WATER SUPPLY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9991, 5 March 1904, Page 4

WATER SUPPLY.

♦ TE ARAI SOURCE. MR REYNOLDS' B SCHEME ADOPTED. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening to discuss the reports of Messrs Hay and Reynolds m connection with the proposed water supply for Gisborne. Those present were the Mayor (Mr Townley), Crs SoinervelJ, Morrison, Hepburn, Johnston, Whinray, Lysnar, Miller, Kennedy, and Harding. The Gisborne Sheepfarmers' Company wrote: — "Dealing further with your letter of the Bth nit., I <im instructed to inform you tliat tlie- maximum estimated requirements, if fresh water failed us, would be 40,000 gallons per diem. The Company will be. prepared to take up to this I amount as required, if supplied at not more than 6d per lOOOgal., but m no case at a higher rate than charged to other I factories. If a scheme from Te Ami is adopted, sufficient m amount for the .supply of factories, and is brought m within three years, the, Company will m any case undertake to take water at a cost of not less than £200.— W. F. Cederwall, manager." .Cr Lysnar said it was £600 a year that the Council were told the works would pay, or 100,000 gals a year. Cr Miller : They are prepared to take ifc m the event of everything else failing. Cr Morrjson : We can only reckon on £200. Cr Hepburn : With a summer like this they would not need any. The Mayor said it was clear that the works would. in any case take £200 worth of water a. year. * The works had other sources of water supply, and at present would not need more than that. His Worship proceeded to read the replies to questions on Te Arai source put to Messrs Hay and Reynolds, taking Mr Hay's first. The Mayor said Mr Hay adhered to his original report, and did not believe m going higher up. Mr Reynolds' written replies were then read by Mr Townley, who said that, as far as he could see, he liked Mr Hay's scheme, which did away with the reservoir, which Mr Hay did not consider necessary. The acquisition of land would be an expense. His Worship moved that Mr Hay's scheme for Gisborne and suburbs be considered. Mr Hay's scheme was for £77,718, while Mr Reynolds' A scheme was over £74,000, his B scheme £79,000 odd, and C scheme £85,000 odd. When they considered •they were going m for drainage, they should make the expense for water as light as possible. Mr Hay had reported on Te Arai first, and 'he could not be passed over Avithont due consideration. In none of the schemes was the cost of land included. His Worship said if the Council could satisfy themselves tliftt rive/ted pipes would suit their purpose — they were used elsewhere — it would make a saving m. the first. place of £11,500, which would bring the total cost down considerably. The makers declared that these pipes would last 50 years, and they appeared to be of an equal life, with castiron pipes. The Council would get well served by adopting Mr Hay's scheme, and if possible get the supply m riveted pipes. In the time they could get new pipes with the money saved, and it might be that the. pipes would prove too small for future requirements. Cr Whinray : thought both reports should be considered, and the matter threshed out properly. Cr Morrison supported both schemes being considered, and the good points picked out. The Mayor said this was a work of detail which could be done afterwards. Cr Lysnar did not object to either scheme being discussed, so long as they could refer to both reports. The Mayor said he considered Mr Hay's scheme was the more suitable, but the reports were- there if required. Cr Whinray pointed out tliafc it had been suggested that they should have their source at the higher intake, as it would reduce the cost and increase the pressure. It was necessary to consider how much land they would have to acquire. The two engineers differed on material points, and these points should be determined. Both schemes should 1>? thoroughly considered. The Council were not there to place one report before the other. Cr Kennedy seconded the Mayor's motion. He pointed out that the Council had decided to obtain the highest opinion m New Zealand, that of Mr Hay, and it was not right that they should place another report against his. If they did not adopt Mr Hay's scheme, they could take up another scheme afterwards. Regarding the steel pipes, jf it could be proved that they had given satisfaction, and it meant a saving- of £11,000, no doubt Mr Hay would agree to their being used. Cr Lysnar