GISBORNE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9095, 13 March 1901, Page 3

GISBORNE BOROUGH COUNCIL

♦ — The Borough Council met this morning at 10 o'clock to meet Mr R. L. Mestayer, the water supply and drainage engineer from Wellington.' There were present: His Worship the Mayor (in the Chair), Crs. Nolan, Kennedy, Harding, Johnston, Lewis, Joyce, and Jones. '■■_ The Mayor briefly introduced Mr Mestayer. The meeting, he said, had been called for that purpose, arid to give Mr Mestayer as far as they could instructions to go on with the work of reporting on drainage and water, supply matters. It would be for the Council to decide which work they would undertake first. As the day had turned out so very wet, and as the meeting would probably not be a very long one, it seemed to him that perhaps the best plan would be to give him the plan of levels prepared for Mr Mestayer, and the specifications under which they were prepared, and ask him to go into the drainage question. That could be done without going into the country at all. If that met the views of the Council, Mr Mestayer could go on with the work at once. If, however, members had any suggestions to make, he would be glad to hear them.~Cr. Joyce agreed that the suggestion was a good one. When the weather changed Mr Mestayer could turn his attention, to tne water-sources, and there would thus be no delay. He was not hi fovor of anything but a natural source and that was to say, he would not be in fovor of any_ scheme which involved pumping. He might say that he did not beheve in that as it would be so very expensive. He suggested also that two members— that was, the Mayor and another, — should go out with Mr Mestayer and show him the different sites. For the other position he would suggest Cr Kennedy, an energetic man and a good companion— Cr Kennedy said that he was afraid that he would hot be able to get away— Cr Nolan endorsed the Mayor's suggestion. While the weather lasted,- Mr Mestayer. would probably find the best use for his time in working at the drainage scheme indoors. — The Mayor said that Mr Mestayer would probably find a good deal to do in connection with the drainage system without going, into, the country at all.— Mr Mestayer said he would not attempt to do any of the drawing or office work here. He wanted to go over the ground and get the complete essay of the* country — The Mayor said that with reference to someone accompanying Mr Mestayer, he did riot know whether it j was .advisable for Councillors to go out at all. He thought it would be better to engage Captain" Winter, who knew every inch of the country,- and would save Mr Mestayer's time better than any pf the councillors could and another point was that " as Captain Winter had drawn the plans, and had gone over the town for tne purpose, he, better than, anyone else coiild put Mr. Mestayer in possession of the information he required." He had been in the district: 25 years, ■ and hod filled the post of County Engineer for 20 years. Then, concerning the water supply question, there were a number of the suggested sites which need hot be gone to at all. Then there were one or two fresh ones. There was no need to go over, all the old ground, and a meeting might later on be held to decide as to which should be visited. — Cr.' Johnston rather approved "of the suggestion that Captain Winter should be appointed to conduct Mr. Mestayer pn his tour, of inspection;-— Mr. Mestayer said that .he had- noticed that there was some suggestion..of bringing water from some place 60 miles away. The thing was preposterous. It would mean about £150,000 in pipes,.alone.— Or. "Joyce : That is- only a small sum-; in comparison with what our district-, is going to develop into. We are going to oe a second small London (laughter). —Mr. Mestayer : That may be; but if you" can get a good; supply for. £50,000) there is no need to go in for that expense.— Cr; Nolan moved that Captain Winter be engaged to assist Mr. Mestayer in getting the water sup-, ply and drainage work done as quickly as possible. -^-Cr. Johnston seconded the motion, which was carried. — Cr. Joyce said he presumed that Captain Winter's charge would not be extra heavy.— The Mayor: We can arrange for that.— Cr. Joyce: We have to look at the financial position a little bit.— The Mayor : Especially as we are going to be a little London, you know.. Of course we are. With reference to the watter sjupply sources he said that they had 19 or 20 listed. To 16 of these it would probably be no use to go at all. — Cr. Nolan said that it_ would be as well to leave that matter" to Captain Winter. — The Mayor said that the Council would be at the : service of the' Engineer, if he wished, "and if he wished it, the members could be got together at an' hour's notice. — Mr. Mestayer: I don't think" it will be necessary. —The Mayor: Of course you will meet the Council before you go.— Mr. Mestayer: Yes, but I will not give a decided opinion then. That depends on the working out of the date obtained. I will be quite prepared to give a rough opinion, subject to- modification by subsequent working.— Cr. . Joyce asked what about the reports of other engineers.— Mr. Mestayer: I have gbne all through them. The Mayor said they" had nothing .whatever with referencej tb drainage. This was the start of it.— Mr Mestayer : That simplifies matters considerably. I would rather have to deal jwith a town where there was no drainage. Where there are a lot of pipes laid down, the position becomes very much complicatecV Where there was already a drainage system, it either has to be incorporated or set aside altogether, :That was the difficulty in Wellington. — Cr. Joyce asked about the disposal of nightsoil under the new arrangement. Did Mr Mestayer think it would be judicious to deposit it hi the sea? He himself did not favor that. Either the present method should' be adhered to, or cremation should be adopted.— Cr. Nolan said this, would be dealt witlh in Mr Mestayer's report.— Cr. Johnston thought it only right for the Council to explain that they were not desirous of the nightsoil system joining with the drainage.— Mr Mestayer: I should have to put t>he issue before you, and it is for tne Council to decide, having everything before them, whether they will adopt tne new system or retain the present one. That is really what it would come to.— After deciding to meet at any time if it should be required, the Council adjourned,