THE BOROUGH WATERWORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3439, 17 September 1913, Page 5

THE BOROUGH WATERWORKS.

- ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS BEING DEPARTED FROM. . £7OOO CONTRACT BEING CARRIED /-* OUT WITHOUT PLANS. STORMY DISCTJSSION AT THE COUNCIL- TABLE. The subject of the Borough waterworks furnished material for a lively discussion at the Council meeting last night. When this item was reached in the Engineer’s report, Cr. Brown asked if woi J k was still proceeding on the wall in the settling basin, which had been recommended by Mr. Metcalfe? The Mayor stated -that a majority of the councillors had visited tlie headworks a short time ago, and .had agreed that it was not necessary to construct a wall, which would cost £2OO.

Cr. Brown stated that two engineers, Messrs. A. ,J. Paterson and Metcalfe, had agreed that this particular wall was most necessary. The Council had gone into the matter very carefully at that time, and had considered that the construction of the wall was essential. Mr. Metcalfe had said that the dam Should be twice the size. What, he asked, was the use of saving £2OO if they were going to jeopardise the whole water system? He thought it- was rather irregular for such an important alteration to be •decided on at an informal meeting held on the spot. The matter should have come before the Council, and had -*• serious consideration. The Mayor replied that the Council had gone- into the matter carefully, and had all agreed that the settling basin was too small to serve as a filter. The wall had been intended to act as a buffer, but the whole thing was inadequate, and the erection of the wall • would ho only a waste of money. It was a wrong thing for Cr. Brown to come to the Coucil table and make such statements, which only served to give a wrong impression in the public mind. Cr. Brown had not accompanied the party on the visit to the headworks. Had he made the trip he would have come to the same conclusions as had the other councillors, who !had tone carefully into the matter, and ad done what they deemed bsst in the Inatter an the interest of the ratepayers.

Cr. Collins thought the Mayor was taking Cr. Brown up wrongly. Cr. Brown held that the Council_ had exceeded their duties by deciding upon structural alterations at the waterworks at other than a properly called meeting of the Council. The Mayor asked if Cr. Collins was holding a brief fo r Cr. Brown? Cr. Collins: I hold no brief for Cr. Brown, but I quite agree with him that the Council had no right to decide on structural alterations at an impromptu meeting of the Council. The Mayor: You. were absent, I think, Cr. Collins, at the Cup races at "the time. Cr. Collins: I don’t know that I was; I think I was in Gisborne; but I received no notice of the meeting. The Mayor: You were absent at the Cup Taces. Cr. Collins: I did go down to the Cup, your Worship, and I thoroughly enjoyed my sport. I thank God I can enjoy sport; and do not' blame it with one man and condone it with another, as is the case with your Worship. • The Mayor: Keep your.temper, Cr. Collins! Cr. Collins: I am in the best of tempers, your Worship. I never lose my temper except over a worthy object. Cr. Wade: I consider Cr. Collins should withdraw these remarks. They are quite uncalled for, and he should not be allowed to make them. The Mayor: Thank you for your goodi wishes, gentlemen, but I am perfectly capable of dealing with Cr. Collins. Cr. Smith pointed out that ‘the discussion was a most profitless one, as Councillors would have the opportunity of debating the matter when considering the Engineer's report. Cr. Wildish said that the Council had held impromptu meetings on borough works before, and consequently it was no new thing. Cr. Collins had also taken part in these. Cr- Wade said that he was surprised to hear the remarks that had fallen from Cr. Brown. When Councilors had gone up to the waterworks they had found them carrying out a £7OOO contract without a plan or a detail. It was time the. Council took a 'hand in the matter. If Cr. Brown wanted anv information on the matter, why didn’t he go into the Council office and obtain it, instead of coming to the Council and making wild statements? Cr. Brown didn’t know what he was talking about. Cr. Brown: I know a bit more than you do. Cr. Wade; I don’t know that you do. Why don’t you attend the meetings ? Cr. Brown: Because I was ill in bed, and would not go. Cr. Wade: I am sorry; but surely Cr. Brown could give the councillors who went out credit for doing their best in the interests of the borough. They did not go out on a cold, wet day to the waterworks for fun. They hacl gone into the position carefully, and Had taken die only sensible course possible. . •

The Mayor remarked that he hoped councillors had ventilated the subject sufficiently, and were satisfied that the Council lhad done what they deemed the best course in the interests of the 'borough. The matter than dropped.