said Cr Kennedy seemed to think tliat the Council should consider Mr Hay first, because he was the liighest authority m the colony, and because the Council asked him to report. Cr Kennedy: No, because we selected him. Cr Lysnar replied tliat Mr Reynolds was the first to report on Te Arai source. ; He had reported and gone back to Wellington before Mr Hay came. Mr Reynolds was not second — he was first. Cr Lysnar criticised the figures given by Mr Townley. It was quite evident that the Mayor had not studied the reports, or he would not have given the figures he did m dealing with the reports. His Worship was wrong m Mr Hay's figures. Mr Hay gave the Te Arai scheme, including reticulation of Gisborne, at £55,000, and with the suburbs at £61,000. Again, with Mr Reynolds' A scheme, his Worship overstated the cost by £13,711 odd. On his B scheme £13,433 had been added, and £14,703 on Mr Reynolds' C scheme. It was quite evident that his Worship had not gone carefijll^ into the scheme. His Worship: It comes out the same. Cr Lysnar replied that it came out with a great difference m favor of Mr Reynolds. Gr Miller : It is a wise of Reynolds or nothing with you. That is what you have got up your sleeve. Cr Lysnar: I have the facts and the figures. ' Cr Miller : So have we. Cr Lysnar: Where are' your figures? The Mayor: Order. Cr Lysnar: I don't care what engineer is engaged for this. It matters not one iota, but I will go for the man who shows the most points and gives the best results and most economical scheme. I will show you to-night that while MiReynolds' scheme is cheaper by £1527, we get 800 gallons per minute as against 625 gallons by Mr Hay's. Are we, as a Council, to set aside a scheme because the. Council did not recommend tliat man m the. first instance? I say no. Ido not believe the Council will do it, or will go to the ratepayers on that scheme of Mr Hay's. If you do, I say you will fail, and properly. Let us get at the correct facts. Reynolds' B scheme .will give 800 gallons per' minute, or 480,000 m the ten hours ; Hay's scheme only 625, or 325,000 gallons m ten hours. The Mayor liad regretted " that Mr Hay was going against the riveted pipes, but the speaker advised that the opinion of {he* two engineers should be accepted, that they were not suitable. It was only a question of seven or eight years, not 30, that the pipes would lwve to be replaced. Mr Reynolds had pointed out that it was the salts m. the soil, and it liad been pointed out that pipes put down m wells corroded m two to four years. Cr Lysnar said he had prepared the figures correctly. His hope m the. matter was that they should have been able to go for the bigger scheme of Mr Reynolds, the C scheme, and he liad hoped that the Gisborne Freezing Works would have given ample assistance to get an adequate supply, but as they had only agreed to give £200 a year, it was not fora moment to be considered. The- paltry £200 a year would not be considered by him, and he would accept the directors'' assurance tlrat they were not m want of water. As lie thought that the C scheme was thus too big, it brought them to consider Mr Reynolds' B scheme with Mr Hay's scheme. The B scheme gave 800 gallons a minute, or 480,000 m ten hours. That was at a cost of £66,306. If they put under that Mr Hay's scheme, which gave them 625 gallons per minute, or 375,000 gallons m the ten hours, or over 100,000 gallons more. The figures showed that Mr Reynolds' scheme cost £4900 more, but Mr Reynolds allowed for a reservoir to cost £3100, and then there were 800 house connections and more reticulation, which were not allowed mMr Hay's. Cr Lysnar went dn to show that under Mr Reynolds .scheme they got 155.000 gallons m ten hours more than Mr Hay's, and the former's cost £1527 less, besides having the advantage of all the extras mentioned Mr Reynolds had riddled the town with reticulation, so that they would have the same fire proteotion m all parts of the town as the Masonic hotel m Gisborne. Apart from this, there was a point which removed a cloud from the speaker m connection with the drainage scheme, and that was tliat. under Mr Reynolds there was provided sufficient water for sewerage purposes. Their fire engine would pump more out of the river than Mr Hay's scheme- would supply to the town. On' both points of price and quantity, Mr Reynolds' was the better scheme. The Council wanted to make sure that there would be no after-claps m the matter. He would like the Council to put the question to the