THE WATERWORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2323, 16 October 1908, Page 2

THE WA TE RWORKS.

THE QUEST i.ON OF REPAIRS.

Inquiries made by a “Times” reporter yesterday as to mhotbe.l- there is j any probability that tiho water sup- j ply .will ho cut off from the town for some .weeks while the pipe line is being repaired go to show that there is little ohanco of such an undesirable inconvenience .being imposed upon ratepayers during the summer months and that, in (fact, thero is very little ch-anco of .any immediate repairs'being made to the damage dono to tho pipe lino iby the heavy floods in thc'-./I’e Arai creek in April last. .Some months ago the contractors applied to t.ho Borough Council for leave to suspend operations on the works on tiho plea that the weather conditions during the winter months absolutely prevented tho men from continuing'this work. The Council granted leave t<> suspend work until October Ist last, and tho contractors promised that tho work would be resumed by that date, and the work completed os soon as possible. Tho month o,f October is now half through but so far no start has been made with the work. In their letters to tho Council tho contractors state that the flood made a groat change in the configuration, of tiho .country through which the line of pipes has to pass, ;and that fresh plans and some deviation of tljo contract will bo necessary, and until this demand is agreed to .it -is asserted the work cannot be completed. Tho Council lias not, how over, been prepared, so far, to make any alteration in tho original contract for obvious reasons, and the whole position is at a standstill, the contractors—so far as Gisborne is concerned—not showing any indication that they will proceed with tho work until fresh plans are supplied. The engineer Who dosigned the scheme for the Council (Mr. 'll. Hay, of Dunedin) is, owing to illness, unable to personally superintend the work, hut his representative, Mr. R. Couston, went out to tho head works at Te .Arai yesterday to inspect the pipe line, and it is expected that a report will he received from him at the meeting of the. Council to ho held on Tuesday evening next.