the present proposal. People, he said, unanimously condemned the Wainui water, and if they only saw where it came from, as he did—with vegetable matter in every pool of water—they would not drink it. There were plenty of streams about the township, and they could get a i freehold supply for about £3OOO. The Chairman quoted the favorable report recently published of an analysis of the Wainui water. Mr Edmonds said they should have tried it three months ago —it was purified now. Mr Battersby seconded the amendment. His principal reason for opposing the Board’s proposal was that the Wellington Corporation could only by their charter grant a three-months’ license to the district to use the water, and that, he thought, should prevent the district from spending £4500 on it. He quoted from the statement in the New Zealand Times of the 16th March, that the source of the supply had, according to Mr Marchant and Mr Higginson, been somewhat overrated as to its volume, and that the city could not afford to part with it to supply other places, and added that Mr Ferguson had expressed an. opinion that the scheme was preposterous. The Chairman : That was during the dry weather. Mr Battersby : But it is during the dry weather we want the water. He added that the Board now suggested 60 gallons per day for each house, though 90 had been estimated previously, and in London it was 160.

(Mr J. Edmonds said the Wainui water really was not palatable. If you took horses - into town he would guarantee they would not drink it. He had tried to drink it himself, but found it impossible to do so without first diluting it strongly with whiskey. (Laughter.) Air Witcher moved a further amendment, that the meeting stand adjourned until such time as the Board showed the ratepayers the scheme proposed and the actual cost of it. Air Battersby suggested that Dr Hector, who had accompanied tbe Chairman on an inspection of Percy’s stream, should give the meeting the benefit of his opinion. Dr Hector said he had no official report to make on it. The Wainui water, he might say, was analysed at the Museum every mouth. It hardly ever varied in purity, and had been equally pure ever since it was first laid on. It had remained perfectly pure during the dry season, and he could not understand those who complained about it. There was no doubt that Percy’s Gully was a very good place to put a drain in, but he could not say anything as to the water supply. He had made no measurements. There were matters of course which should be gone into before any scheme was fixed upon. He thought there was a great deal in what had been said, urging that they Bhould not go too hurriedly into the matter, for they might, at any time, after they had made all their arrangements, find themselves cut off. It could be seen from the reports of engineers who had inspected the Wainui that in some respects these works had not been very well executed, and there might be a very grievous miscarriage at a moment’s notice; and they in Petone had no Polhili’s Gully supply to fall back upon as they had in Wellington. At the same time, in considering this matter they must bear in mind that it wa3 not the right thing to borrow tbe money and then seek to treat with private proprietors for water rights. They might take advantage of the Wainui, however, while other arrangements were being made. Therefore he agreed with the action of the Board as a temporary expedient, providing that water was taken from the Wainui so as nob to prejudice the obtaining of a supply locally at a no very distant date. (Applause.) The Chairman said the Board proposed to connect with the Wainui as soon as possible, and in the meantime to get all necessary information as to obtaining a supply elsewhere, Mr Haines supported the scheme, and likened those who were opposing it to the Irishman who, being asked in a strange country what his politics were, replied that “ha was against the Government.” Mr Battersby suggested that reports should be obtained from engineers as to getting water from Percy’s Gully. Mr Edmonds’ amendment being pu';, was lost on a show of hands. Air Witcher’s amendment was not put. The motion made by the Chairman was carried, and Mr Kirk announced that a poll would be taken on the question on next Wednesday week. Mr Witcher remarked that the Chairman had used his influence to force the issue, and the meeting terminated.