WAITOHI WATER SUPPLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2113, 18 October 1890, Page 3

WAITOHI WATER SUPPLY.

A meeting of the settlers at Waitohi interested in the constitution of the proposed waterrace district was held on Thursday evening in the schoolroom, Waitohi Flat. There was a capital attendance; Mr Balfour, chairman of the County Council, presided, and having read the advertisement convening the meeting said that as they were aware the subject had been before them on several different occasions, a poll had been taken, and the proposal narrowly escaped being carried. It was now re-opened in response to a petition signed by 27 ratepayers. Accompanying the petition was a letter signed by Mr John Talbot, setting forth that several hitherto opposed to the movement were now in favor of it, and that the names attached probably represented a majority of the settlers in the proposed district. It further pointed out that the proposal would have been carried on the last occasion except for seme informal votes. Having read the petition the chairman went on to say that the plan which bad been prepared some eight years ago would require some modification, and Messrs Meason and Marchant, the county engineers, had recently reported upon it and made a complete revision of the district. Owing to changes of ownership and some alterations in the character of the land at the proposed headworks some extra work would be necessary. Their estimate for the construction of the whole work, together with all engineers and other expenses, was £2IOO. The eost of land through which the head race would pass was set down at £2OO, in all £2300. They recommended that the lessee of reserve 640 which contained 300 acres, only a small portion of which was receiving benefit from from the race, should be rated for half that amount or have a portion of rate remitted. Their experience showed that certain alterations and extensions were always asked for as soon as the races were commenced, and they recommended that provision should be made for the same. The chairman stated that .the council had decided with the ratepayers’ sanction, to borrow the sum of £3OOO, and read the advertisement signifying that intention. This sum would be extinguished in 25 years by a rate of one halfpenny in the £ on the rateable value of the land in the proposed district. The area of the district was 9188 acres and its capital value £79,197. If £3OOO were borrowed the sum of £165 would require to be raised annually. A halfpenny rate would give the sum of £166 17s 4d, or calculated at per acre, it would amount to £172. There would also be the cost of maintenance to provide for. Replping to Mr Thos. Orr, the chairman said that per acre would cover the interest and sinking. Maintenance would be an additional item, say, about 2d per acre. Mr John Talbot said that they were met there simply to receive the proposal of the County Council. Further than that they could do nothing. There were so many erroneous impressions abroad that it was a good thing to have the subject ventilated. There was no doubt that the water was worth the money. They would notice that it was now proposed to borrow £3OOO instead of £2600, as formerly. If this sum were not expended the ratepayers would not be asked to provide for it. With regard to the revision of the district, this might be a good thing, but it would entail a vast amount of , trouble, He should himself like to see some adjustment arrived at, so that a certain amount might be remitted to people not requiring the water or, not receiving a fair advantage from it. He hoped that a fair discussion would take place, and he was of opinion that under all the circumstances appther poll should be taken.

The chairman said it would be a great expense if the district had to be revised, and with regard to any remission of rates he was afraid the council had no power to do so.

Mr Andrews said that he had been informed that another poll could not be taken for two years. The chairman said that no such provision was made by the Act.

Mr A. M. Clark was of opinion that a poll onqe taken,, and the proposal rejected, the matter could no£ be reopened,

The chairman said there was no reason why another poll should not be taken.

Mr Talbot said that the only bar to the council taking a fresh poll was the one of expense. It was not conceivable that the Act contemplated a complete bar to sueh a proposal, and he instanced a double poll in connection with the Seadown supply. Of the cireumatances attend this case the Government were fully cognisant. Mr Clark asked if it was fair, that a 5 poll having been taken and lost, that the matter should be reopened ? In the meantime many people had gone to considerable expense to provide themselves with water, and they were now to be included in a race district. He thought a fresh survey altogether ought to be made. He should like t© know how much the scheme had already cost. The chairman said probably about £7O. He reminded Mr Clark that the council were not interested in the matter. They only provided the machinery for the ratepayers. Replying to Mr Clark, he said that the rates struck provided as nearly as possible for maintenance. If the full amount were not expended the rate would b e less the succeeding year. It was a fact that iu the Eangitata district the rate collected was £IOO more than was required, but it was not a fact that the council intended to regularly collect this rate. There was a probability that the succeeding rate would be a very small one. The rate altogether at the Hangitata only amounted to three half-pence per acre.

