THE BURST TANK.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 7

THE BURST TANK.

CAUSE OF THE M..SHAP.

DISCUSSED Wi CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the questions involved in the bursting of the new tank for hot water in the City Council's yards, l'reeent —The Mayor (Mr H. Holland), and Crs. H. J. Otley, H. Hunter. A. Williains, J. W. Beanland, J. McCullough, D. G. Sullivan, W. H. Cooper, i. S. Taylor, J. R. Hayward, E. Peek, 3. Scott, J. McCombs, M.P., J. Reynolds, and F. Burgoyne. The Electricity Committee reported jn the damage done, and stated it had authorised the rebuilding of the wall of '■he storage battery room, the cost being jstimatcd at £130. The old storage jattery had been rendered useless, but provision for a now battery had been made in tho last loan authorised, and tenders would be called forthwith. Tho cost of cleaning up tho wreckage would bo met by tho sale of old lead plates as scrap. Tho City Surveyor reported that the cause of the mishap was the faulty welding of the tank bands. The cost >f re-erecting the tank would be £100. Tho .Mayor eaid that there wore two things they had to decide first—one was whether the meeting should be held in ;ommitteo, and secondly, whether it yould be necessary for the Council to tall in an outside expert. If 60, then it would be well not to discuss details ir to attempt to arrive at the cause of tho accident. Cr. Huntor moved that the meeting bo in open Council, and this was agreed to. - Tho Mayor said that another question to be oonsidered was whether, during the winter, it might not be wise to ask the public to allow, the baths to be closcd on Monday till the evening, as otherwise it would be necessary to employ Sunday labour. Cr. Scott suggested that in view of tho important proposals made they should have time to consider them, ana so postpono this meeting. Or. Williams asked if the contractor had been asked for his opinion on the matter. The Mayor: No; he has not been officially asked. Cr. Williams: Woll, as it was erected by tender I think he should be asked. Cr. Hunter said ho thought they should havo expert opinion on the question, and also tho contractor's view. Ho would thcrefoi •• iaove thai they obtain expert opinion in regard 'to the construction of the tank, with a view to solving the problem of the bursting, and also obtain a report from the contractor. Cr. Scott said: that tho cause of the bursting was plainly stated in one of the reports. AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT. The Mayor stated that the man who did tho ironwork—not tho contractor— had called upon him that morning, and made a statement which, however, he did not feel at liberty to place before tho open Council. Cr. Sullivan supported the idea of securing an independent report. He approved of the leport of the Electricity Committee, and suggested that they should refer the question of overcoming tho difficulty of heating tho bath for Mondays to tho Baths Committee. Cr. Taylor said that the accident had occur/ed, and there seemed to be very littlo use in discussing how it occurred. He raised the question of replacing the tank at all, as ne understood Mr Stark had some new ideas as to the heating of tho bath, which would render the hotvater tank unnecessary. • This was also in opportune time to consider the queslion of tho. morgue, which had been in inconvenience on thart site. Cr. Hayward moved that the report of tho Electricity Committee be adopted. Cr. Cooper seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. In answer to a question,, the Mayor stated that new batteries, which would have been necessary in any case, would cost £4000. The Council had also received an offor of a stoel tank of 80,000 gallojfs oapacity, for £500. This nad been imported for Taranaki oil, and had' never been put together, but wa« still in bond. This offer would be considered by tho committee. AN OUTSIDE EXPERT. Cr. Sullivan moved that the opinion of an export bp secured. They had to give tho public a guarantee that nothing of the nature of "graft" was obtaining in tho Council. ■ . Councillors: "What graft? Cr. Sullivan: I should be 6arry to suggest even remotely that there has boen anything of tho sort, but tho surest way to reassure, tho public is to havo an independent opinion. Cr. Scott said they needed no outside exports, but they should find out who was responsible. To find this out thev had their own engineer, who could tefi them what was the matter. Cr. McCombs said they must have an outside opinion to satisfy the public. If the job was done according to specifications then obviously the specificju tions were wrong. Tho public would aot he satisfied with tho bare statement) ihat there was faulty welding. Cr. McCullough said he would decline :o add to their expense by supporting ihis proposal. Tho Mayor said that ho was not in favour of securing an expert's opinion. The iron was New Zealand make. Three or four firms had been concerned in the erection of tho tank. One supplied the , Iron, another welded it, and a third put the bands and bolts on. Or. Taylor moved as an amendment I that tho question be referred to the Oaths Committee to hold aii enquiry, and report to tho next meeting of the Council. Cr. Williams seoonded tho amendment. Cc. Sullivan, in reply, said it was absurd to suggest that the report of their own officers, who had themselves drawn up tbe_ specifications, would satisfy tho public. , The amendment was carried on the ' roices. THE MORGUE. ' The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote suggesting that the Board ancT*tne Council should co-operate in tho provision of a suitable morgue, preferably in the .Hospital grounds. The Town Clerk said that orrangeoonts had been made for the current of the Hospital morgue. Cr. McCullough moved that the matter be referred to tho Works Committee for a report. Cr. Otley seconded the motion, which vas carried unanimously.