WATERWORKS

Southland Times, Issue 20011, 27 October 1926, Page 6

WATERWORKS

A NEW PUMP COUNCIL’S DISCUSSION . CLAUSE PASSES BY ONE VOTE The vexed question of Invercargill’s prater supply came up for consideration at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening when the following clause in the Works Committee’s report came to be adopted— Having considered the tenders received for the supply and delivery of pumps for the waterworks, and recommend the tender submitted by John Chambers and Sons, Ltd., for one Rees-Roturbo pump, Parkinson 45 h p. motor, to be shipped in 12 weeks, price £849, be accepted, as recommended by the Town Engineer; cost to be charged against the £2OOO allocated for contingencies in the waterworks estimates. •In connection with this clause, Messrs A. and T. Burt wrote that they had noticed in the council reports that the Town Engineer had recommended a “Rees-Roturbo” pump to be purchased at £849. They would be interested to learn on what grounds a pump built specially to the Town Engineer’s specifications by the world-famous engineers —the Worthington-Simpson Co., of London —at considerably less cost, should have been passed over, especially when workmanship and performance were guaranteed. Attention was drawn to the fact that in the specifications obtained by them there was no stipulation that the lowest tender should not receive the order. The Town Clerk mentioned that another firm had written similarly, but the letter had been received too late to come before the Council. When the clause came to be passed, Councillor Geddes, as chairman of the committee, explained in connection with the recommendation, that Mr Stewart had recommended that particular pump. There were more than 150 such pumps in New Zealand working most satisfactorily from Auckland to Ocean Beach. He regretted that the two committees seemed to be working at cross purposes. The position in regard to the water supply was that should a break occur a serious shortage would be threatened. Councillor Cooper considered that the committee had adopted an unbusinesslike method in dealing with the question. Installing the pump was putting the cart before the horse, and was a waste of public money. He would not support the clause. Cr. Tattersfield asked where it was proposed to get the water 'from. The Mayor said that they had been told over and over again that there was plenty of water if they went low enough. Cr. Boyes said that those not on the committee were in the dark. They did not want to vote for a pump if the water was not there. The Mayor explained that the present pump could not get down any lower, but the new pump would. There was plenty of water in the bore they were told. Cr. Miller said that fhey were not getting any further. He had urged the committee to wait until they’ got an answer to their questions. “The engineer is not present to-night, but if he were I would tell him that his knowledge of pumps was at a loss,” he went on. Councillor Cooper had kept on stating that the new pump would not be feasible. He probably got his information from the waterworks engineer, and that gentleman’s opinion was entitled to consideration. The pump evidently could not be installed in the bore while the present one was working. Mr Fox had said he thought it could be done. The Mayor: He distinctly said it could be done. Cr. Miller continued that Mr Fox admitted he was not a mechanic. The committee should take the explanation of Mr McCarthy, who was on the job. They should wait until Mr Stewart’s reply and until information had been obtained from the waterworks engineer. Cr. Tapley said that the engineer had asked for a stand-by plant. The most efficient pump had been recommended by the committee. They would never arrive at finality by dilly-dallying with the ordering of the pump. The quantity of water in the. bore should be put to the test by installing the pump. Cr. Campbell agreed that more pumps were wanted, but there was nowhere to put them. Cr. Geddes, in reply, said that the opponents of the pump did not look far enough ahead. It would be mid-April before the pump could be ready for installation, and by then the committee, profiting by information received, would have a place to put it. There should be no further delay. The clause was then passed by 6 votes to 5, the Mayor and Crs. Geddes, Broad, Tapley, Winter and Sheehan voting for it, and Crs. Boyes, Cooper, Campbell, Miller and Tattersfield against it.