TAUMATA HILL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11837, 19 January 1933, Page 3

TAUMATA HILL

COMPARISON; OF 1 COSTS

MAYOR’S. STATEMENT.",

FIGURES TO BATE

An important statement in regard to tlie -Taumata Hill reservoir was made by tlie Mayor (Mr. D.'-W. Coleman, M.P.) at Tuesday evening’s meeting.of the Borough Council, this including a comparison of the estimated costs as drawn, up by the Public Works Department and the late Borough. Engineer, Air. Geo. Darton. “‘Our late engineer’s, estimate of£3ooo to complete tlie job,” stated Mi\ Coleman, “will not now be sufficient. You will remember that Air. Darton drew .up his original plans and specifications on similar lines to those used in- the construction, of To Ann tank.' This* tank has- never'.at' any • time caused.'the -least- a ll xiety, and lias stood the. - very severe tests of the earthquakes without- a hlemi isli. So that I think that-. Air. Barton’s contention that-plans and 'specifications could he drawn up on.similar lines was well'’justified. “This, however, did not come up to the requirements "of the Public Murks Department, -which insists noon "an additional cost for materials of £1527 1 Os. The following is a comparison of the estimates of the late engineer and tho requirements of the department, Mr. Barton’s estimate being given first in each case: "Washed river- gravel £420 (£577 10 s) -. sand £BO (£1201; cement, £ISOO (£21001: steel. £276 (£906): total, £2276 (£3793 10s). To work that material, an extra'cost of TOR for cartage, and extra wages of £3OS 30s Sd.is entailed, making a total cost of £1874 14s. Bd. “T have sdven this matter very great thought, and have come to the conclusion, lhat we cannot hope to complete the construction work under the present system of working. Whilst T. recognise that this is a work which we are doing for the relief of unemployment. I feel certain that now we have come to the construction work, to get satisfaction it will be necessary for ns to subsidise the reemployment Board’s pavmenl B to that of standard or award rates of pay. That would mean that- the men employed would not receive any more days’ employment, but they would he paid a fair wage for what they did. and in return we would expect a fail* day’s work. Any man not giving that, we would he quite justified in not having him on the job. We would pick our men, and only men able to do that class of work would he employed on the job. T sincerely hope that the council will endorse this suggestion. “It will certainly mean an expenditure of about £560. hut T consider it money well spent, and that it will entail a. satisfactory job being done, which otherwise T feel is impossible. The total cost to complete the job is £5290 14s Bd. made up as follows: Material, £3376: cartage, £596 4s: wages, including suggested subsidy. £l3lß 10s Sd. “The "Unemployment Board’s shave of wages would he £760, and the council's share £5.58 10s. The total cost to the council, therefore, would be £4530 14s Bd. It will be necesrarv to apply again to tli e Loans Board. In its letter to us it agrees to a loan of £3000: as I have stated, it will nob be possible to complete the job. as required by the Public Works Department, for that amount. T think it very probable that we will have to commence de novo, but I would suggest that we write lo the board giving it full particulais, and asking for authority to raise a loan of £SOOO. Seeing that the board has all the particulars fresh in its mind, it may agree to this. “That briefly is the position so far ns completing the Taumata Hill reservoir is concerned. It may interest councillors to know the position of the job as at present, and the cost so far. The total cost is £19,754 12s 6d, made up as follows: Excavation. - Borough: Labour and carting, £420; materials and sundry expenses. £IBB : insurance, £l4B. Unemployment Board: Labour, £10.137: total. £lO,894. Access road. —Borough : Labour and carting, £66: insurance £9. Unemployment Board : Labour. £592 , total, £668. Pipeline from Gladstone road to reservoir.— Borough: Labour and carting, £237 ; materials and sundries, £4932: insurance, £23. Unemployment Board: Labour, £1303; total, £6496. Pipeline, Ormond road. Borough: Labour and carting, £6l; material and sundries, £1282; insurance, £6. Unemployment Board: Labour, £345; total, £1695. Grand tojMs. Borough: Labour and carting, £785; materials and sundries. £6403; insurance, £lB7. Unemployment Board: Labour, £12,380; total, £19.-

“Tbe Unemployment Board pro- \ ides, therefore, £12,380, and the Borough Council £73/5. In conclusion, I would like ty report that I visited the job;, again to-day, a n d so far a s the actual excavation is concerned, the recent heavy' rain had no effect, and there was no slipping. It is true that in the cutting through the spoil, made to remove tile spoil from the excavation, there .was slipping, but that, of course, is nothing. In reply to a question, the Mayor stated that the'total cost to'the. borough to date had 'been £BOOO, of which’ £2500 was' in cash- and' the remainder ' iii materials. - It would be tlie' policy -of' the < borough -to - arrange ; tliat the same gangs oL meU-would lie engaged in.tqrn, as they -become el-, igible for reliefj ’therefore, ' securing the services of' the experienced .workers. .■ „ 1 -■■■.. . j ", ‘* : i 'Or. G. Bradlby Smith 'stated that the: matter was\df sycli, ’importance that : it considered ‘at a sjiecial- meeting, .when, in .addition; consideration could' he given tq quq?'/ .tion of disposing' jf tlie Park racecourse. . ■'

.After, further- brief i discussion it was decided to hold a special nicety ing on Mondayv sl exf, 'lyhcn - full, consideration could be given ..to the matters .of- the.Tauiipata. Hill and-also-the Park course. •« - ?• i - •