DOWNLAND SCHEME

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20722, 8 May 1937, Page 18 (Supplement)

DOWNLAND SCHEME

THREE SPRINGS AS SOURCE COUNCIL CONSIDERS FULL REPORT IDEA NOT FAVOURED Information to the effect that the advisability of using the Three Springs at Kimbell for the source of the Downland water supply instead of the Ten* gawai River had been fully investigated within the past few months, was released at yesterday’s meeting of the Mackenzie County Council and a report by the resident Public Works engineer at Temuka (Mr T. G. Beck) was tabled. The report put the cost of including Fairlie and 12,000 acres of land in the scheme at £40,000, which, providing a subsidy similar to that granted for the major work was given by the Government, would cost £llOO a year. The advantages of the extension would be that a higher pressure would improve the coverage as far as the reservoirs, and a more uniform flow at the source with no suspended matter, would simplify the intake arrangements and prolong the life of the pipes. The opinion was expressed, however that Fairlie could probably be served more cheaply by a water race passing through the town. The chairman of the Council (Mr C. J. Talbot) said that at the last meeting, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., had outlined the proposal in committee. Later he had, with the resident engineer, met the Albury and Fairlie members of the Council in Fairlie. After considerable discussion it had been decided that those responsible for the Downland scheme could not be recom-

1 mended to proceed with the extension, i Mr Beck had said that Fairlie would be finding the interest and sinking fund on £lO,OOO, and he was of the opinion that a suitable scheme could be established for half that sum. The ' Fairlie business people had asked the Council to call a meeting of ratepayers to discuss a scheme, and he thought the meeting should be called and an invitation extended to Mr Beck to attend. The action of the members in not recommending the scheme was approved by the Council, and it was decided to call a meeting as suggested by the chairman. Report on Scheme. The report supplied to the District Public Works engineer at Christchurch <Mr F. Langbein) by Mr Beck read: , •’With reference to your memorandum concerning a report in ’The Timaru Herald’ in which it was suggested that the Three Springs would make a better source of supply for the Downland . scheme, I have to advise that this , source was not overlooked when the original investigations were being , made. The area for which a scheme of water supply was asked stopped at Albury, and the Department was obliged to find the most economical supply for that area. The eminent suitability of the Three Springs as a source of potable water was recognised, and the springs were visited. The extra distance of 10! miles, together with the following reasons, put the matter definitely out of consideration at that time:— “First, the demand for water both for stock and domestic purposes, in the vicinity of the main road between Three Springs and the Tengawai Valley, would be lower than that for the bulk of the area coming within the scheme, on account of the higher rainfall and the number of well-watered valleys debouching from the Albury hills across the road. In the second place, there was no indication that Fairlie really desired a high-pressure domestic supply. In fact, the fate of previous proposals suggested the contrary. Finally, in all probability. Fairlie could be supplied more cheaply by the utilisation of a water race passing through the town. A large

hydraulic ram could be used to raise water to a storage reservoir on high ground west of the town. Gorge Scheme Best Available. “I can confidently state that the proposed Tengawai Gorge scheme is the best available for the area at present contemplated,” Mr Beck reported. "I have prepared an estimate of the cost of extending the pipe line to the Three Springs, including'an approximate item for reticulating Fairlie and 12,000 acres of country contiguous to the pipe line. The total nett increase in cost would be £40,000. If the additions were subsidised on the same basis as tne present scheme, the additional interest bearing cost would be £20,000. Taking interest and sinking fund at five per cent, and allowing £lOO per annum to cover additional maintenance, the annual cost would amount to £llOO. On the basis of the revenue produced by the Pleasant Point township, I consider that Fairlie could not be expected to find more than £550 a year. That would leave £550 to be found by the 12,000 acres, and would work out at much the same cost to the consumer as the present scheme. “Summarised,” the report proceeded, “the position is as follows: (1) The Tengawai River is the best source for the area as defined at present. (2) If sufficient Fairlie and other residents witnin at least one mile of the suggested main pipe line extension signified their desire to come into the scheme, water could be supplied on the same terms as to the rest of the area Advantages of Extension. “Advantages incidental to the extension would be: A higher pressure would improve the coverage as far as the reservoirs, and, in particular, would enable the Cricklewood settlement to be served, an area which I understand, requires water. That is included in the 12,000 acres. A more uniform flow at the source with little or no suspended matter, would simplify the intake arrangements, and prolong the life of the pipes.

“If, in view of the above, arguments, it is considered that Fairlie and the surrounding district should be given an opportunity of coming into the scheme. I would recommend that the Members of Parliament for the district, Messrs David Barnes and T. D. Burnett, should be asked to ascertain the public feeling in the area concerned, and that if this appears to be favourable, the canvassers who are row working on the scheme, should be instructed to canvass that area also. If the opinion were unfavourable the Tengawai source should then be finally confirmed. In my opinion this is the only way to settle the matter to the satisfaction of those who desire the Three Springs source. “A few people living near Albury, raised the point that the Tengawai River had been known to go dry at the gorge several times during the last 35 years. In order to clear this up. the committee held a public meeting at Albury. I was present and was able to find that there was no evidence to warrant acceptance of such a statement. Much of the so-called fact was hearsay, and when I followed further. I found that nearly all the ideas came from one man, Mr F. W. Mcllwrick, who had fished the lower end of the gorge one day in 1906 when the river was evidently very low. It was a simple matter to show that the gorge was not ‘bone’ dry as stated by him. and that he did not take any particular observations of the flow at the time. Other old residents argued that there was always an ‘ample’ supply of good water leaving the gorge. My opinion is that the Tengawai Gorge source is completely dependable from every point of view.’’