THE COST OF THE WATER PIPES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 2419, 30 April 1874, Page 2

THE COST OF THE WATER PIPES.

(To the Editor oj tfie Chronicle.) Wanganui April 27th, 1874. Sib, — It was with a great amount of pleasure not unmixed with surprise that I read your able expose of our popularity hunting " Borough Consulting Engineer's " attempt j to cover himself with glory because his calculations as to the cost of water works erred £500, on the right side fortunately for him and the Borough. It has been so long since j the learned and verbose gentleman's prof es- \ sional capabilities have been criticised, owing no doubt to the gentlemanly way he sat on , his last criticiser by inainuating that the lat- : ter's parents were among those whose ." • • , • • • emigration

Proved most beneficial to the British Nation," That I wonder at your temerity in laying bare the flimsy nature of his pretensions. | Seriously, Sir, it is high time the people of i Wanganui were made aware through the press of how the affairs of the ; Borough are being handled. 'It seems to me that Millar, F.S.A., is supreme and has unlimited power. , how beneficially he uses it you have clearly demonstrated in this morning's issue of your valuable journal. Lately the Council has taken heart of grace and tightened its hold on the fractious one who no sooner feels the | curb than he is all docility:, vide his report to the I Couucil on Friday last in which he flatters Cr ■ Watt most skilfully with a view perhaps to | win that gentlemen's support; but he mis- | takes his man- this time. He inav flatter a Beaven or a Pharazyn over but I doubt his ability to blind so far seeing a man as Cr Watt who has taken the right course mth Mr Millar who is getting wonderfully polite in his reports all of a sudden. I trust the Council will take your advice and write to Mr Tate and demand from that gentleman a full explanation as to how it came about he let the contract for pipes at so high a figure, It certainly has a most suspicious appearance and needs explanation. May I ask how it comes that the concrete work at the outlet of the Harrison street drain is not to be let by public tender as directed by the Act? Is it because by so doing Mr Greenwood might not be employed by the successful -tenderer and still remain off the Borough pay sheets ? I can imagine worse calamities than even the latter occurrence ! It was the general belief that Mr Pharazyns eLction was to be the signal for a vigorous crusade against all irregularities in the method of carrying out the work of Borough Government but it seems he has listened to the voice of the charmer and been turned from his purpose. As the time is fast drawing near when we shall have an opportnnity of replacing if needs be three of our Borough representatives I earnestly desire that my fellow burgesses will watch well the course of intervening events so -is to be ready to give effect through the ballot box to their opinions regarding those who trifle with the Borough interests. It is high time the eloquence of Messrs Brown and Chad wick was relegated .to a more congenial sphere and their places filled up by men on whom the public can bestow a little more respect. As public men they are totally out of place and it would be doing them both a real kindness to relieve them of their Municipal duties. — I am, &c. A Burgess. -* — — —