WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8944, 19 December 1907, Page 5

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

SPECIAL MEETING OF BOROUGH

COUNCIL,

PROPOSAL TO OBTAIN INDEPENDENT REPORT CONSIDERED.

MR LAING-MEASON'S OFFER

ACCEPTED

A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Couucil was held last evening to consider a reply received from Mr G. Laiug-Meason, Civil Engineer, of Wellington to a request from the Couucil to quote a fee for a report on the proposed extension of the water and drainage systems of the Borough. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) presided, aud Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, A. Haughey, J. O. Ewington, J. Prentice and J. Yarr were also present.

Mr Laing-Measou, iv his letter, stated that ho would be willing to furnish a comprehensive report, with estimates of cost ou the proposal at a cost of £150, including all travelling aud other personal expenses, the Borough Council to bear the cost of any aualysis that may be necessary, and of auy labour or other expenses connected with the investigations. Mr Laiug-Meason further stated that he understood lie would bo giveu access to all plans, levels, reports, or other data couuected with the works, now in the Council's possession. He would be able to commence the preliminary investigations shortly, and would submit his report on or before April Ist, 1908. The Mayor moved that the offer be accepted. He considered that the terms were very reasonable.

Cr Temple thought that £150 was a large sum to pay when the Council already had two reports on the subject—one by Mr Napier Bell and another from Mr Douglas Dobsou. He said that these reports might be used with advantage by Mr LaiugMeason, aud tho amendments by him then paid for. Cr Elliott said that Mr Dobson's water report was very comprehensive, aud the two engineers who had already reported would surely, between them, supply a good deal of what the Council required, aud a further report should therefore be made less expensive

Cr Ewiugtou was opposed to paying so large a sum when a good deal of the work had already been accomplished. Further, it was "a, question whether the Couucil was getting the best advice that could be obtaiued. Mr LaiugMeason was credited by the Mayor at last meetiug with haviug a large number of works iv baud—large works which tho speaker had good authority for saying he had not in hand. The speaker thought that Mr Leslie Reynolds should first be given an opportunity to report, aud as far as experts went, there were engineers in New Zealaud, who had carried out bigger works than Mr Laing-Measou.

Cr Pauling said lie understood that wheu it was decided to procure expert opinion it was understood by Councillors that the new report was to verify and amplify the reports already held by the Couucil. It was pointed out previously' that such an important work required very full aud accurate detail, aud it was to be sure of its ground that the Couucil proposed taking the step. Cr Haughey supported the motion, aud said that it would be better for the town if Mr Laiug-Measou's report could be down earlier thau he said it would. He thought the sum asked by Mr Laiug-Meason was a very reasonable one.

Cr Ewiugtou moved, as au amendment, that Mr Leslie Reynolds be asked to furnish a report. He said that Mr Reynolds had done good work in the past aud was entitled to the consideration of the Council, and, what was more important, the speaker had reason to believe that a considerable sum would be saved to the Council. Cr Elliott seconded the motion. Crs Yarr aud Prentice considered the motion a device to waste time, aud both speakers enlarged ou the necessity for pushing on the efficient and complete drainage of tbe Borough. The amendment was put and lost, •being opposed by Crs Pauling, Haughey, Prentice aud Yarr. Cr Ewiugtou moved a further amendment that Mr Laing-Meason's offer be not accepted until he be further written to, aud more explicit detail supplied by him as to what nature of report he would supply. The amendment was not seconded, and the motion that Mr LaingMeason's offer be accepted was put aud carried on the voices.

To-day Cr Ewiugtou handed in a notice of motiou to the Town Clerk, which will come on at next ordinary meeting of the Council, a mouth from last night. Cr Ewiugton intends to move that the motiou to engage Mr Laing-Meason to furnish a report on the water aud drainage scheme be resciuded.