THE WATERWORKS CONTRACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2716, 22 January 1910, Page 3

THE WATERWORKS CONTRACT.

DISCUSSED BY THE BOROUGH i COUNCIL. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night to consider the question of the waterworks contract. * Present: The Mayor, and Ci's. Kirk, Maynard, Somervell, Pettio, Harris, Darton, and Collins. The Town Clerk read the following report of the finding of the committee that visited the heaclworks on Monday last: “A committee of the Council, consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Darton, Maynard, Smith and Somervell met on Monday, the I7tli January. 1910, at 6.30 ip.m., and proceeded to the head of the waterworks, when an inspection was made. Where the pipes had been lowered the work appeared to have been carried out in a satisfactory manner, although no tests were made as to depth of cover. Many of the weirs are not constructed in accordance with 1 the specification, and they do not exf tend from bank to bank of flood-line, as stipulated; nor has any railway iron been used in their construction. Weir No. 23 has been stayed with tawa, and the pipes have only 13 inches of small rubble cover; No. 33 weir does not extend to flood bank on either side; No. 34, the wire mattress has not been replaced; No. 38 is “not properly reinstated; No. 40, at this crossing tawa has been used in lien of railway iron, and the weir does not extend to floodline; No. 48 weir not. extended, to floodline, and only eight inches of cover over pipes. At Flood’s crossing weir not extended to flood-line, and the concrete is showing for a considerable distance, and wire mattress has notbeen reinstated; No. 54, apron made, but weir not extended to flood-line; crossing below Parker’s house, weir not extended to flood-lino; No. 57, Maori Point, weir not to flood-line, and timber used in lieu of railway iron, bad scour below weir. So far as can be seen no railway iron has been used in the construction of any of the weirs. Your committee consider that weirs should not have been allowed in any instance, but where they have it will be absolutely necessary to see that they are made strictly in accordance with the specifications, or the Council will be under constant expense in theirreinstatement. After careful consider.! - • tion, it was agreed, subject to the solicitor’s approval, to forward the attached wire to Mr. Hay, the engineer. There is also attached a copy of a previous wire to Mr. Hay, forwarded with the approval of the solicitor, and his reply. Your committee have to submit for your information a list of material which is offered to the Council, and would suggest that should a satisfactory price lie agreed upon, that the Inspector be asked to report on what items he requires. A substantial weir has been erected by the Council’s employees above the intake to catch leaves and other debris, but still further .provision is necessary to cope with th e difficulty. We would also suggest that immediate stops be taken to acquire the land for the caretaker’s cottage. and that tenders he called for erection.” The Mayor said tint the report fully explained the condition of affairs. It was plainly shown that the work stipulated in the contract had not been carried out. He agreed with the other members present that they had a clear duty to perform in seeing that the work was carried out according to specifications. The Engineer had no power to deviate from the strict terms of the contract. He honed the encrineer would see the contract was fully carried out, and that the full working pressure of 1501 b be kept up during tbe maintenance period, as otherwise they might find the pipe line fail them at a critical moment. He proposed a resolution regarding the action of the engineer in the matter, and for the adoption of the report, a copy of the resolution and report.to lie forwarded to Mr. Hay. Continuing, Mr. Lvsnar said that tile full pressure cf 1501 b had been put on for an hour, but the weather was very dry, and it was no test. It was not right for them to allow the contract to bo completed without entering a strong protest. It was greatly to lie regretted that the engineer had not seen fit to take the Council into his confidence regarding the maintenance period of the line. In answer to Or. Collins, the Mayor said lie thought it wiser not to hand any correspondence on the matter to the press. Cr. Collins: Surelv the ratepayers have a right to know the contents of the letter from the engineer, which explained the whole position. The Mayor; I don’t think so. The ratepayers will have to trust us a little in the matter. In view of what may be ahead of us, I think the report will be enough to make public, and we have tried to make it as full as possible. At- this stage Cr. Somervell asked leave to retire. He expressed his approval of.tile resolution, and in answer to Cr. Darton said that he undoubtedly. wanted to see the full ".pressure of 1501 b used for the whole month of maintenance. Cr Darton said that it rested entirely with the engineer to say what test was required. His own personal opinion was that they could not demand the full working pressure for the entire month. . Cr. Maynard contended that without the 'constant pressure, during the “test” period, the work would not be tested at all. This was especially so in view of the fact that the original pressure contracted for'was 1751 b. The Mayor, in reply to Cr. Collins, said the question was not one of test. What they wanted was the constant working pressure of 1501 b. That was what they had contracted for, and for which! they were going to have to pay. Some discussion took place as to what constituted a “test” of the line, and the Mayor again denied that they were discussing the question of a tost of the line, but, rather, were they going to get tho working pressure provided for expressly in the specifications of the contract. Cr. Harris seconded the motion. Cr. Pettie said lie appreciated the. efforts of the Council to obtain as much pressure as possible. Ho, however, recognised that a trying and critical time had arrived, and lie did not think they should- pass any resolution possibly reflecting on the engineer, with whom it was necessary to keep on good terms, in view of the fact that it was practically to him they had to look to help them to see the work carried successfully through. Re would like to see the resolution slisrhtly amended, and that, nothing should be done without the full consent of the Council’s solicitor. Cr. Kirk expressed his approval of the spirit of the motion. He referred to . clause S of the contract regarding the testing of the -pipes, i The Mayor pointed out that . the clause referred to by Cr. Kirk only made reference to the testing of the pipes in tile drain before they Were covered in. What the Council was din-

cussing was the question of maintenance. •

Continuing, Cr. Kirk .deprecated anything being done which might lead to hi breach with the engineer. The Mayor said that the question was not one of' sentiment, hut purely a matter of business. They had made a big concession in tbe matter of the ■pressure, and now, by the engineer’s letter, they learned, for the first time, that be had approved of manuka being used 'in .connection with the weirs instead of railway iron, as specified. It was the clear duty of the Council to refuse to accept any such alterations. Cr. Kirk suggested that the borough solicitor should lie sent for to approve, or otherwise, of the resolution. The Mayor said that any', resolution would be referred to the solicitor before being forwarded to Mr. Hay. Tile solicitor already had improved a practically similar resolution, but did not know that the engineer had deviated from the terms of the contract. C’rs-. Kirk and Pettie each again urged the consulting of tho solicitor before the resolution was.passed. The latter also urged the appointment of a sub-committee to draft a resolution, to be submitted to tbe solicitor. Cr. Kirk objected to tbe resolution appearing in the press before being ap_ proved by the solicitor. The- Mayor said that the only thing that would affect the position would he the resolution sent to Mr. Hay, not what appeared in the press. If they took over the line as it", was the Council would have to face great expense immediately, which should be borne by tbe contractors. It was their duty as Councillors and trustees of the ratepayers. to be firm in the matter, and insist on the contract being strictly •carried out. Once more, the Mayor assured Councillors that before the resolution was forwarded to Mr. Hay it would be referred to the borough solicitor. Cr. Collins said that- it was only fair that the Council should be informed of the true position. The Mayor raid that the Council had his assurance of the submission of the resolution to the solicitor before being sept to tho engineer. If the solicitor suggested any alterations he thought that the Council might leave it to his (the Mayor's) discretion, whether it were necessary to again cal! the Council together to consider the question. The alteration might only lie a trivial one. hut if it were serious he would undoubtedly refer the matter to the Council again. Councillors having expressed their approval, the motion -was carried unanimously, but, on the suggestion of the Mayor, the Council also unaninnously decided to withhold the terms of the resolution from publication until it had been referred to tho borough solicitor for his approval.