MOUNT EDEN WATER RESERVOIR

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 139, 8 March 1929, Page 12

MOUNT EDEN WATER RESERVOIR

CAUSE OF THE BURSTING INQUIRY TO BE HELD Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 7. A request to the Government to appoint Mr. F. AV. Furkert, chief engineer of tlie Public _AVorks Department, or failing him, a competent officer, recommended by Mr. Furkest, to report regarding the cause of the bursting of the Mount Eden reservoir is to be made by the City Council, acting on a reommendation made to it to-night by the water committee. The committee also reported that the following agreement had been reached with the contractors for the reservoir: The contractors will proceed with the carrying out of the contract, and win leave the site of the actual break intact until the council concludes its investigations into the cause of the accident, the period not to exceed one month. Representatives of the contractors and the council will confer, and endeavour to agree as to (a) What modifications, if any, are required in the method' of carrying out the contract; (b) the cost of repairing any damage done to the new works and bringing the job up to the condition it Avas in before the accident, including loss of or damage to tools, plant, and material; (c) where it is not possible to agree upon a lump sum for any of the above items it shall be computed on the basis of cost plus 5 per cent.; (d) this arrangement and the carrying out of the work is without prejudice to the question of liability. “I think it would be unwise if any discussion on the matter took place noAv,” said the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican). There is a legal question. The matter is subjudice, and I cannot allow any discussion. It is in the hands of the city solicitor and the Water Committee, who will not act without consulting the solicitor.