WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 186, 14 August 1901, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

£75.000 SCHEME TO BE SUB MITTED TO RATEPAYERS.

WATER, DRAINAGE, AND ROAD WORKS.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night to consider the subject of water and drainage. There were present: The Mayor, and Crs Harding, Bright, Miller, Hepburn, Lysnar, Jones, Morrison, and Whinray. The Mayor, in accordance with notice, moved : “ That the Council proceed to raise a loan of £75,000 from the Government, interest at the rate of 34 per cent., for the following works : (a) High pressure water supply from Waihirere, £35.000; (b) drainage system for the borough, £30,000 ; (e) road formation and metalling with Patutahi metal Childers road, Palmerston road, Aberdeen road, and others to be decided on by the committee, £10,000.”

Cr Lysnar said the Council had not yetconsidered drainage. The Mayor ; W’e can consider the whole thing now. It was their duty in furtherance of the letter they had received from the public to put the tiling in definite form. As far as he could judge, from all they had heard, there was no water supply source within their means but Waihirere. As to drainage, they would need to go into the question of what they should borrow before the septic or Shone system was decided upon. He would support a 12in main, so that the suburbs could in due course he supplied. As Mr Mestayer ! had told them, until the details were gone into he could not give more than the outside estimate. No one could say that the road scheme was not necessary, but first of all he would like them to affirm the subject of water and drainage. He quoted from the report of Mr Mestayer, who very strongly recommended Waihirere. He asked the Councillors to consider the subject well ; it was their duty to place the matter before the ratepayers as soon

as possible. He took it that however they might differ as to details they were all anxious to have a water supply and drainage, and the sooner they removed the stigma from the place the better. In a short time the rental valuation of Gisborne would probably reach £35,000. He went on to show he considered the finance would work out. Cr Harding seconded the motion. It was time they placed something before the ratepayers. There was one thing he was afraid of, having it sot down that the money must be obtained at 34 per cent.

Cr Miller: We know we can’t got it at that, and may as well bo honest and alter it. The Mayor quoted from the Act, showing that it would bo obtained for 41 years at 34 per cent. Cr Miller: But the Government would not lend it.

Cr Harding said it would appear they were more sincere if they altered that figure from 34 to, say, 4 per cent. He was not particularly wedded to the Waihirere scheme, but having had the best advice in New Zealand they should not cavil with their engineer. He (Cr Harding) was quite willing to pay his share for water and drainage, and when it came to the ratepayers ho believed thcro would bo a majority of the same opinion. He would leave the quostion of interest until later on.

In reply to Cr Whinray, the Mayor said it would ho folly to go to expense to ascertain the position as to riparian rights until they had the ratepayers’ consent. The land would have to bo taken by proclamation. They were going to take one creek out of three. Mr Mackenzie and others told them that no water came down in summer ; so what could they object to Cr Whinray : Then why go for a shadow ’?

The Mayor : I did not say they were right ; I don’t believe they are. Cr Whinray : You arc raising a bogey yourself. Cr Lysnar uiado a remark as to artesian water. The Mayor : You will know about tho cost of the artesian supply when you get

it. Cr Bright said that there was a good deal in what had been called a bogey. He asked that the Council go into committeo on the subject, which was agreed to. Cr Bright then said that three propertyholders had spoken to him on the matter, and said that they intended to test the matter in the Supreme Court. Alter further remarks, Cr Morrison said that they no sooner got over one difficulty than another one was set up.

Cr Jones : They are bound to do that—that is tho intention. Cr Whinray said there was no use of the Council trying to choke and burke anything to get the scheme through. They would make tho position ten thousand times worse than it was before. Cr Miller said that Cr Whinray did nothing to assist them, though he would not declare against it. Cr Whinray : I want a proper scheme. Cr Miller said they all wanted a proper scheme. There were Councillors who were prepared to pick holes in the work of engineers, but they offered no alternative. Why did not Cr Whinray say whether or not ho was in favor of Waihirere ? Cr Whinray said ho had boon against that from tho start.

Cr Miller : Well, that is something, lie agreod with Cr Harding as to the rate of interest.

Cr Lysnar resented Cr Miller’s statement that nothing else had been put forward, and referred to Mr Boylan's Waimata schomo which ho said could he got for £2292 a year interest, pumping and all included. If they accepted the Health Officer’s recommendation the septic tanks would do, and they could get four for £2OOO. The total annual cost would be £3292. Ho went on to speak in

favor of artesian water. Cr Miller : There is no guarantee. Cr Morrison : It may run out in a week.

Cr Miller : It discolors whisky. (Laughter.) Cr Lysnar said that good supplies were got in other places, and if they got away from the gases they would get pure water.

Cr Whinray : They arc not impurities. They are valuable properties that want developing. Cr Lysnar : Perhaps so. The Council no doubt would go to the ratepayers on this matter, but it would bo a great mistake. Wity not take a dual vote—artesian or Waihirere ? Cr Ilepburn : Will you guarantee the artesian will be good quality ?

Mr Lysnar said that Mr Brett guaran- | teed that. They could make a binding J contract by authority of petition. He • thought they should pay a man to go j round with such a petition. It would j mean four months' delay, and if in that : time the scheme did not prove satisfactory ; they could fail back on these other sclu mes. Cr Morrison : It would not till the Or Lysnar said they could get that by i'_vd ran lie pressure, as suggested oy a gentleman who had made a recommendation to the Council. It was well worth consideration. Or Miller said the sooner they considered it the better ; it always seemed to be coming lip to block something else. Cr Ljmuu- asked that alt the correspondence on artesian supply be placed on the table. The Mayor suggested that the proposal be handed to the suburbs to consider. They could not go to the ratepayers with a speculative scheme. He said that all these wells gave a reduced quantity after a time.

