TAKAPUNA SEWERAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 10

TAKAPUNA SEWERAGE.

COST OF BOROUGH WORKS.

STATEMENT BY ENGINEER.

"NO DANGER AT OUTFALL."

More was heard about Takapuna's sewerage system at the meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council last evening,. when the consulting engineer, Mr. A. Slinger, attended by invitation.

Mr. Titchener said there were two schools of thought in the borough, one which condemned the scheme and one that held it was quite 60und. The council had heard one side, now it would hear what Mr. Slinger had to say.

Mr. Slinger said he had been out of touch with the council, personally, since December, 1929. There had been many erroneous statements made about the cost of the work. His estimates, submitted to the council on August 27, 1924, for the foreshore works, Milford, were as follow:—Black Rock outfall, 400 ft long, £4000; storage culvert of main line sewer to Milford Road, £20,691; total, £24,691. The cost of those works was £25,414, including "extras," and a gift of £1000 to one contractor for delay. He pointed out that the estimated cost of the outfall was for 400 ft, and it had been constructed about 530 ft. Also there was extra concrete work for a boat slip, which was asked for by the owner of the land, and agreed to by the council. The real loss had been a gift of £1000 to the contractor, directly caused by delay on behalf of the council in not permitting the contractor to sign up his contract and carry on.

Dealing with work carried on by the council at St. Leonard's storage tunnel, Mr. Slinger said that this storage tunnel was 2630 ft in length, by 6ft 6in. The estimated cost given to the council on August 27, 1924, was £17,160. About six tenders were received for this work, some being about £32,000, and the lowest £22,760. The actual coet, as given by the town clerk, was £16,733 19/7, including some additional work. "Out of this job I submit that they have had my whole services for nothing," said Mr. Slinger. "This was not made public, for reasons best known to themselves." Mr. Slinger said there had been a lot of talk about valves. These were quite all right, but some had been strained out of shape. He alleged that this had not been brought about by fair means. "The council has not made use of mc as its consulting engineer," he further said.

"I cannot agree with you there," said the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven. "The last Mayor, Mr. J. W. Williamson, gave you a fair hearing." In answer to several questions, Mr. Slinger eaid that there was no danger at present concerning the Black Eock outfall. "If we had more collaboration

in this council I'm sure we would get on much better," he said. Mr. Slinger said he "was only too pleased to give any advice to the council.

The Mayor, Mr. Guiniven thanked Mr. Slinger for attending.