13

a—2b

Township. Some miles north-west of Hoteo Railway-station is the wooded hill Kikitangeo, which is mapped by Cox as partly " trachyte " (probably andesite). In the Pahi-Paparoa district there are various outcrops of limestone suitable for roadmaking purposes. The Gibraltar Rock and other outcrops on the Pahi Estuary could be easily quarried and conveniently transported by water to many points. Marahemu Hill, east of Pahi, consists of an andesite or allied rock, which forms excellent road-metal. A similar hill occurs west of Matakohe Township, Komiti Peninsula.. Near Komiti Bluff, and again on the southern side of the entrance to the Otamatea Estuary, are considerable outcrops of volcanic breccia, which give rise to some patches of rough bouldery beach. From these and similar beaches much material for roadmaking can be obtained and easily transported by water to any point, on the shores of Kaipara Harbour.

5. WATER-SUPPLY FOR KAIKOURA TOWNSHIP. (By P. G. Morgan.) While at Kaikoura in December, 1915, my attention was directed to the lack of a permanent, water-supply for the township. Owing to the dryness of the season all tanks were empty, and water for drinking purposes was being carted several miles. For washing and for wateringdomestic animals well-water was being generally used. At the Maori settlement on the south side of the peninsula water was being obtained from a small spring in such a position that it could easily be contaminated by surface drainage. A good supply of pure water is necessary for the health as well as the convenience of the inhabitants of the township. Sporadic cases of typhoid fever occur in the district,* and if present conditions continue it would not be surprising if a severe epidemic of this or some similar disease should break out. Kaikoura has been praised as a seaside resort, and has been termed by its admirers the Scarborough of New Zealand, but it has a poor reputation for salubrity, and so long as it is without a reliable water-supply intending visitors, if in search of health, would do well to avoid this picturesque little township. The well-water at Kaikoura is obtained from moderately shallow wells sunk in the narrow flat on which the greater part of that straggling township is built. This flat is a raised beach backed by hills of limestone and other rocks, used mainly for grazing sheep. The water that drains into it from these hills is very hard, and contains sufficient lime and other mineral matter to give it a somewhat unpleasant taste. The danger of this supply becoming contaminated and utterly unfit for consumption by human beings or by stock is obvious. If Kaikoura had a large population an abundant and satisfactory supply of water could be obtained either from the Kowhai or the Hapuku River, but the adoption of either of these schemes involves six to eight miles of pipe-line, at an expense beyond the means of the small community that would be served. There are, however, other possible sources of water-supply, and these may be classified as (I) streams draining the eastern slopes of Mount Fyfl'e, (II) springs on the Kaikoura Plain, and (III) artesian or sub-artesian water of the Kaikoura Plain. I. Streams from Mount Fyffe. (1.) Luke's Greek. —Luke's Creek is a small stream draining jjart of the south-eastern slopes *** of Mount, Fyffe. On reaching the gravel-fans at, the foot of the mountain it diminishes in volume through soakage, and ultimately disappears. The creek has been favourably reported upon as a source of water-supply, but at the time of my visit was perfectly dry at the proposed intake, which is on the fan some distance from the base of Mount Fyffe. It is therefore fortunate that no steps were taken to carry out the scheme recommended by the engineer consulted in the matter. Possibly by going westward to the base of Mount Fyffe a fairly permanent supply of water could be obtained from Luke's Creek. The watershed, however, is small, and probably a large reservoir on Kaikoura Peninsula would be needed in order to ensure a constant supply to the town. Luke's Creek, provided stock are excluded from the watershed, would yield water of unquestionable purity. The pressure at Kaikoura would be ample for all purposes, but the main pipeline would be long, the hcadworks probably liable to be destroyed by floods, and, as mentioned above, a reservoir near the township would probably be found necessary. (2.) Waimangarara Stream. —This stream, situated to the north of Luke's Creek, has a much larger valley, and if tapped near the base of Mount Fyffe would yield a never-failing supply of good water under high -pressure. As with Luke's Creek, a long main pipe would be needed, and the headworks would be liable to be destroyed by floods. 11. Springs on Kaikoura Plain. On the 19th December, accompanied by Messrs. James Boyd, County Chairman, and J. C. McLauchlan, County Engineer, I visited Hughie's Creek, which has been considered as a source of water-supply, and is a small stream flowing from a spring in the Kaikoura Plain at a spot about three miles north-west of the western end ■of Kaikoura Township. The gently slopin"surface of the plain is here somewhat over 100 ft. above sea-level. At the point between Sections 101 and 159, where Hughie's Creek crosses the road, it has a flow, roughly estimated by me at quite two-thirds of a sluice-head, or 40 cubic feet per minute—that is, sufficient for a population of 7,200, using 50 gallons per head per day. The water is perfectly clear, tasteless,

* Four cases were treated at the hospital in 1914. See " Statistics of the Dominion of New Zealand " vol i 1915 p. 141.