“PIPE-LINE IS OUR LIFE-LINE!” BOROUGH’S URGENT NECESSITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22665, 16 June 1948, Page 4

“PIPE-LINE IS OUR LIFE-LINE!” BOROUGH’S URGENT NECESSITY

“This is without doubt the greatest necessity the council has to face in the near future. It will mean a large outlay, amounting to £2ll 320 and obviously it will be impossible to find this sum out ot revenue, ’ ’ said the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, at last night’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council, in opening a discussion on the report by the borough engineer, Mr. G. M. Beaumont, on the replacement of the existing pipeline from Waingake to Gisborne.

“The pipeline is Gisborne’s lifeline.” added Mr. Bull, “Without it, a great disaster might overtake our community. “We have to face this problem, and I should like to see this council, durinp the balance of its term, carry forward as far as possible preparations foi putting loan proposals for this purpose before the electors.” Mr. G. J. Jeune asked whether Gisborne’s average consultation of 100 gallons per day per person was not iar beyond the average for New Zealand. In Auckland, he understood, the consumption was about 60 gallons per head, and in some of tne harbour boroughs it was down to about 40 galMr. H. F. Wise; They are all metered! Mr' Jeune; exactly. 1 feel that if metering was resorted to here the consumption would go down sharply. It bas been declared that the council is not prepared to provide an irrigation system. I hope that if we go in for his scheme we shall also install meters sc. that the water-thrifty will not be obliged to carry the greedy people who want to run hoses all night. The Mayor: Meters are not available. ! Mr Jeune: They might be available as soon as the pipeline materials. Continuity of Supply i The Mayor commented that it seemed obvious that the installation of a 20in line would give ample water for !an reasonable purposes, and it did not i seem necessary to consider metering !so long as the flow was adequate. The main objective, ho felt, was to get the pipeline replaced to ensure continuity of the supply. The engineer stated that the actual I flow was not necessarily net consumption. At 2 a.m. the flow registered was 25,000 gallons per hour, or about two gallons per head of the population, which probably was not being used. It was reasonable to suppose that a considerable leakage was occuring owing to damage to the reticulation system by earthquakes. Mr. F. Tolerton asked whether it would not be advisable to include in any loan proposals the cost of reticulating the outer areas, and “make one bite at it ” The Mayor stated that the council had to consider the effect of the proposals on the public. Mr. Beaumont stated that the preparation of estimates for the outer area extensions was still in train but Mr. G. F. Clapcott,’ consulting engineer had made preliminary estimates of £29,300 for the water reticulation of the outer areas ,and £97,986 for sewerage extensions,

The Mayor offered the council his opinions upon the advisability of a planned programme of water and sewerage services. Mr. J. H. Hall sugested that the best course would be to extend the water and sewerage to the outer areas as a first step, as once this was done the public would realise the necessity lor the replacement of the pipeline. Discussion Adjourned Mr G. J. Jeune said that he had not had notice of the questions now being discussed, and he would like to see the council as a whole given more time to consider the relation of the pipeline and the outer area extensions: The Mayor agreed that there were many aspects of the situation on which the council should have more information before going furter. Mr. Clapcott's report should he before the council before the disussion was proceeded with. , , ~ Mr. W. C. Kohn supported an adjournment of the discussion, but felt that it was advisable to give the public all the information available in the meantime. Mr. H. F. Wise also favoured this course, and on the motion of Mr. Jeune the discussion was held over until Mr. Clapcott’s report on the outer aiea extensions was available.