THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 28 April 1894, Page 2

THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

In accordance -with the provisions of "The "Water/ Bupply Act 1891 " -a general election of members of the "■Board y. ill 1 be held on the 30tb_, April'

M^ MBI — woac—an ii i ■ ji. i_uup_uaii» inst, and it i.s desirable that the attention of tbe ratepayers should be directed to the manner of election and to the nature and extent of the work of the present Board during its term of office. Election of Board. . Tbe Water Supply Act came into force on the Ist day of October 1891, . and Part II of this Act provides that within any Connty wherein "The Counties Act 1886 " is not m operation or is suspended, any two or more Road Boards representing road districts A which adjoin each other may amalgamate and by Proclamation gazetted by the Governor be declared a Water Supply District m November iB9l, tbo committee received resolution from the Road Boards interested together with a description of the lands m each Road District or Riding that would be benefitted by a water supply and m the exercise of such power conferred by tbe Act the Waimakariri- Ashley district was proclaimed on tbe 13fcli • day of February 1892 aud the preseut Board elected by the ratepayers of the Riding which tbey represent m May :18th 1892 Rockfokd Scheme. The boundaries of the district were made to include ali lands that could be served, from a point of intake on the river Waimakariri known as the RockFord, and the Board upon coming into office found that this scheme bad been reported upon by Mr Sharpe, surveyor to ihe Committee, and estimatedf'at £26,782 for a supply of 840 gallons per a are per :day, that full particulars of the intake and supply bad after discussion, been adopted at meetings of ratepayers held at the several Road Board Offices m tbe district m June 1891, and tbat an altermate scheme for a smaller supply from the same intake had been rejected; also that the Rock-Ford was the lowest point of intake on the river Waimakariri capable of serving the upper portion of the proclaimed district. A Petition was received by the Board on the sth July 1892, from 16 ratepayers and hole ersJn the Eyreton district, asking to have an alternate scheme surveyed and estimated from the Gorge Bridge as a point of intake. The Engineer reported on the 13th September 1892. Rock-Ford.— Acerage watered ]53, 563. Rock-Ford.— Supply gallons per day 128,992,920. Rock-Ford.— Cost £30,878. Gorge Bridge.— Acerage . watered 139,088. Gorge Bridge. — Supply gallons per day 116,833,920 Jorge Bridge:— Cost £24, 136. The estimates were calculated to supply the same quantity of water as provided m Mr Sharpe s report, adopted by the ratepayers m June 1891, viz 840 gallons per acre per day," or 1 cub. ft. per second per square mile. The Board unanimously decided to adopt the Rock-Ford scheme and forwarded the report and estimates to Mr E. Dobson CE. Consulting Engineer, for his opinion as to the sufficiency of the estimates to carry out the work also as to grades, side slopes : and other engineering matter. Mr E. Dobson reported; approving the scheme and considered that the sum of _630,000..5b.0u1d be sufficient for the execution of the work. The Board then resolved to raise a Loan of £31,000 and m order to comply with the provisions of Tthe Act, meetings were held m each -Riding of the district to. discuss the proposal ; at esch of the meetings so held the proposal was sanctioned by large majorities of those> present. At s the Poll taken on February 27th 1893 the proposal was carried and gazetted on the 6th day of March 1893. Special meetings of ratepayers were held throughout the district m August 1898, for the purpose of explaining the proceedings of the Board, the result being/that only 76 ratepayers out -of a total of 612 voted against the. scheme being proceeded with, representing <_ei1Q,655 out of -a total of £736,357. 1 > ■■•'• » to 'Scheme. A large amount of discussion has taken place m the district as to the merits and demerits of the scheme, it would appear from? the papers and re-

port that m 1890 and 1891, the ratepayers were unanimous and anxious for water and could not have too much. Why? because the years 1890 and 1891 were very dry seasons. Taking the years 1892 and 1893 the rainfall has been very heavy and consequent upon this some of the ratepayers have forgotten their troubles with regard to the scarcity of water, but upon a perusal of the rainfall m Canterbury from 1864 to 1892, it will be found tbat the annual rainfall during that period was 13.54 inches, the maximim annual rainfall during that period 35.287 m. and the measure for the whole period 25.103. therefore what has occurred several times m the past 28 years may occur again viz. scarcity ot water m various parts of the district, causing expense, trouble and inconvenience to the settlers.

A scheme tbat bas a permanent supply at si^h levels as to give tbe greatest benefit to the largest number of ratepayers, at a remunerative cost par acre is the best for the district and it cannot be disputed but that the Rock Ford intake fulfills these conditions as tbe following figures will show —

1 Selwyn County Water race system

Acreage 326,000 Supply m gallon pc-r diem 70,940,960. Cost £67,679. 2. Ashburton County Water race system.

Acreage 450,000 Supply iv gallons per diem 64,800,000. Cost £25,000. 3. Ashburton County Mr Baxter CE. 'proposed irrigation Scheme from Lavingfcon. Acreage 150,000 Supply ih gallons per diem 151,200,000. Cost £60,000. Waimakariri-Ashley District Rock Ford. Acreage 153,563, Supply m gallons per diem 128,992,920. Cost £30,878. The Selwin County water race system was commenced m 1875 a sum of £25,000 having been allocated by the late Provincial Government of Canterbury to be spent m a water supply for the lands between the Waimakariri and Seiwjn Rivers known as the Malvern district, consequently it is impossible to make a comparison as to the annual water charges between this district and the Selwin County, further — (1) The supply does not average more than one fourth of the Rock Ford Supply. 2 The settlers have to make and main, tain their own branch races ; the County maintaining the Head works and main races.

The Ashburcon County water race system was constructed from the County funds, the stttlers paying a rate for cleansing thy races.

The Eyre water race m the OxforcJ District was constructed from government funds to improve government land for Sale, the charge m tbis case being for maintenance only.

No reliable comparison of annual charges can be made, without the works are executed under similar conditions, viz. by Loans raised to execute the works, Interest and Sinking Fund or Special Loans, Maintenance Charges and Supervision. Then the Annual Charges must be made to cover.. In the Selwyn and Ashburton counties, and Eyre Water Race District charges for water are decreased by the amount that would have to be paid annually as interest aud sinking fund or the amount of Loan required for the works. Take Mr Baxter's, Lavington Scheme, the supply is 1008 gallons per acre per day as against 840 gallons per acre per day from the Rock Ford, the estimated annual cost per acre being ll£d for the Lavington scheme and 4d for the Rock Ford scheme. To be continued.

Elections.— -Water-race' Election on Monday, Road Board Election, on Thursday next. j " • '

Easter Trip.— For want o f space we have to hold over the continuance of Easter Holiday Trip until next; week.