engineer : "Supposing the Council adopted your B scheme, to what extent could you guarantee yjour estimates?" Some of the Council lorz seemed to think that this coidd not be done, but, m any wise, they could ask that the engineer should guarantee his estimates so far as his personal remuneration was concerned. The B scheme came to £70,406. " The amalgamated area had a total value of £636.000, which, with Id rate, would give £6252, or about £520 short, of the cost of a loan of £70,000 at 4£ per cent., but with the increase m capital value before the works were finished that deficit, of £520 would be absorbed. Cr Morrison: You could reduce it by the Freezing Works' £200. Cr Lysnar: That is hardly worth considering. Ttay will be very glad-to pay us more before the time comes. He

went on to say that a person with £3000 capital value of property would pay £12 a year for water, and a man with a cottage at £500 would pay £2 Is. With water 18s would be saved on £500 insurance, which would leave the yearly cost at £1 3s only. The C scheme would bo a little too much. If the Council put their seal on the A scheme, they would not be satisfied. Mr Hay's scheme was out of tlie question Altogether. The Council should not look at the engineer, but stick to solid facts, and they would be able to go to the ratepayers with a solid front. Cr Somervell said he had been taken with Mr Reynolds' B scheme, «s it went to the upper source. The whole of this was virgin bush not touched, but at the lower source it was all cleared country. Mr Hay, m his report, said if that creek were not sufficient, they could take m the other, and this creek was surrounded by cleared country, and it would be necessary to take a great deal of country. At the upper source a smaller area would be required. Mr Reynolds, again, broke his pressure at 250 ft* otherwise the taps would not be able to stand it, and tins would mean less expense m putting m hydrants and pipes and keeping them up. The C scheme was rather big for the Council. He pointed out that Mr Hay only stated that 625 gallons could be obtained, not that that was the limit. Itseemed so funny to argue that they could not get enough water m Mr Hay's scheme, when there was so much moi^e pressure. If they got lOOlbs -pressure, it was ridiculous to say they would not get as much water at lOOlbs as at 481bs. Why, a stream at that pressure would bore a hole through one. Cr Somervell supported Mr Reynolds' B scheme. Cr Whinray considered that Cr Lysn.tr had excelled himself m his lucid exposition of the question, and had left him practically nothing to say. He thought the Council had done a good night's work by the disquisition they had had. , Cr Harding said when lie asked for tho question to be adjourned he thought it wiser that they should come prepared to say .something m support of one or other of the schemes. He had not expected that the Freezing Works would give anything like £600 a year, as other Councillors thought, and had come prepared to support such a scheme as the C scheme of Mr Reynolds, or one with such a supply of water for the town. In going into figures, he found that if they got £600 I a year from the works, and with a penny rate, they would pull through under amalgamation. With his capital value it would cost him £50 a year, and he was not prepared to go m for anything more than Id rate. He Ihough't Hint MiHay's schema was insufficient for the supply of the town. In considering Mr Reynolds' scheme, the drainage should not be lost sight of. He wenit on to .<My that the Council should consider the quantity of water, and the question of which engineer did not affect him.. Ct Harding regretted they were not able to go m for the larger scheme, wliich would I have ensured them plenty of Mater for 30 years. Cr Morrison said the discussion had opened on Mr Hay's scheme, but had gone round to Mr Reynolds' B scheme, which the speaker, after consideration, had come to the meeting to support. This, he thought, was the better one. He did not think it necessary, however, to follow any engineer or scheme blindly. Cr Lysnar : You need notemplov an engineer at all, if you like. Cr Miller hoped the Council would not tie themselves to any engineer or scheme. There were good points m both schemes, and the Council could, pick them out. The only objection he took to Cr Lysrwr's remarks was that he started m rather a bumptious manner, as if nobody knew anything about it except himself, although he calmed down afterwards. Cr Miller