PUMP FAILS

Grey River Argus, 23 March 1928, Page 5

PUMP FAILS

AT BOROUGH WATER WORKS TO FULFIL SPECIFICATIONS. Cr J. O’Brien last evening called attention at the Borough Council meetIng .to the work of the pump which the Coum-il had obtained from the National Electrical Company for its pumping station, which, he said, had fallen very considerably below the requirements, ami had failed to do the work which it should do. It was for the Council now to decide whether it would put out this pump, and ask the company to replace it with one that would pump the 800 gallons a niinut • which this one was supposed to do, or whether they should have the Company exchange for it a pump with a capacity of one thousand gallons per minute. Such a pump would enable the Council to take advantage of the cheap rate allowed by the Power Beard. They should have the Engineer report as to whether the National Electrical Company’s bill should be paid. The pump was taking ill hours to do what it should perform in seven hours. They had thought a 600 gallon pump would do the town, but over SOO gallons was recpiired, whereas this pump did not give nearly 600. The draw-off. certainly, was larger than it should be, and they needed to have a check made. They needed, indeed, 1000 gallons per minute. He urged that if necessary they should pay .the difference to secure a larger pump. The Mayor sa.d the Engineer had tested the pump in the

presence of Mr Brodie, representative of the National Electric Coy, and proved it would not do wljat it should. The Engineer, at his suggestion, had sent the company a letter repudiating the ability on the latter’s part for the Council, on the ground that the test ■was not up to specifications. It was now for the Council to say whether they would repudiate the debt and refuse to retain .the pump. Cr Kent suggested that a small committee je set up to go into the matter. They had already lost £lOO over the pump. The [Major favoured Cr O’Brien’s suggestion for an exchange for a larger I pump. It was resolved to endorse .the Mayor’s action in having a letter written to the National Electrical Coy, anj that the Waterworks Committee go into :thc question of what course should bo adopted. A vote of thanks was accorded the Engineer (Mi- Fairmaid) for his work in making the test k Crs Williams, Perotti and Kent speak ing in support of the motion.