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would be unlikely to accept defeat without carrying the matter further
and this might well give rise to undesirable agitation and I should not
be săre to push the Aberdeen Scheme through unless directly authorised
by you to do so.
On the other hand I feel bound in deference to Clementi{s
views not to put the cross-harbour pipe scheme forward again until you
have been able to discuss the position with Clementi. If after
discussion with him you decide in favour of completing the first
section of the Shingmun Scheme I will at once reopen the question of
pipe line design. There is wide divergente of opinion between the
Crown Agents Consulting Engineers and Public Works Department as to
the design and the cost of suitable cross harbour pipes which the
Director of Public Works considers would be adequately carried out for
less than dollars 400,000. If however you decide in favour of Aberdeen
I will place it before the Council and carry with official Vete but
it must be realised that there will in that case be insistent demand
for the cross harbour pipes in addition which it will be very difficult
to refuse.
I am myself in favour of meeting the wishes of the Unofficials
and completing the first Section of Shingmun but I realise the
necessity before long of proceeding with the second part of thei, magemu na
Scheme estimated to cost dollars 4,750,000 in order to obtain full
from the harbour pipes. It may well be that both Aberdeen and Cri
Harbour Pipe Scheme will ultimately be required.
The urgent need of some increase in the water supply is shown
by the fact that Western Districts of the City have already had to be placed on restricted supply although the dry season has not yet set in. There is strong feeling locally in favour of immediate action by the Goverment to increase the supply and a decision to proceed with the Cress Harbour Pipeswould be welcomed by all classes as giving a quicker increase of supply to the Western Districts than the Aberdeen Scheme.