HIGH LEVEL WATER RACE.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5143, 11 July 1885, Page 2

HIGH LEVEL WATER RACE.

PUBLIC MEETING

A largely attended meeting of the ratepayers of the newly-created special rating district was held in the Waiotahi Bchoolroom last evening, for the purpose of discussing the merits of the proposed High Level Water Eace scheme.

Mr D. E. Gellion occupied the Chair, and explained that he did so by virtue or his appointment as presiding officer of the County Council. He then read the advertisement calling the meeting; and invited discussion upon the subject. Mr A. Brodie detailed the preliminary steps which had been taken in , the matter, and said there ould be no doubt that were the work carried out, it would prove of great benefit to the whole district. He said that Mr T; Dualop was the first to communicate with thp County Council on the subject, and several discussions had taken place regarding the matter. When in Wellington last year, ,'he laid the matter before Sir George Grey, and Messrs Eraser and Cadman, who brought the subject under the notice of Government, and it was ultimately agreed by the then Minister of Mines, to place a sum on the Estimates equal to half the cost of the work, provided the ratepayers contributed *

a siiail^r amount. It wag found that ibis | would be somewhat (iiHleuh, and through the efforts of Mr 0. Hill and other*, a petition was largely signed, praying that a special rating district be constituted, and placed before the County Council, who decided to make the Waiotalu Biding the special rating district. In order to carry the proposal, it was required that twothirds of the ratepayers should poll in favor of it, as specified by the Counties Act. He then proceeded to explain why the Waiotahi Eiding had been chosen, and said that the Puru creek was the only one available for bringing in a water supply; though opinions had been expressed that the supply would not be adequate. He could not any what quantity of water was in the creek, but even in dry seasons he had noticed, when passing along the beach, a large quantity of water flowing at the mouth. In 1872 Mr G. A. Beere, C.E., famished a report to Mr C. E. Haughton, Under-Secretary to Goldfields, on the subject, in which it was then proposed to bring in the Puru creek at an elevation of 300 ft., the cost being estimated at £1000 per mile. It was now proposed to bring in the water at the Australasian battery site; at this level quartz of low grade, of which there was an abundance in the neighborhood, could be remunera* tively treated. The length of the proposed race was estimated by the County Engineer to be 16 miles ; the quantity of water available would be 10 or 12 sluice heads for eight months of the year, and half that amount during the remaining four months. The estimated height was 500 ft., and if the whole fall was utilised, 40 horse power would be obtained from one sluice head, and the value, at the rate of present charges, would be £15 per sluicehead per week. The cost of construction was estimated at £20,000,.0r £1250 per mile ; and the annual revenue from water would be about £4000, one-third of which wou'd be required for the maintenance of Ike race. The proposed rate of six farthings in the £ would amount to £425 per annum, and would effect a saving of some £4500 a year now being spent by the Big Pump in coal as the water could bs utilised for working the machinery. He would ask them to do their utmost to carry out the propiosal, which would greatly benefit the goldfield. Mr Coutts also spoke ou the subject, and said that were an increased supply of water obtained, it would no doubt prove beneficial to the district, and he would therefore urge upon them the importance of carrying out the project, as everyone knew the benefit of a good water supply to a goldfield.

After replying to several questions, the following resolution, proposed by Mr Brodie, and seconded by Mr J. McEnteer, was unanimously carried :—" That this meeting, having given the question of the High Level Water Race due consideration and discussion, is of opinion that it is a work which would be beneficial to the whole district, and urges upon all otber ratepayers to use. their best efforts towards successfully carrying the poll in favor of having this important work carried out."

The Chairman stated that a poll would be taken on the subject, the date of which would be notified.

Votes of thanks were accorded Mr C. Hill for his action in the matter, and the Chairman, and the meeting rose.