ALEXANDRA WATER SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22393, 15 October 1934, Page 12

ALEXANDRA WATER SUPPLY

POLL TO BE TAKEN The adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of Alexandra to consider 'the question of the water supply, which will he affected by the erection of the proposed dam in Butcher’s Creek, was held on Thursday evening. The Mayor (Mr W. Bringans) presided over a large attendance, and outlined the salient features of the proposed scheme and answered several ■ questions which had been raised at the last meeting. , He then quoted from a report submitted to the council in. 1924, by Mr J. R. Marks, .district engineer, Public Works Department. Mr Marks had then_ considered the race in a very unsatisfactory condition, and his estimate of carrying out repairs was £2864. Mr C. E. Murphy criticised the proposal and suggested race repairs and extension to the present dam as a much better proposition. He quoted figures in-support of his suggestions. Or A. Ashworth spoke in favour of the scheme, quoting as instances the Dunedin City and Green Island water supplies, which showed that the water npw guaranteed would be an ample supply to meet the needs of Alexandra. Cr W. Hewitt, Cr E. Marslin and Mr C. Weaver also commended the scheme to the ratepayers. Mr L. L. Taylor Cannon considered the scheme too expensive and suggested that the borough undertake to repair ,the present dam and to heighten and repair the. present races. This, he said, would be far less Costly than the other proposal, which involved a sum of £2OO per annum. He also raised the question of compensation to landholders, and considered by his suggestion this £SOOO could be saved. Mr E. J. Terry, a 'former councillor and raceman, said he had the previous day traversed the race, and he congratulated the council on putting the race in the portion where the fluming was. He referred to the possibility of the pollution of the' water supply through the irrigation water used ori the land adjoining draining into the storage area. He said that he had noticed the creeks were in a very dirty and frothy state the previous day, and, he hoped that an assurance would he given that an analysis of the water would be taken by the Health Department. The Rev. Father O’Connell said he considered the scheme to be a good one, and he tjhonght the ratepayers and the council p'ould he well advised to accept the offer made. He also mentioned the fact that the large amount of work involved in the construction of the dam would mean work for a considerable number of men who needed it. Mr C. E. Richards finally moved that the meeting instruct the Borough Council to take a poll of the ratepayers on the proposal. This was seconded and carried.