NEWMARKET WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 6

NEWMARKET WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In to-day's issue "Fair Play" disapproves very much of my action re the carrying out of the waterworks contracts. He statee that I introduced the bueinees of the special meeting in an arbitrary and illegal manner, by moving that the word "committee" be struck out. On Mr. Clayton, the mover of the resolution, pointing out, and rightly so, that he did not include the word "committee" in his resolution, the Council unanimously agreed to amend or correct the resolution. Where then my arbitrary and illegal manner ? I fail to see why the blunders or incompetence of a professional man, or body of men, corporate or otherwise, should be hushed up in oommittee. "Fair Play" states "that I have lauded the engineer to the skies, and now, to suit my own purpose, I in a manifestly unfair manner take advantage of my position, and abuse both engineer and contractor in every conceivable manner." Mr. Knox undertook to prepare plans and specifications for the above works. His instructions were, to have his plans and specifications so perfect that there would be little or no extras, being; (together with many of the councillors) assured, that the whole arrangements were as perfect as could be, and that £50 would cover all the extras (if any). 1 was satisfied, and did all I could to assist the engineer in the discharge of the important work he had undertaken. Mr. Knox's instructions were these, in so far as plant was concerned :— " Have included in the tender for plant, &c. sufficient of everything reqaired for the completion of a complete and perfect water supply system, and also to get sufficient material included to provide the four or five private streets with a service, when .the council|determined to lay it down ; besides which have 5 per cent of everything over and above that required, in case of accident, pipes bursting, &c." Now, what do we find ? 218 feet of 9m pipes short, and all other sizes, irrespective of the 5 per cent eurpluß. IS'ot a bolt or nut. not a washer, not a bit of insertion, no 9in tee branches for the extra streets, not haif sufficient risers (and half of these are net long enough). Hydrant branches, hydrants, spigot ends, bends, tees, full croses. IS'o cover for meter, not half sufficient valves or valve boxes.in fact a bill is sent in by Messrs. E. Porter and Co., two mouths after completion of contract, for £400 3a, £333 5a 4d of which is charged for the above deficiencies. It may be said that had these been in the contract, they would have had to be paid for in any case. True, but they would have soft ttre borough 100 per cent. less. Again, if the engineer did not know that the foregoing articles were required at the time of drafting the requirements, he surely must, after reflection, have known that they would be wanted, and knowing that, — together with his own condition, that anything ordered after six months from the date of acceptance of tender, would cost double the price,—he should in fairness to his ouiployera hare ordered them well within the specified time. In regard to the labour portion of the work it ia true an inspector was appointed by the Council, who I believe is a thoroughly competent man as a marine engineer, but who has proved himself totally unfit for the work he undertook. Yet he oannot be charged with the negligence , of omitting from the specifications the building of a place wherein to put the meter, fixing air valves in mains, erecting and fixing the drinking fountains, fixing in one-half of the hydrants, hydrant boxes, and valves. But though to him may be charged the negligence of not setting the hydrant boxes in concrete, not; running the lead into the joints at one time, instead of at two or three times, and getting them properly caulked, though these are groat errors and ones likely to land the Council into no end of expense, I think the inspector is not otherwise to blame. For myself, those little bills of extras in connection with the labour being £135 (independent of the extra streets), which, together with £333 5s for extra material = £46S ss, i 3 surely sufficient to cause a man to enquire Why is this thus ? While I was of opinion that matter," were going on right, I did assist the engineer and took hie part, but when it is thrust at me so forcibly, as those bills of extras show—tho carelessness, negligence, or incompetence of the engineer to have been —am Ito stand by and calmly eubmit to the ratepayers being fleeced without protecting them * 1 trow not. It is not banquets, presentations, or soft-soap and toadyism, that will prevent me from doing my duty. I have omitted in the foregoing any reference to the certificate being given to Coulson for work which I contend was never performed.—Yours, &c, W. J. SniTfiß. Newmarket, April 1, ISS7-