The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MDRNING. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3371, 10 November 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MDRNING. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911.

The Municipal Works.

No doubt the ratepayers are following with close attention the suggestions which Mr. Metcalfe, C.E., of Auckland, is putting forward with reference to the various municipal undertakings that the borough has on hand, or in contemplation. In one respect, however, they are at a disadvantage, for the instructions upon which he is working have not been made known to them. Would it not be well, under the circumstances, if the Mayor would at once throw a little light on the question as to whether in each case Mr. Metcalfe’s proposals represent the irreducible minimum in the way of immediate requirements, or merely relate to what will be ultimately essential, in order to complete the different undertakings? For instance, it will be recalled that in his initial report upon water supply Mr. Metcalfe outlined further works that would have run into £39,412. But it will now be seen that in regard to this important matter — and apparently as the result of a suggestion by the Council—he has modified his estimate, so that he finds that £22,000 will be sufficient. We do not, of course, for one moment suggest that a majority of the ratepayers would prefer to see works that are absolutely necessary “skimped.” Nevertheless, it will be agreed that the ratepayers are entitled to know as much as is possible about the various undertakings before they are asked—as would appear to be very likely—to approve the raising of an additional loan of somewhere in the vicinity of £IOO,OOO. It could not come as a surprise if the ratepayers lefused to regard any such proposal in a favorable light until a good deal more information is vouchsafed to them than is at present in their possession. For our own part we believe that the “City Fathers” have already gleaned from Mr. Metcalfe some interesting opinions —outside what is contained in his reports—on the various works which form part of the municipal programme. It will have been noted that Mr. Metcalfe holds that “the arrangements for the breaking and the delivery of metal from Gentle Annie quarry are well designed and effectively carried out,” etc. This will be a gratifying item of news to all who had faith in the quarry and insisted that the tramway was the best means of transporting the metal. But what does Mr. Metcalfe think of the other schemes? As regards electric light, he could, we take it, only come to the conclusion, but he does not refer to this aspect of the undertaking, that the borough started before it was ready. Here is the position in brief : The present installation is for 200 kilowatts. and now at this late stage it is indisputably shown that an additional unit of at least 250 kilowatts is needed at once! When one has read Mr. Metcalfe’s report on this scheme one can only form the view that it would seem to have been the subject of far too little consideration hitherto. As regards the passenger tramways scheme, Mr. Metcalfe was doubtless impressed with the lack of money available to finish such a large undertaking. He starts off by remarking that his instructions were to report on the method of laying track and cost of same per mile. He found, however, before lie bad proceeded far, that the best thing to do under the circumstances would be to advise the Council to modify the whole scheme. Perhaps now it will dawn on sonic people that it is impossible to get an efficient tramway system suitable for a town like Gisborne for anything like the figure mentioned in the loan proposals! Mr. Metcalfe lias, maybe, told the “City Fathers” what he thinks of storage battery cars that are to be tried. It would be of interest if some members of the Council were to pass on to the ratepayers what has been said on the subject. The fact lemains that Mr. Metcalfs had no option but to impress on the Council the need for additional rolling stock. For the borough to have started operations with two cars—and both of a now kind—would, of course, have been the height of absurdity. There is, it will also be seen, an important report in regard to the bridges of the town, but remarks on this sitbject may he deferred until another occasion.