VISIT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1778, 14 September 1874, Page 2

VISIT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

DEPUTATIONS.

» WAIOTAHI WATER SUPPLY, putation, consisting of Messrs. Carpenter, Kowe, Bagnall, Macnab, Brodie, and a number of others interested, waited upon His Honor this morning to urge the necessity of a water supply for the Creeks. Mr. Carpenter introduced the deputa* tion, consisting of the representatives of the various highway districts, and stated . their object, in ascertaining what course to pursue regarding the water supply, in order that the whole of the inhabitants might have a full share during the coming summer. Mr. McLaren produced a plan of the field, showing the source ef the present supply, and stated that the reservoir was 250 feet above the level of the eea. Mr. Carpenter: Is it not possible to extend the water supply up the creeks, so &tf to meet the wants of the batteries and inhabitants P Mr. McLaren: The supply is up the Kauaeranga already, and is up the Waiotahi already upwards of 200 feet. Mr. Carpenter: Could it not be extended? Mr. McLaren said it could not at present ; it would be impossible, as the water was being used in such quantity by the boilers. .

Mr. Brodie said the want was so great that something must really be done. Up the Waiotahi Creek there was a populalation of about 1100 people, and no suitable water for domestic purposes. Mr. Hopkins said there was only one place where the inhabitants could obtain water from where there was no rain, namely, a drive, and the water from that was excessively injurious. His Honor said it was a matter for the engineers of the district. Mr. Bowe said the general scheme would not send the water up the creeks so far as the present water supply. In answer to His Honor Mr. McLaren described the position of the reservoir at Parawai, and said the large water supply would do away with the necessity for using the present supply for boiler purposes, and thus enable the district to obtain sufficient for domestic purposes; but the large scheme would not be finished within fifteen months.

His Honor suggested that the Municipality should confer with the several Highway Boards, and see if they could not co-operate. Mr. Brodie said the Municipality had never shown any disposition to co-operate with the highway boards. His Honor said he would meet them again at 2 o'clock in order that the Mayor and Councillors might be present. WHARF EXTENSION. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Rowe, Brodie, Sims, Souter, Eennan, and a number of others interested, waited upon His Honor, according to appointment, with reference to the extension of the goods wharf. On Saturday he intimated that the report of the engineers would be ready to-day at 11 o'clock, when he would give them an answer. Mr. Sheehan read the report, the gist of which is as follows t— :-.

The report stated that Mr. Lodder had been consulted with, and hi 3 opinion was that it would be necessary to construct a T wharf at Tararu to enable vessels of all kinds to come into the wharf at all states of the tide ; and that there would be no difficulty in discharging there in all but extra bad weather; and further on he stated it as his opinion that coal and other merchandise could be delivered by rail in Grabamstown as cheap, if not cheaper than from the proposed extension of the goods wharf. Messrs. Erringtofi atod Stevenson were of opinion that the extension of the present goods wharf at Grahatnstown would be the best, quickest, and most convenient means of relieving the present want, and were also of opinion that the lengthening of the present wharf would. meet the requirements of the trade for many years to come. Mr. Errington stated that masters of vessels had a i decided objection to land cargo at Tararu, as they considered it an unsafe place for vessels to lie. Mr. Errington also stated that coaL landed at Tararu would cost Is 3d per ton more than if landed at the Goods Wharf. From the soundings taken by the Harbor Master, the depth of water would be increased three 1 feet with an extension of six hundred

feet. In regard to the. silting up of the harbor, the engineer found that while the immediate foreahore was rapidly silting up very little change was taking place in the depth of the water outside the end of the goods wharf. The estimated cost of the work was £3000, including mooring posts and other matters in connection with wharf accommodation.

His Honor said the sooner tenders were applied for the better, though of course they would have to see how the money was to be obtained. He was prepared to see how far he would be able to carry out the work ; and his justification for pro* v ceeding in the work was in the report read. He would make enquiries as to the money—he thought the General Government would be inclined to help. At the last session it had not been anticipated'in the estimates; but he was fully alive to the necessity of its being undertaken. Mr. Bagnall asked whether anything had been done in reference to permanent harbor works.

His Honor said he had not got the foreshore handed over to him ; nor had it been handed over to the Municipality. He had been prepared to support any Bill with reference to the foreshore, but nothing had been done ; and it was useless £ to make any provision for permanent: ''.'' harbor works, until some definite proposal: was arrived at as to the foreshore. His own views were that ifc should be handed over to the Provincial Government under the Provincial Act. If anything of such a disastrous nature should happen as once referred to by Mr. Kowe—if the Provincial Government was only in a. transition state, the foreshore would fall back into the hands of the General GoTernment. WAIO-KABAKA BOAD. A large deputation waited upon Hii Honor, regarding the Waio-Karaka \, » Eoad. .. - ...V. Mr. Eowe said several mines were retarded in their operations owing to their not being a good road. The Municipality had voted £300 towards the road, estimated to cost £900, and the mines benefitted had agreed to contribute £100 each, and they asked the Government to contribute the remainder. Mr. Mclntyre said the road would open up a large district behind the hills. Mr. Jackson remarked that the Queen of May Company had been prevented from > putting up machinery which they had purchased in consequence of their, being, \ no passable roads. His Honor asked had the Government engineer been consulted.

Mr. McLaren said he had not been spoken to with reference to the road. Mr. Jackson said the road had. been surveyed by the Borough Engineer. His Honor said the Government Engineer of the district should >Jba,¥e been consulted, and would adjourn the hearing until three o'clock, that Mr. McLaren might be consulted. ADJOURNED BUSINESS. ' At half-past two the deputation met again, and Mr. Carpenter informed His ! Honor that he had seen the Mayor, and : from what that gentleman had said he (Mr. Carpenter) inferred that he would not be present. He had said that he thought it the intention of the Govern* ment to hand' over the water works to the Municipality*. His Honor said the Provincial Government had nothing to do with that. The Provincial Government wished for the control of the water works; and he would not like to compromise them. He did not feel justified in doing anything in the face of Mr. McLaren's report, in which, it also appeared that to extend the present supply would take 12 months, when the general scheme would be finished. Mr. Howe considered neither of the schemes would prove efficient to supply the wants of the people. He, said that the Government would have to look to other sources of supply—of which there were three or four. Nothing was definitely decided after all, His Honor suggesting that Messrs. McLaren and Aitken should be consulted regarding the new sources of supply spoken of. Mr. Howe subsequently questioned His Honor as to the maintenance of the Waiotahi road and track, and said it would; take £500 to keep them in anything like repair. His Honor said he would wait for the return of the engineers who had gone to inspect, as he wished to get a fair estimate not only of that work but of all referred to. Messrs. McLaren and Aitken on their return said with reference to the Waiotahi track that £500 would be if anything under the estimate. As to the Waiokaraka road, their estimate would not amount to so much as it had been down at, namely, £900. The Superintendent said the Government would contribute a share. .

His Honor also intimated in the cour«e of the afterno'qn that it was purposed to reconstruct Curtis' wharf, conditionally upon the proprietor paying half the, cost. >