Water Supply Loan – To the Editor of the Evening Post
Sir – Among the many arguments in favor of the proposal to obtain a supply from the Wainui in preference to that from South Karori, the following do not appear to have been considered at the meeting:- As regards the South Karori, if the city is to be supplied with pure water, the watershed of both the present supply and the new supply must be purchased. When the Council endeavoured to purchase the watershed of the present supply, the price asked by one proprietor was £50,000, by a second £200 per acre; and if these sums are to be assumed as a measure of the value of the land required for carrying out this proposal, the cost would considerably exceed £100,000; assuming, however, that amount as the maximum, the approximate cost of the South Karori supply will be as follows:- Land £100,000; Cost of tunnel, &c £17,000; New mains for principal streets £30,000; Contingencies £5000 – Total £152,000. Instead of £60,000, as quoted by Councillor Fisher. For the Wainui supply, giving twelve times the quantity that can be obtained from the South Karori, and of superior quality, the cost of the land is but a small matter, amounting perhaps to not more than £3000 or £4000, and the further advantage is obtained that the districts of Wainui, Hutt, Petone, Ngahauranga, and Kaiwarra (all rapidly increasing in population) can be supplied without any increase in cost of works. It is admitted that water engines could not be used if the South Karori scheme is adopted, the supply not being sufficient to allow their use. The interest at six per cent on £130,000 (the sum required for the Wainui scheme) is £7800 per annum. Assuming that the out-districts above-mentioned will give a return of £3000 per annum (which is not, I think, an extravagant estimate), and that 100 water engines were used, paying an average of £50 each yearly, we have £5000 further revenue, a total of £8000 yearly, or more than sufficient to pay all the interest on the loan, and which would not be available if the more limited supply is obtained. The present is a most suitable time to place a large contract for cast iron pipes, the price of iron being lower than ever before known in the world’s history. Some 10,000 tons of pipes being required, no delay should take place in getting out the contract, as a saving of £3 or £4 per ton is a matter of great consequence. A great mistake has, I think, been made by the City Council in not taking a vote for a loan of £200,000, to include both the water supply and
drainage. It is most prejudicial to the interests of the city to be continually in the market for small loans. I am, &c., J. R. George, 11th August, 1879.
