HUTT BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 582, 10 August 1909, Page 6

HUTT BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. THE CONTRACT SYSTEM ENDORSED. Further consideration was given to the expenditure of the £62,000 loan at last night's meeting of the Hutt Borough Council. In accordance with . notice, Councillor Claro moved:— "That, the council instruct the consulting and borough engineers to prepare plans and specifications for the completion of the drainage in such sections as. they think 'fit, and that suoh sections of the work as are found to be within the means at .the disposal of the council be carried out by contract. Furthermore, that as soon as possible the necessary steps be takon to obtain a poll for the authorisation of a loan, to complete the scheme as originally drawn out, with the proviso that such loan shall not be raised till it can bo obtained on favourable terms, and that no person be allowed to connect his house sewago with tho drains till the authorisation be obtained." Councillor Clere said that he thought that it was tho general wish of the council that' the work should bo completed. Councillor Clere, in speaking with reference to the motion, remarked that the step which he proposed was one that ought to be taken, as there was a vagueness as to what the actual cost would be. The Mayor (Mr. E. P. Bunny) said that he presumed that .the specifications would be prepared by the consulting engineers. He suggested that Councillor Clere , alter the motion in this direction', v It was decided that the Mayor and clerk interview Mr. Meason on this question. Councillor An son seconded the' motion. Councillor Baldwin objected ,to . the! work being done by, contract, a-s the materials had been purchased.' The engineer should be allowed to do it and prove nimself right or wrong. • The Mayor pointed out that the specifications would provide that the. 'contractor should use the materials supplied. When the, tenders came in, they could decide whether they would go m for tho contract system. The council had to go before the ratepayeis for a sum of money. Messrs. Meason and Marchant reported that there was a deficiency of £12,500. ; The figures were questioned by Mr. .Rix-Trott, and Mr. Mestayer was called in. The latter's estimate was £200 in excess of that of the consulting engineers. That being so the information to be gained from the tenders would bo valuable. , Councillor Baldwin thought that the works should be proceeded with, until. £1000 was left, and,, tho engineer's . estimate then measured up. . If it was found, satisfactory the .council could,take his estimate for fin- • works, and then-they would know the. amount required; • ' . . < The Mayor pointed out that works on the' western, side of the river were stopped on account of the excessive cost. Tho engineer said that the work that could be completed by, tender wi}6 that on the eastern side of the river. The work' being ( done on the Hutt Road at,present was be-' low this estimate by 9s. • per chain. He could not advise, any work in Alicetown being , done by contract. Councillor Macaskill remarked, that the greatest eye-opener the ratepayers of ; the district' ever received was when a' oeftain work wa£ done by contract. He looked upon the council's, servants as .honest workers,: and they should receive .their-due credit. Tie engineer remarked that the consulting engineers , had increased an estimate of ..theirs by £7188, a, remarkable increase, -he thought.. The latter portion of, the motion-,was altered to read That no; house connections bo made,"'and the motion was then carried, Councillors Eempthorne, Pearce, Mowbray, Anson, Clere, and the Mayor voting for, and Councillors Baldwin; Macaskill, Barlow, and Hayes against the' motion. On" the motion of Councillor Barlow it was also decided that the engineer be instructed to draw up an estimate of the cost:of completing tho surface drainage; ; The Mayor asked the engineer his version of the Railway Avenue question 'disputed by Major M'Donald and Mr. Russell. The' engineer: I can only say that I was instructed to do the work. ' ' ■ .. 1( ' ' -. '■The Mayor:'By whom?. w , Mr. Rix-Trott: By Major M'Donald. , The Mayor: He says that was about'the footpath. V The minute book Ijere was refen-ed to, and showed that the levels were to-be Mr. Rix-Trott remarked > that this necessitated what he stated. The Mayor: I cannot conceive that Major M'Donald or Councillor Clere knew that £800 was being expended. Did you (Mr. RixTrott) not provide estimates P Mr. Rix-Trott: I was told to do a good job. "..There was no estimate. .. • The Mayor r Don't you think you. should have given an"estimate? ■ .;•• Mr. Rix-Trott: Not when I was not asked for it. The Mayor:. It appears to .me that we .must furnish a report as to the evidence, and I suggest that a committee be appointed to go into this question. Tho committee could discuss the matter informally, and,, perhaps, come to an agreement, on some points.. . Eventually a oommittee,' consisting of Councillors Baldwin, . Kempthome, /Pearce, and the Mayor, was set'up to report to the the council. The council then adjourned.