BIRKENHEAD RESERVOIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1911, Page 6

BIRKENHEAD RESERVOIR.

(To the Editor.) Sir,-—ln reply to the explanation- of 'the Mayor (Jar. J. G. Kay) rega_ding the purchase of the new site for the Birkenhead, reservoir, we maintain that the ratepatyais are rightly under the impression __at we resigned because the Mayor did not first consult the Etaiergency Committee on water supply questions or ihe Council prior to taking | action in acquiring the new site. An option over the property could easily have been obtained from the owner (Mr. : Mnckay), and. we 'have that gentleman'authority for saying so, in order to allow the matter being profperly considered by the Council before acting in the matter of purchase. ln committee the Mayor stated that the Engineer reported to him (not the Council) that the present site was unsuitable, and recommended tbe purchase of portion of Mr. Mac-kays -property. The Mayor informed the Council that after consulting with the Town Clerk, he decided to instruct the Clerk to obtain the tenos upon which the property could be purchased. The -property was subsequently acquired for the si«n of £850 for~two acres on the Monday -prior to the Council meeting on Thursday. Negotiations must therefore have been proceeding for at least a week prior to the Council meeting, as we are informed that the newsite was surveyed out upon instructions prior to the owner being approached, and plans prepared. Under these circumstances, we still contend that the whole of the facts should have been either placed before the committee or tbe Council before the 'hasty action in acquiring the property was proceeded with. We maintain that if the Mayor considered it necessary, and _»<l time, to consult the Town Clerk, surely fhey, as the people's representatives s!i<vuk_tiave been consulted too; and that there was ample time, if proper business methods had been adopted, to have got a written report from, the Engineer, and to have had all the phases of the tjnest-on properly threshed out by the Council.' In support : of his action in acquiring the site with- ; out conferring with his colleagues, first, j the Mayor .justified his -action or instancing the a?.tk>n of the late Mr. Seddon (of whom lie, stated Messrs. and

Wallace were great admirers) in connec- . tion with the Bank -ot New Zealand. i Mt. WaDace retorted that Mr. Seddon ; had not ignored' his colleagues in the Cabinet on that occasion- Our position in the matter is perfectly -tear; the step we have taken is in the public interest. The principle at stake -s a vital one and may be summed up in the question: Shall the Mayor and Town Clerk administer the affairs of the Borough, or shall the people's representatives?—We are, etc., T. _L_J}_____D, W. WAtiTiACE. ["Ratepayer,'' writing on this subject, reiterates his previous remarks to the effect that it was the duty of the Mayor to have consulted the members of the Special Committee, and that there was ample time to do this. He wishes to know whether public tenders are to be called for pipes, etc., in connection with the water supply.]