KAITARATAHI CRANE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2518, 3 June 1909, Page 4

KAITARATAHI CRANE.

DISCUSSION" IN BOROUGH

COUNCIL

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council Messrs John Chambers unci Sons wrote regarding the crane at Kaitaratahi, and asking for a written' statement to the effect that the Council would ta'ke it over as from 22nd ult., also that the Council make a payment of £SOO, and the balance within 30 davs.

The following report was read: A committee of the Council met on 22nd May, at 11 a.m., when Air. Davis stated that the grab was working satisfactorily and it was agreed to take it over from the makers as from this date, and Messrs. Davys and Third were ordered to supply a brake, buffer, and to extend the grab chains at the expense of the Council.

Mr. A D. Davys forwarded his report on his inspection of the new locomotive crane and grab at Kaitaratahi. He stated that he found all in thorough going order, and considered that the Council had secured a faithfully built and substantial machine with more power than would ever be needed. s

The Mayor said that the crane had been taken over, and moved that the request be granted. . < ~' r - Ret tic expressed surprise, stating that he had no notice of a of Urn Committee. He thought Sitl? T CI ? rip of i th « Works Committee should hare been made to in-

that w-as not rhdit for the Council to take the crane m-er referring the matter to a meetgot the AAorks Committee r J - he S n lf tht notJ bcc ' n rmpm? ' tested, anci if they were not very careful thev rr t h„T n hav ° to '“rinotSS 1 . "'“ 5 a very rubbishy riling i sfc S'.ve way before long The St<? k ?nd Comn +w e ' sllould inspect the • te, and see that a proper line be laid ?v 0 4’ n tb,u stM ? of thn Ifao ttoS ur'LU iJ'* ! ' l ' <!SC , llt - 1* "'as a most 'f V 'f and positively dangerous. ■ He spoke with the advice of a competent engineer of this town. The rou?h r tnm e o o st . in .adequate, being; of thomdrt !! 22 lnchos a P art -- and he toTd-e nt.HT Wr ° n «- for , the Council r< -1 10 gra , b mthout oonsulfcgs die Council or the Works Commit Cr. Smith deprecated Cr. Darton’s throwing a wet blanket on the venture of the Council.” They were not discussing the line, but the question of a progress payment to the manufacturer.

Cr. Harris also took exception to Cr? JJarton s remarks regarding the line. me d t - I ? at !t was tlie fault of the old Council.

Cr. Collias said that the work had been taken over in the absence of one or two Councillors. They had a cdowm.g report from Air. Davys. and if what Cr. Darton said was true Air. Daws F. as gmlty of misrepresentation, and'if , r \ Davys was right, Cr. Darton was misinformed. The engine-driver would surelv not keep liis position if the line was a menace.. The matter was one of extreme public-importance— Cr. Smith rose to a" point 0 f order. The question was one of a progress payment.

The Alayor said he was not going to stop any Councillor who thought he had a grievance. Cr. Dart-on said that the engine had not been given a, sufficient test. Cr. Kirk said that he regretted that Councillors should bring matters to the Council table wliat they casually heard in the street. The Council had taken over the work, and the men must be paid. Cr. Pettie proposed as an amendment “That before the £SOO he paid the Works Committee; visit the spot and see that a proper test of the machinery has been made.” No money, he said, should be paid until the Council were satislied that they had received value for their money. He had seen the line and thought it a very paltry, insignificant thing for the work. The Alayor himself admitted at the time that it was paltry. The Alayor: Pardon me, I did nothing of the sort. Cr. Somervell held that if they paid the money it would be equivalent to taking over the machine. He endorsed the Councillors’ remarks about the importance of the position and he value of the work. The old Works Committee- had never been asked a single question about the crane, and knew nothing about it. The Council should be satisfied that they were getting what they paid for. He seconded the amendment. The Alayor said that two or three chains of the line were light line, and the balance was heavy line. Cr. Pettie had never previously expressed dissatisfaction with the line, and the rails were all 301 b rails. He had caused public notification to be made of the day c.t the crane’s trial, but if members ot the Works Committee had not gone lie could not help that. Notices had also been left at the business premises ot members of the Works Committee. Iho position was really a storm in a loaner, and if they wanted heavier rails trey could get them. Cr. Darton: Has the engine Uen tried to do the work you want? The Alayor said that, the engineer had put what test he thought neecssavv He (the speaker) saw the locomotive had moved two 1 rucks, one la dor with gravel and the ocoer "An timber. He would be pleased to 1r ve tbo Council go out and inspect, tuirrab and line, and, at the same time, the Waihircre quarry. He suggested that the matter be left m the ham.s of the Works Committee, and .uoved tl .«t the payment be made subject to -‘*e approval of the Works Committee Cr Darton said that their own <-«- o-iucor had said the line was not strong ” nucrh to work the locomotive The Mavor said that that statement must onlv refer to a very short dis- *“(> KiA Vos. to a point of onto. He referred to the lateness of the how. and urged the Council to attend to busimss. p- would be a sori»&r& qualified to give an opinion than t omi Councillors complained that til- . »hn arso.

" TheMavov’s motion was then +n the effect that payment ho am box t ?sod after the Works Committee lane seen the grab and are satisfied tha the engineer’s certificate as to tho machinery isi correct.