LOAN PROPOSALS

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 7

LOAN PROPOSALS

FINAL CAMPAIGN ADDRESS MAYOR SPEAKS AT SOUTH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENTS ANSWERED. There was a good attendance of ratepayers in the South School last night when the Mayor, Mr A. Bain, and Councillor A. Glass spoke on the loan proposals. The chair was occupied by Mr A. W. Jones, who briefly introduced the speakers. The Mayor, in opening, covered the same ground as in his previous addresses. He went on to say that the Borough owned 7000 acres in the Dunsdale which was a waterworks reserve. At the proposed weir it was possible to impound 70,000,000 to 80,000,000 gallons and if that were not enough a second storage area could be obtained further up. During the last few years pumping had cost the Borough £52,000 in charges, while the capital cost was £22,000 —a total cost of £74,000. That amount would have more than paid for the Dunsdale scheme which at the last poll was estimated at £62,000. The present estimate contained an item of £llO,OOO for pipes, and when they compared the two estimates they would admit that the present estimate allowed plenty for contingencies. He was of opinion that there would be an amount of the present estimate unspent when the scheme was put through. The cost of trenching had been questioned, but with modern appliances the cost of trench ing would be greatly reduced. In 1907 he had supported the Dipton scheme, the cost of it at that time being estimated at £lOO,OOO for a 15-in. pipe line, but the cost of an 18-in. pipe to-day from Dipton would be about £250,000. The cost alone puts Dipton out of the question. The lakes were also suggested, but although this would produce plenty of good water, they could pay too much for it, when water just as good was procurable elsewher. He had been accused of not giving the pumpers any credit for what they had done for the town. Well, all the credit he could give them was for the first well, but when that was found to be insufficient they should have gone for a gravitation scheme and saved the town money. With one exception the Council was unanimous in favour of the Dunsdale and he did not wish to go through such a time again as he did last year. It would take about two years to complete the Dunsdale schame and by that time they would have reached the maximum of the present pumping plant supply. If the Dunsdale were not carried they would have to put down another bore and a tender (pre-war) for a bore and Ashley pump was £7,000. In two years time the pumping costs will exceed the Dunsdale, and these would continue to increase. With gravitation their first cost was larger but it remained practically stationary until a new pipe line was put in. CORRESPONDENCE. “There appeared a letter signed ‘W. Pearse,’ ” said Mr Bain, “and the correspondent raised the question of leaves polluting the stream. Well, I asked Dr. Johnston if, in bush-clad hills, would the leaves have any effect on the water. The reply I got was that the leaves would do no harm from a health point of view. Mr Bain said that when the first sample of water was analysed those conducting the examina tion could hardly believe it to be correct, and asked for another. The second sample was taken under adverse conditions, but even then the water was proved, without doubt, to be the purest of any gravitation scheme in New’ Zealand. If the vote is carired no stock will be grazed Qn the reserve and human beings would be prevented from trespassing. With those pre cautions the water would be even purer than the present samples. The greatest source of contamination was human beings. OWNERSHIP. “We have been promised a bombshell at the close of our campaign, by Mr Maxwell,” said the Mayor, “and when I read the letter appearing on Monday morning, I was a little disappointed. Mr Maxwell told us that we did not own the whole water-shed-well, the Council has known that for a long time. “He said that there was in addition to the Landless Natives Reserve, a small freehold on the property of about 200 acres which Mr Maxwell had omitted to mention. They were advised to secure the land before asking the ratepayers to sanction the scheme, but before that could be done the whole area would have to be surveyed. The small freehold could be purchased or obtained under the Public Works Acfc;_ With regard to the reserve, if the scheme were carried the Council would have the area surveyed and, if necessary, have a Bill prepared for the next session, giving the Council ownership. Mr Maxwell could have obtained this information if he had asked for it, but he (Mr Bain) supposed that Mr Maxwell received some advice from the “stray sheep.”

Another letter referred to leaves blocking the intake and showed that some people rushed into subjects they knew nothing about. A sluice valve would be put in to clear away obstructions of that kind. Mr J. M. Stewart had stated that there was enough water underground to supply Invercargill, and much use had been made of that remark. When in Napier he had inspected with Mr Stewart an artesian bore. While they were looking at it, Mr Stewart said: “If you could get it to flow like that in Invercargill you would be all right, but your country is too ‘tight’ and the cost of raising it is too big.” He concluded by saying that he did not think the Dunsdale scheme would ultimately cost them any more than a pumping scheme. ANALYSIS CRITICISM. The criticism of the analysis of the water was handled by Mr T. O. Fox, who said there was no question about the purity of the. supply. The presence of bacilli coli in the water was evidence of contamination and practically no water was without those germs, They were simply an indication of contamination and w’ere not harmful unless present in large numbers. The fol lowing were some remarks about bacilli coli in water: —

210 colonies b. coli; water classed as fair. 30 colonies b. coli; quite satisfactory. 103 colonies b. coli; distinctly good. 22 colonies b. coli; good water. 95 colonies b. coli; admirably suited for human use.

