MR. LYSNAR AND THE SHONE SYSTEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2101, 29 January 1908, Page 4

MR. LYSNAR AND THE SHONE SYSTEM.

EXCEPTION TAKEN TO IllS REMARKS.

■When thi> (1 rain ago report eamo to ham!, Mr. AY. 1). Lysnnr, with others, was asked for his opinion by ;i “Times’’ representative, and this opinion is referred to in a letter from Mr. Mostnyer read at" the Borough Coiineil meeting last evening. Tho letter is as follows:

“I do not know who is to ho blamed for the extraordinary statements mndo as to the £BB,OOO loan, but I ran assure your Council that thoro is not tho slightest shadow of foundation for them. The actual facts are as follows:

“After tho works had been in progress for about 31 years, it was evident that the original estimate of 11150,000 would he exceeded, and I was instructed to report on tho causes of the increased expenditure, and tho amount which would be required to complete the work. In that report I pointed out that the actual increase in the cost of tho scheme would bo about £23,000, tho whole of which was duo to tlie execution of more work than had been assumed to bo necessary when the original estimato had been prepared. (I had nothing to do with this original estimate, which had been prepared by the consulting engineers prior to my engagement as engineer to the scheme). In addition to this £23,000 a further sum of £IO,OOO was required to repay to the sanitation loan account tho amount paid for expenses in floating tho loan and payment of tho first year’s interest, both of which had been paid out of monies raised lor the execution of the work alono. (Original estimato was £150,000 lor tho actual cost of work, but by payincr these expenses out of the loan, only £140,000 was left for the work.) 'Phis made tho total amount of tho now loan £33,000. [Hero follows a statement of the extra work done ] Your Council will see from tho iorogouig schedule that not one singlo Farthing was required “in consequence of there not being sufficient allowance made for pumping sowago during periods of wet weather.” It would bo very remarkablo indeed if any loan money covdd havo been raised for 6uch a purpose, as this would bo an expenditure to bo charged against tho annual maintenance. “It is absolutely false to siv>- that ! it was found utterly impossible to completely shut off the storm water, and for that reason Wellington had to go to a much larger expenditure than was necessary.’ The fact is that thoro never was any intention to completely shut off the storm water, but- provision was made from tho beginning to include a certain amount, and I have made similar _ provision m tho case of Gisborne. Since the initiation of the AVellington scheme, a third engine has been erected, but this has been in consequence of increased population in the ejector areas. Tho same system I have recommended for Gisborne was adopted here, viz., to commence with power sufficient for present needs (with a reasonable margin of course) and to increase the power in tho future as experience might show to be necessary. It was recognised from tho commencement of the work that as population increased in the low levelsfurther power would be required, and the additional engine foundations were constructed when the power station was first built. Extensions such as this did not have to be met hv special loan, as under tho original Loan Act the corporation was empowered to spend an additional amount up to £25,000 in extending the sowGftigc system after the completion of the "scheme as originally proposed. “AVith regard to the statement ill at- ‘this might do for AVellington with a population of 70,000. but a population between 6000 and <OOO could not entertain such a costly system,’ I give below a list of a few of the towns in England which have adopted the Shone systeni for popuintions below that of Gisborne, and also of some buildings for which it has been used. [Hern follows tho list.] Those facts, in my opinion, entirely dispose of any random statements as to the unsuitability of the Shone system for small towns, for had it not been found by experience to be the most suitable. system in such cases, it- is certain that the towns I have quoted (and the list might have ben. greatly extended) would not have adopted it.” ______