pointed t>ut that the C scheme meant only £5000 more, which would give them plenty for sewerage and for industries. It seemed as if they were not m favor of getting water on' the terms before them, unless they got amalgamation. They were told now that 80 gallons per head were wanted, and Cr Miller favored the C scheme to meet their requirements. Cr He2>burn supported the B scheme, and also the upper source, which stood no chance of pollution. Cr Harding moved as an amendment, that Mr Reynolds' B scheme be considered, and, if carried, it could go to the ratepayers. Cr Johnston was m favor of the C scheme, which could be used for revenueraising purposes. It seemed that amalgamation was necessary, and the sooner it was brought about the better. Cr Whinray seconded, and the amendment was carried. Cr Lysnar moved that a Committee approach Mr C. J. Parker on the question of the cost of the land. Cr Morrison seconded, and urged that it. should be done speedily, to prevent any further bushfelling. There was some bush fallen which, if burnt, would delay reforestation for a longer time. The motion was carried, his Worship, Crs Harding, Kennedy, and Lysnar being nominated as the Committee. * Cr Lysnar moved that Mr Reynolds be asked on what terms he would cany out his scheme, and to what extent he was prepared to guarantee his estimates. Cr Johnston : He would not go beyond (he custom of his profession. Cr Somervell agreed with the first part of. the motion, but as to the second, would the Council give Mr Reynolds the difference, supposing he did the work for less than his estimate? Cr' Lysnar said he would sit much easier if a guarantee were obtained. Cr Kennedy said directly the scheme was dealt with, there was a blind rush to engage Mr Reynolds. It was not fair at all. Mr Reynolds came and put a scheme before them, wliich was not adopted. Then Mr Hay came and gave a report, which was adopted. Mr Reynolds' report, was then modified. Cr Lysnar : But Mr Reynolds suggested Te Arai first, and found it. Cr Kennedy: His. recommendation was to go to the lagoon source. I think someone ought to stand up for Mr Hay. I think he has been badly treated, and we ought to treat him with ordinary courtesy, which I do not consider we are doing. It is the first time we have dealt with the reports, and it means that Mr Hay's report is not to be considered. After employing him to come here, this is the way we treat him. I object to any resolution which decidedly engages Mr Reynolds. The Mayor : There is no necessity to entertain the. motion at the present time. The question of amalgamation will take some time to arrange, and there is a good deal to do before we require an engineer. When we are nearer a business point it will come up. This motion, no doubt, would be the first loop m tying the Council to an' engineer. Cr Whinray : I think we . have got on very well to-night. Cr Lysnar said he did not wish to press anything. Cr Whinray: It is simply the schemes. Hie Mayor : Now you are going further than that. You have opened communication with one man, and you are going further. Cr Lysnar replied that he would. have question put to the engineer before the scheme went to the ratepayers. He had no desire to force the matter unduly, and he. would willingly withdraw the motion. His Worship : I think it would be as well at present. Cr Lysnar said that- the drainage question should be brought up. Mr Hay's scheme was prohibitive. He urged that the question be delayed until they saw the effect of the pumps at Hawera, wliich, if successful, would save them a I good deal m the annual cost. They I should get their water first, and m view of Mr Reynolds' statement that there would be sufficient m the scheme to do their pumping, they could leave it over and take a lesson from Hawera. Cr Kennedy pointed out that the motion carried was to the effect that Mr Reynolds' B scheme should be considered. It had not been adopted Cr Whinray : It is splitting straws. It is the same thing. The Mayor supported Cr Kennedy's view of the matter. Cr. Lysnar: If there is any doubt it should be cleared up. The Clerk stated the original motion, was that the scheme be "considered." Cr Kennedy : The Council have no business to adopt it and jump it m that way. Cr Somervell moved that Mr Reynolds' B scheme hff adopted. Cr Kennedy was perfectly right. # The Council had only agreed to consider it. Cr Whinray seconded, and the motion was carried, *Cr Kennedy only voting against. The Council then, adjourned.