A DROWNED ASSET.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVI, Issue 14922, 14 December 1912, Page 9

A DROWNED ASSET.

OTTPUA LAGOON, REPORT TO BE OBTAINED. Further discussion took place at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, on the question of draining the Otipua Lagoon reserve, which, is owned by the Council. Councillor Green moved that Mr Couston, C.E., of Dnnedin, be asked to report on the best means of draining the Otipua Lagoon. He said that even if this work cost £SOO or £6OO it should be undertaken. The matter should be dealt with at once, as the vote on the Estimates would lapse in March nest. Councillor Pearson opposed the motion. There was no necessity to spend £IOO on such a report, when „he Council's nevr engineer would be able to supply it. To engage an outside engineer would simply be a waste of money. He would like to see the lagoon drained , and thought thev should make application for the Government grant of £SOO at once. Councillor Angland asked what conditions attached to the Government grant of £SOO. The Mayor said the only condition was that the lagoon should be drained under a plan approved bv the Government. Councillors Seajey and Sbillito agreed that the lagoon should be drained, but said that they should get a. report from their new engineer. Councillor Reader said thev should * show that the £SOO was really necessary before they apppb'ed for .t Mr Marchant had told them that the lagoon could be drained for £750 He (the speaker) thought they should take the advice of their present engineer, who had had considerable experience in this kind of work. Councillor Higgins had previously suggested that Mr Leeder's opinion be obtained. Councillor Satterthwaite s:ifd that he would like to get the ooinion of their new engineer, but could ther wait so long? He understood that if - they had not got the work in hand by March 31 the Government vote would lapse. The Town Clerk said ihat .*as so. The Mayor said that a practical farmer had told him that if i,he lagoon was drained he would be prepared to give £1 per acre per annum for the 100 acres on the town side or the creek. There would be -50 acr% worth fully as much on the other .side of the creek. Councillor Sealey recalled the ffect that the late Mr Seddon had told them that before they could get this £coo the work would have to be started. The Town Clerk mentioued that a Government engineer, Mr Hol.nes, bad reported on the draining of the lagoon in 1906, and his report practieaUv endorsed that by Mr Marchant. Councillor Higgins said he had been told by one of those who was supposed to have made an offer some years ago, that the Council had refused £l7O lent per annum for the lagoon reserve. If that were so the Council was surely slow in grasping its opportunely. The Mayor said he did 'lot remember any such offer being made. Councillor ShiUito said that dra'ning the lagoon would be a very tricky bit of work, and the incom'ng enzineer' should take a certain amount _of i responsibility in connection with it. Councillor Angland proposed that the new engineer to the Couacil be appointed to report as to the best means of draining the Oipua lagoon. Ho spoke against the empioyaont of an outside engineer. It would fee a costly work, and the Council . itifght put their foot into it badly if they started it simply to get the £SOO from the Government. The vork vouhi very likely cast £2OOO, and they (should be very careful before *hey wasted the ratepayers' money. There wSs no need to rush the work which oonM, 'very well stand over for the ?a&w engineer to report upon. Councillor Higgins proposed a further amendment that the Council's new engineer and the Council's jjesent engineer be asked to report on the draining of the Lagoon. Mr Reader spoke in support of this. On a vote being taken Councillor Angland's proposal was earrijd.