Or Miller said they hud heard a lot of speakers on this subject. He would like to see it dealt with. He was prepared to vote against it. Or Jones said he did not know why the debate on Waihirere was being renewed. They had already passed a resolution in I favor of it, and why go back on it ? There should be some finality in the matter. Though Mr Boylan had reported on Yv aiinata, as Mr Lysnar stated, ho said that the quality was not satisfactory, and reported against it adversely as compared with Waihirere. They were having too much talk altogether about these schemes, instead of submitting the matter to the ratepayers. How could they expect any scheme to be carried if they wasted night after night in talk, and could not arrive at unanimity'.' If they really wanted a water supply, they should not waste so much time, but submit the question to the people who would have to pay for it. As to the artesian water, he had always opposed that, and would continue to do so. if there was no risk in it, why did not Mr Brett seek and discover the supply, and sell the boro to the Council? Cr Bright said he could not understand Councillors dialing about delay The Council had only been elected in April, and they had schemes before them involving an expenditure of Lioo,ooo, a rate ol' 4s in the pound. Members who brought up other schemes were honest, and he did not think it was waste of time to carefully consider the whole matter ; they always made some advance. They had found that the schemes as first put before them had to be sent back for modification. It would be absurd to put in 8.1 per cent, as the rate of interest when they had the experience of the Auckland Council having to pay 4 per cent. They should face the thing properly, ascertain definitely what the cost will be, and then leave it to the ratepayers. The duty of the Council would be finished when they had done that; they should submit the 1 position plainly to the ratepayers, but not placing the charge for interest at 8.1- per cent, when they knew they would not get it. Cr Miller : Why not put in 4.1 per cent ?

Or Jones : That is what some people would like put in. Cr Lysnar wished to read a letter in regard to artesian water, but was ruled out of order. Mr Brett was not likely, Cr Lysnar said, to sell his brain to the Council by putting down a bore, and then letting the Council put down one alongside, lie might be simple, but lie would not do that. Cr Jones ; He wants the Council to be simple. Cr Miller: Ho is going to bore anyway. Cr Lysnar: Yes, for oil, away back in the country. As to Cr Jones’ remarks about Waimata, he himself had opposed it until lie had read up the latest information as to purifying water. Cr Jones ; But you found nothing to influence you for Waihirere '? (Laughter ). Cr Lysnar: I have found that if you store water for a long time like that it will go putrid as in a septic tank. Cr Hepburn spoke in opposition to an artesian supply, and said ho was glad to notice that the Mayor had come round. | The Mayor : It took a long time.j They had elected to get the advice of Mr Mestayor, and should stand by it, and submit the matter to the ratepayers, and not each go setting up his own opinion. He agreed with the suggestion that the rate of interest set down should bo altered. Cr Morrison : If we put it at 41, we wiii never get the poll carried. Cr Bright said they should not put the amount at less than they would pay. After further remarks, Cr Miller said: From the tone of this meeting I do not think wo are all sincere in wishing a water supply. Cr Bright moved that the amount bo “ not exceeding 41 per cent, including sinking fund.” Cr Lysnar objected to any sinking fund anyone would lend without a sinking fund to a rising district like this. Cr Miller seconded the motion. Ho did not think they could get money for less than the cities paid. It seemed to him that some did not want a water supply. Cr Jones said the attempt was to kill the scheme by quitting uqr the rate of interest. A good deal of discussion ensued on the point as to the maximum that should be set down for interest, the outcome being that it was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, that the maximum rate of interest to be paid bo fixed at 4 per cent. In the course of the discussion the Mayor enumerated a great many towns that had loans without sinking funds, and said there appeared to be more without sinking funds than with them.

The Mayor then proposed that the rate of interest do not exceed 4 per cent., which was agreed to, Cr Whinray d'sscnting. General discussion then took place as to the question of drainage. The Mayor said he would like to see the water carriage system carried into force at once. As they went further on, they could deal more closely with the details.

In reply to Cr Bright, the Mayor said that the highest estimate of 4 per cent, interest would be submitted to the ratepayers.

Cr Morrison asked that the Clerk be instructed to prepare a statement showing the ratepayers clearly what they would have to pay. He hope! that the proposal would be carried, but it would only be dor.c by a small majority. The motion was put, and carried. For: The Mayor, Crs Morrison, Harding, Miller, Jones, Hepburn, and Bright. Against: Crs Lysnar and Whinray. The Mayor said he was very pleased that the motion had been carried.

Cr Jones : You seem to think the question is settled ; you don’t know what the opponents will do yet. Cr Whinray said that the Council had liis sympathy. The Mayor: We hope for something more than your sympathy. Cr Whinray : You won’t got it on the lines you are going.

The Mayor asked why Cr Whinray had not set down some lines to go on, to which Cr Whinray replied that he had very clearly set down lines upon which to proceed. The efforts of the Council, he said, were no doubt laudable, but he had a presentiment that the matter would be determined in an adverse way. Cr Lysnar : Hear, hear. The Mayor went on to strongly commend Waihircre, saying that it would do for some time to come, and would make a splendid reservoir in the event of a supplementary supply being required in later years. Cr Lysnar intimated that as he had opposed the scheme in the Council he would also oppose it outside. They must not imagine they were going to The Mayor : Have a walk-over. (Laughter.) Cr Lysnar said he would oppose his property being rated for such a scheme. Cr Jones said that if he had the good fortune to own so much property, he would be willing to sacrifice a little for the sake of a water supply. Cr Lysnar: To the extent of paying j rates for other people’s property. f After some further remarks in a humorous way, the meeting terminated. j