THE FLOOD SCARE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12464, 25 May 1911, Page 7

THE FLOOD SCARE.

EXAGGERATED MESSAGE

One of the effects that the telegram sent to the morning papers m tho Dominion (referred " to m a previous issue) was disclosed nt the Borough Council meeting last night, when the Mayor (Mr W. D. Lysnar) read the following telegram he had received from Mr Marchant : —

"Three contractors ,Jiavo inspected plans here, and expressed intention of tendering. They., are scared by reports of difficulties under day labor construction, and by recent flood. I expect tenders to bp high hi' consequence. A thpiisand. piticrf the work had not been' left alone and never touched until contracted for." '

The Mayor aaid it' Was to be very much regretted that a telegram saying that very great damage Had Been dorio to the sewerage works should have boon sent abroad. Since his return, from Wellington he found Chat there had been no damage done "at all except the stoppage- of tho work. by the vain;" He thought it 'Was very much to be' regretted that flaring press reports should go out from' one end of the Dominion to the other, when contractors were considering tenders.

Cr. Barton asked if the pre/se wire did as much damage as the. Mayor's, photographs of water m the trenches. The Mayor,. said the water m tjie tren ches did not affect the contractors. It waß evident th'atilhe information was coming from somo-vpfttojon m authority. The Mayor suggested Atyit tho Engineer and his officers should be instructed not to giyo .information' to the press excepting through tho Council. Cr. Pcttio: That is rather a reflection on the Engineer. .

Cr. Barton-: Never mind that. Neither I nor any othoV Councillor believo the Engineer will divulge information that he should not. When he does, then it will be time for ,us to interfere.

The Mayor remarked that ho had seen those connected with the local papers about publishing 1 too much information about the seweragY) works, and since then not so much "'had Ibe'eii said about it. It was unfortunate that at this time such a message should have beon sent out. . .- •'. ; :.•