NELSON SEWERAGE SCHEME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 317, 21 December 1906, Page 2

NELSON SEWERAGE SCHEME.

MEETING OF THE DRAINAGE COMMITTEE. The Drainage Committee, consisting of the whole of the City Council, met last evening. Present — The Mayor (Mr J. Piper), Crs. Hampson, Atmore, Harrison, Turner, Grace, Liglitband, Hag gitt. The Mayor_ referred to a payment that had been made to the contractoi for the septic tank. This was a payment of £10, for a building built by the contractor, that should have been paid at the end of the work. Then there was 10 guineas paid to the contractor for plans. He had found 1C guineas mentioned in the schedule, but the specifications said that the Engineer should provide the contractor with pla.nf and drawings for 10 guineas. The 10 guineas were never deducted from the first payment, as it should have been, but in the third payment the Council paid the contractor 10 guinr.is fcr the use of the Council's plans. The Council officers should look aftier these things. The 10 guineas should have been deducted, and the £10 for the building should not have been paid un til the end of the term. To say the least of it, there had been irregularities.

Oi 1 Gracu thought that if the facts were as stated the Council had- made a tactical blunder. But the matter would be borne in mind at the nest payment. Though in principle it was a big matter, it could ho itill be put right. He was obliged to the Mayor for bringing up the matter. Cr Harrison asked if the ccntractoi I had been billed for the amount. 'She Town Ojeris $aid the contractor had been billed for the ten guineas. In reply to a question the Citv Surveyor said the building referred to was and always would be the Council's property. He |iad been through the specifications two or three times, principally to see how the work was to be done. It was impossible for him to remember all the details. Cr Grace moved that the matter be adjusted when the next payment was made. That would be a nicer way of settling the difficulty than to ask for a refund. Cr Hampson seconded pro forma, and took some of the blame on himself, as he had carefully gone through the specifications and had overlooked the point. The motion was carried unanimously-

Correspondence in connection with drainage matters were read. Mr ti. Lancaster applied for permission to extend the sower in Van Die men-street. — Granted, un usual conditions.

Tile Mayor said the work was hemp done, and the City Surveyor explained that he thought the work was authorised.

Or Grace inquired what plans Mr Mestayer had sent, and what work could ne gone on with ? The City Surveyor said that filling In in Trafalgar-street could be gone on with. Or Grace moved that certain filling In work in Trafalgar-street recommended by the Engineer be proceeded with, and that Mr Mestayer be asked to supply the plans and specifications for the Washington Valley and Toi Toi Valley portions of the scheme. Cr. Atmore seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. It was resolved that tenders be invitad for the filling in of Trafalgar-street. Cr. Grace moved that the Council suppjy the pipes for the drainage scheme. — Seconded by Cr. Atmore and carried. Crr Atmore moved that the City Surveyor prepare specifications for the supply of pipes. — Carried. : - ! ' iiCr. '-Currier" moved that tenders be invited for trenching in the Wood section of f.he scheme.— Seconded by Cr. Grace and carried. Or. Hampson suggested that optional fenders be called for the whole work say, djvjde the work into three contracts, It would never do to have a lot of small tendai's. By adopting his suggestion the Council would ascertain the diffevenc§ between small and large contract!, The Mayor favoured the work being carried out by day labour. If the Council would not agree to that he favoured the work being done in. small contracts. He had had too much bother with big contractors. It would, the Mayor considered, pay the Council to have a really independent staff for t(je drainage scheme. Cr. Hampson was opposed to going in for such a scheme without knowing what it would cost. In his experience, in nine cases out of ten day labour had cost more than the estimate. He was Inclined to favour big contractors, as the work, ho was sure, was done cheaper By them. Public bodies, as a rule, were not In a position to properly organiso day labour. Whatever the Council did, it should know specifically what it had to pay. Cr. Grace favoured large contracts, but not too larpe, as there might not be the competition amongst contractors that was desirable. Day labour would, he thought, be more costly than small Contracts. But the Council need not

accept, any contract — if the tender was considered too i»gU th.e Council could still fall back on day laboiu. " ' The City Surveyor, jn reply to f'r. Hampson, said blot contracts were the cheapest — that had always been his experience. Cr. Hagßitt was also of opinion that big contacts would be found the cheapest. 6r. turner amended |ijs motion to read that alternate tenders (one Or more contracts) be invited for the trenching In the Wood. — Carried unanimously. The Committee then adjourned, Exposure to cold and damp causes rheumatism. The skin cannot gii-e off the excessive uric acid and it becomes deposited in the blood. RHEUMO will quickly cure the trouble. AH chemists and stoves, '2s 6d and 4s 6d. T' f ■