Mr Fraser said that he desired to make a few remarks, and wished to say that it was in no hostile spirit he did so. In the first place he drew attention to the large sum proposed to be set aside to recompense owners of land at the bead race. The race came along a barren terrace, and for this £2OO was required. This was preposterous. He was of opinon that the land should be acquired under the Public Works Act. Another point was that these men were exempted for ever from rates. If their land was from them they should be rated as the others were. He also noticed several discrepancies in the list of areas published. One man was put down as having 150 acres when, as a matter of fact, he had only 30 acres in the supply district. At the lower end several who were opponents to the scheme we“re omitted altogether, while the Bank of New Zealand, with extensive river frontage, was liable to be rated as much < as those who had none. The great thing was for the majority not to oppress the minority. This was the driest season yet known, but he was of opinion that many of those now anxious to get water could provide themselves with a permanent supply at the eost of one year’s rates. With regard to the extinction of the debt in 25 years, he thought it could with advantage be extended over a period of 40, and so let their descendants have a chance of paying some of it.

The chairman said that any little discrepancies of areas or omissions on the roll could be easily remedied.

Mr Talbot said that the omissions of names from the district was merely a matter for the engineers. There were others who would like to be included. With regard to the bank’s estate it was impossible that all could receive equal benefit. He thought it probable that later on there would be some body appointed to adjust the amounts fairly payable by people deriving benefits from the works. Taking the matter as a whole, the water was worth more than it cost. It added from 5s to 7s per acre to the capital value of the land. He questioned if the maintenance would cost £76 a year, bearing in mind that there were so few cut races. With regard to the period for repayment of money being extended he thought it was better to leave well alone. The sum annually raised was only 5 per cent of the principal, and this extinguished principal and interest in 25 years. Cheap enough in all conscience. With regard to people not wanting the water it had been generally found that people outside nearly always wanted it. Supposing it cost 6d an acre, would they not sooner give that much more for a farm with permanent water? The artificial provision of water by windmills, pumps, or dams was unsatisfactory. Everyone should look at it as a commercial transaction and not as a tax. Mr Fraser asked if the council had no confidence im their engineers’ estimate when they promised to borrow £3OOO instead of £2300.

The chairman explained that if extension of the races was asked for i* could not be don© unless tb*^, o money to do it wife. It'did net follow that it would all be required. Replying; to Mr Clark he said that the council fla d power to borrow extra money in case of damage to the works. Mr Talbot said the Act defined a iimit.

Mr Bell thought the terrace where the head race came along would slip, and require protection.

Mr Clark was totally opposed to the scheme. Eight years ago it was first propounded. Much money had since been expended by individuals in providing water for their land. Some who had bought japd with river frontages or with permanent water were to be asked to pay for those with less foresight, who had purchased without these advantages. With regard to the money. First it was proposed to

borrow £2500, then £3OOO. Over the Rangitata works the council were £IOOO in debt, and had to ask the ratepayers to make it up. He cautioned them all to take his advice and think well over this matter. If the council once got the power they could de as they liked. Their land was no longer their own. Their rangers could go through it as they pleased. If a pig or a duck got into the race they were threatened with all sorts of penalties, and if a piece of gorse fell into the race there was the mischief to pay. In his own case he was convinced that for £25 he could water every paddock on the estate not yet supplied. The chairman said Mr Clark’s remarks were not quite in accordance with the facts. However, the council had no interest in the matter.

Mr Talbot thought it right for Mr Clark to come there and plead his cause. He reminded him that there were instances where large companies had picked up large blocks of land with permanent water, rivev frontages, and the like, and other people had to take less favorably situated blocks. (“ Not in this case interjected.) Mr Eraser made some jocular allusions to the actions of the rangers where pigs had got into the race. Eor his own part he thought the Raupo Creek would cause trouble. Mr Marchant had never seen it in flood, and could have no idea of its height. Mr Clark; Well perhaps not in this instance. There was in this case a tendency to make mountains out of molehills. Something had been said about the flooding of the Raupo Creek Mr Marchant was well advised of'this and did not think it likely to do much damage. Mr Andrews said there would be claims for compensation if it did. Mr Clark asked what action the council proposed to take to recoup owners who had natural water courses polluted with the races. The chairman said that he could hardly reply to such questions, as he had previously said he was only there as the representative of the council to confer with the ratepayers. After some desultory conversation it was decided to hold a fresh poll, the same to be taken at the. Library, Waitehi Elat, on Oct. 81st. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.