Pahiatua Borough

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 2

Pahiatua Borough

IMPROVING THE WATER SUPPLY. .The monthly meeting of tho Borough Council was held on Monday evening at the council’s chambers, Pahiatua, there being present: His Worship the Mayor, Mr. J. D. Wilson, Councillors D. Moriarty, J. E. Murphy, J. W. Sturton, T. W. Watts, F. Britland, A. D. Donald, W. T. Brown, W. A. Carthew and B. 3£. Siddells. Correspondence. \ i The Mayor stated that he had seen tho Mayor of Mastorton and that a delegate nearer Wellington from places such as Carterton or Feathorston should be selected as provincial delegate to the centennial celebrations committee. Tho Pahiatua Plunkct Society requested a grant towards the upkeep of the rest room and conveniences.—lt was decided to make a donation of £5 ss. The Water Supply. Dr. Irwin, of the Department of Pub-lic-Health, wrote that ho holds by ,the conditional approval given by Dr. McLean for the augmenting of tho water supply from the underground spring alongside tho main road; also that at the present time he considers that the advantages to be obtained by proceeding with the alternative Mangahao river schemo outweigh tho disadvantages of higher initial cost for the main work and of a new reticulation that might be neeossary. Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, replying in connection with tho request for Public Works Department engineer’s report upon the requirements of the borough re water and drainage, stated: “It is not tho custom for the department to act in this capacity for local authorities. At tho present time my engineers are very fully occupied in preparing tho necessary data in connection with tho increased Public Works activities generally, and I regret, therefore. that I cannot accede to your request. ’ ’ Cr. Hturton said it was time they reviewed the question. They had been dabbling about for some time and nothing had been done. As a council they should consider the major scheme. The Health Department’s letter and a report from tho Fire Board both indicated that they were not too satisfied with the present position. The Mayor pointed out that tho council had had an estimate some years ago which was going to cost some £21,000, but now there were new councillors on, and thero was no reason why the questions of tho major schemo should not be renewed.

Cr. Moriarty was very pleased to hear the Mayor’s statement concerning the fact that there were new councillors on t.ho job and that he was in favour of the matter being renewed. Mr. Semple had evidently turned the council down, he said, and it was certain that tho council would require a better water supply in the nest few years. Ho had been in communication with Messrs. Stevenson, contractors, who, ho said, would be prepared to undertake such a scheme on the debenture system. The speaker also pointed out that Mr. Semple had promised subsidies for similar undertakings, and explained that they could also apply to him to see how much would bo available. Tho whole matter could then be put before tho ratepayers to obtain their sanction. Cr. Moriarty suggested that a committee be set up to go into and report on the question furnished by the consulting engineers who were connected with Messrs. Stevenson. Cr. Carthew supported the proposal and said they had to take a far-sighted attitude as far as water was concerned. He was in favour of any scheme that would bring an improved water supply closer to a poll of the ratepayers. Tho Mayor then moved that tho whoio council should hold a special meeting to discuss tho matter, Cr. Alurphy seconding his proposal. Crs. Sturton and Carthew favoured securing all the advico and information possible to place before the council. Cr. Brown said he took it that Mr. Toogood’s scheme for talcing tho water to tne town from the suggested reservoir at the top of tho hilt was not being gone on with owing to the uncertainty of the water supply from flic well. Cr. Britland disagreed with this assumption, and pointed out that it was tho heavy cost of doing the work in the winter months that had prompted the 'council to wait. Cr. Brown explained that as regards tho Alangahao schemo a system ot chlorination would have to bo put m before tho water could bo used owing to: the risk of infection from drainage along the river. Crs. Sturton and Carthew then moved that Dr. Irwin of the Health Department be asked to furnish a report of the condition of the Mangahao or any suitable supply and furnish this to the council. Cr. Watts said he had moved along similar lines soino time ago and had been defeated. It would got them nowhere going along as they were doing. The Mayor explained that they had data of analytical reports taken from the neighbouring rivers and springs, and this could be utilised, whereon Crs. Sturton and Carthew withdrew their proposal. In putting his motion, the Mayor said they could discuss moro fully Air. Toogood’s report and that there was nothing to prevent them going through with any other data as may bo" made available either by Messrs. Stevenson or anyone else. This was subsequently qgreed' upon by live to four, the voting being:—-For: Crs. Wilson, Donald, Murphy, Brown and Britland. Against: Crs. Moriarty, Carthew, Watts and Sturton. The matter of arranging a date was left to the finance committee to fix. Inquiry to be Instituted. Cr. Moriarty complained that tho clerk had exceeded his authority in making a report to the finance comrnil-

tee re office staffing and moved a vote of censure on the matter. The motion was eventually seconded pro forma by the Mayor and on being put to the meeting was lost, tlic Town Clerk being complimented by the Mayor for bringing tho matter forward in tho report. Arising out of tho incident, howover, Crs. Sturton and Watts moved that a committee bo set up to investigate the general staffing of tho borough, both indoors and outdoors. This was carried and the following committee set up:— The finance committeo members (the Mayor and Crs. Siddells and Carthew) and Councillors Murphy and Watts. At the close of the meeting Cr. Moriarty was asked by Cr. Donald if he would reconsider his resignation from the cemetery committee, but the latter refused to do so and this was consequently accepted, Cr. Sturton somewhat reluctantly agreeing to accept the position.