THE WAINUI-O-MATA WATERSHED.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir — To apply the language of Mr. Justice Richmond in another way, it seems to me that the newspapers of this city address the twelve members of the City Council much after the fashion in which the lawyers address the twelve intelligent jurymen — as if they were born idiots.
I don’t so much complain of the want of knowledge displayed by the New Zealand Times, because it changes its editor — it gets a new Post — every six months or so; but I do not understand why the Evening Post should make itself responsible for so much misrepresentation in connection with the acquirement of the Wainui-o-mata watershed.
For instance, either you are or are not aware that 31,000 acres of mountain forest in immediate contiguity to the Wainui-o-mata watershed have been permanently reserved by the Government as ‘forest reserve.’ That forest cannot be alienated for any other purpose.
Again, either you are or are not aware that in July, 1879, the City Council — these born idiots, you know — succeeded in inducing the Government to reserve the whole of the watershed excepting about 1500 acres within the catchment area, which had passed into the hands of the Messrs. Sinclair a great many years previously. The Corporation watershed reserve comprises 6500 acres. These are the simple facts.
But there is a land sale about to be held, and the usual underground engineering is going on. Sir, let me assure you that the members of the City Council are perfectly familiar with all the forms and phases of the land fever. They are therefore not panic-stricken in the least, and — don’t intend to be.
I am the originator of the Wainui-o-mata scheme, and am therefore as much interested in its successful completion as anyone else — possibly a little more so. But I don’t intend to be knocked off my mental balance by a little land fever furore. It takes a great deal of that sort of thing to move me.
If the Corporation can purchase the land it wants, on fair terms, I shall strongly recommend it to do so. But, on the other hand, I shall strongly recommend it not to buy land which is not required and not to give fancy prices for what is.
Some of us have been watching the “developments” of the past two months, and I give you my assurance that we perfectly well understand what we are doing.
I am, &c.,
Geo. Fisher
31st January, 1883
[Of course if the land is “not required,” that settles the matter at once, but the ratepayers are entitled to full and explicit information on the subject; this has not yet been given, and it is highly desirable it should be afforded without delay, so that all uneasiness regarding the watershed, if groundless, may be definitely and finally dispelled. — Ed. E.P.]
Tags: Newspaper Waterworks
