BOROUGH SEWERAGE.

Waipa Post, Volume XIX, Issue 1055, 15 February 1921, Page 5

BOROUGH SEWERAGE.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

MORE LABOUR NEEDED,

The sewerage engineers (Messrs Toogood, Holmes, and Jones) reported to last night’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council that the progress now being made with the Park Road system was not sufficient to enable the work there to be finished before the weather broke, and

more men must be found. They cou'ld not, however, advise the Council to depart from the stand that only award wages were to be paid, as they were confident that wages moist decline, and Po make a bad start in this respect would bring much trouble later. The draining of the country was provery satisfactorily, and the tank would be quite safe. It was hoped that the bottom of the tank would be laid in about two weeks’

;ime and the sludge drains connected

thereto. This would finish the most difficult portion 'of the work. The country was standing well where drained, and if good progress is made next month the worst of the present troubles should be over. The pipes now laid (about three chains) were holding their position, and there was no fear of being able to put down a •successful sewer, provided the work was pushed through before the bad weather set in. The engineers therefore asked that special efforts be used

to secure more labour. They would require to know'at an early date if they could legally start work at the main septic tank. Gr Lawson asked whether it would be possible to let the earthwork by tender. Men at the present time were apt to do as little work as possible for the highest available pay. If the work was let by contract the men would put the best effort forward to do more work.

The engineer said there Was the objection of difficult country being experienced. Cr Bygrave thought there should be greater expedition. If the removal of the top part of the trench was done by contract the Council’s men could go down to the varying depths. There was a danger of not getting out of the bad country before the wet weather came.

The Mayor thought that the ques-

tion of precedent had to be considered. But there seemed no reason why the Council should not strive to get tenders and more day labour as well. The foreman said there should be no difficulty when the pipes were laid through the paddock up to Park Road. The trouble in the trench was not because of the side falling in; they, could timber sides to prevent that. But the earth came up from the bottom of the trench, and this went on until the pipes were laid and the filling put back again. Finally it was left to the works' committee to arrange any system that would expedite the .work, either tenders to be let or additional day labour to be engaged.