No harmful germs were water borne unless introduced by human beings. The only animal germ harmful was hydatis, which would be introduced by a dog. When stock and human beings were stopped from going on the reserve they would get a water far above the average. A further sample taken last Wednesday did not contain any bacilli coli. Wellington had a similar supply to the proposed Dunsdale and the leaves were perfectly harmless.

With regard to the present plant, he would advise the Council to retain two electric pumps. The Tower reservoirs would be filled with 2,000,000 gallons of fresh Dunsdale water every week and this would be sufficient to carry on with should any leak occur in the mains. More wells were advocated but out of twelve already sunk only two were satisfactory, which showed that enough experimenting had been done. In one bore they were now pumping the water 82-ft. 9-in., the original depth being 50-ft. That was almost a 50 per cent increase in depth, with a corresponding increase in cost.

In the route which he proposed to bring in the pipe line there would only be 2i miles in private property and the compensation to be paid would be very small. A comparison with the pumping costs of Christchurch and Invereargill had been made, but when he told them that Christchurch only paid l-Sd. per unit for power and Invercargill lid., they would see that the comparison was not a fair one. Christ-

church had only to lift the water over one stage, while Invercargill had to lift it in two stages. AN INTERESTING INTERLUDE.

Mr Maxwell: You l did not tell us that there was also another property of 43 acres to buy?

Mr Bain: That was bought years ago. Mr Maxwell: The watershed goes five miles beyond your reserves and you have never applied for that land. Mr Bain: I have already dealt with that question.

Mr Maxwell: That part is liable to be cut off at any time. Sawmills are already getting nearer and you have never made any provision to secure it. Mr Bain: We already have 7000 acres. Mr Maxwell: You have not answered my question, Mf Bain: I cannot find it. The Chairman: Please confine yourself to actual questions, Mr Maxwell. Mr Chisholm: Why have you turned down the Dipton scheme which you supported before?

Mr Bain: When I advocated the Oreti scheme it was turned down. Since then I have learned more about the Dunsdale and now favour it against the Oreti. Mr Maxwell: Does the extra £3500 for the baths include the architect’s fees? Mr Bain: It covers everything.

In reply to a question from Mr Maxwell about the “bacteri” report, Mr Fox said that to obtain reliable data, the analysis should be taken over a long period. In the last analysis no bacilli coli were found. Mr Maxwell: Now one for Mr Glass. What has become of the obsolete stock taken over by the Gasworks in the reconstruction? Was it included in the £lB,OOO antecedent liability ? Mr Glass: The antecedent liability was the amount the Gas Department was indebted to the Borough. A vote of thanks to the speakers concluded the meeting. » WATER SUPPLY. To the Editor. Sir.—Mr Maxwell has drawn attention to a very serious matter, the fact that the Council does not control the catchment area of the Dunsdale creek. In spite of Mr Bain’s special pleading for his pet scheme a reference to the latent map will clearly show that only one small branch is located entirely within the 7,000 acre« reserve, The main stream and much the greatest source of supply, rises in and flows for 7 miles through lands held by Maoris. This area of Maori land at present bush-clad, will in time be cut out by sawmills, and more than likely then burnt off and sown in grass. As a catchment area—denuded of bush, grazed by stock owned by Manri»-4t is simply out of the question as a source of our Water Supply.—l am, etc., GOOD HEALTH. To the Editor. Sir.—Your leader this morning points out that no saving on the annual cost of electric energy for pumping can be looked for, and the present charge of 1.25 d pep unit is coat including overhead, reticulation and other charges, Seeing that the latest rate offered to the Borough for Monowai current is under .65 per K.W. at the switch-board, the average ratepayer will consider ,60d a very handsome allowance for conveying that current (without transforming) from switchboard to pumping plant. At thia stage I wish to refer you to The Press of 27 January, 1925, wherein ynu will read of extensions proposed to the Christchurch Water Supply. Firstly note that cub-stations would pump against the head given by reservoir at Cashmere Hills (approximately 250 feet, as compared to Invercargill with an average lift and head of say 160 feet). Secondly I sum. m arise daily volumes of water to be jumped at the 4 anb-atationa named and the estimated annual cost of electric energy for pumping:—

Will you kindly inform your readers why it should coat in Invercargill £5,000 pep annum for electric current to pump a daily quantity of say 800,000 gallons to a total lift and head of sav 160 feet. —I am, eta, ANXIOUS RATEPAYER,

, Wooteton Opawa .. .. Papanui Daily Annua! coat of Gallons Current for .. 840,000 .. .. 660.000 .. .. 360,000 .. .. 860,000 pumping 4 820 252 137 137 2,220,000 840