WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 317, 18 January 1902, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF OPPONENTS OF PRESENT SCHEME.

There was a crowded meeting at Mr Lysnar’s office last evening. Those present were formed into a large committee. A considerable amount of detail arrangements were discussed and decided in regard to the approaching poll, in order to counteract the action of the committee set up 11 to foist these problematical schemes on the unthinking ratepayers.” There was a strong expression of opinion that many ratepayers are being mislead by erroneous statements made by the supporters of the present proposed schemes, which were unani-

mously considered by the meeting to be imprudent and doubtful, and it was considered incumbent on the committee to take such steps as they considered advisable to place the facts in a fair and dear manner before the ratepayers, and particularly to see | that all ratepayers are impressed w th the importance and necessity of recording their votes, as by their absence they in effect vote for the present schemes, a bare majority of those, who vote carrying it. A sub-committee was appointed consisting of Messrs Geo. MaUhewson, P. Maher, T. B. -Sweet, M. G. Nasmith, Arthur Wade, J. W, Whinray, and W. I). Lysnar, to carry out certain detail work, including the arranging for a party to visit the Waihirere source, and to at once gauge the present flow, and have the same photographed for the guidance of those ratepayers who are unable to visit the source. At the same time the committee urge ail

who can to visit the locality themselves, and exercise their commonsense before casting their votes. In view of the action taken by the supporters of the present schemes, it was considered advisable to provide a fund to defray the necessary expense to combat “ the erroneous impressions now being circulated,” and the committee consider it incumbent on all who are well wishers of this fair town not to neglect the important duties devolving upon them regarding these important- questions. The committee say they feel confident that when the matter is calmly and dispassionately weighed by the ratepayers, they will reject the “ present doubtful and expensive schemes, for which they may be saddled for the next forty years, and so vitiate tiie introduction and carrying out of a less expensive and more reliable scheme, which would tend to enhance the value and prosperity of the town, and would increase the general prosperity instead of depreciating the value of property and retarding prosperity, which they consider tiie present schemes will do.” Tho general committee is to meet again on Monday evening at 7.30 o’clock at Mr W. D. Lysnar’s office. All the opponents of the present scheme are cordially invited to attend.

i.To the Editor of the Times.) Sir, —I have read and re-read a letter under the' signature of W. D. Lysnar, which appears in to-day’s issue of yaur paper. In the heading of his circular that gentleman states he encloses a copy of the facts and figures which he has collected. I may be very dull of comprehension, but, sir, the main fact and figures that I can discover is that Mr L. promised to send some Waimata river water to Dr. Valentine at Wellington in order that it might ire analysed. Fact No. 1. Then Mr L. proceeds to state that lie kept his promise in so far as to procure the bottle. Fact No. 2. Then he tells us further that he actually went so far as to pay for the bottle. Fact ;No. 3. But the last sad fact is that "he omitted to fulfil his promise up to the present, though lie had many times intended to obtain The water and send it to Dr Valentine. Fact No 4. Now, sir, after consideration of the above-named facts, such as would lie suited to the pen of a Third Standard .child, surely Mr L. considers it must be clearly evident to the most obtuse that no figures can be needed to satisfy any further the gullible people of Gisborne. Hence their entire absence is excusable from the above-named letter of Mr Lysnar. As I concluded the perusal of such a precious document I thought that under his signature might very appropriately be written “ The Little Would-be Dictator for Gisborne.” Possibly Mr L. may have remembered that some of the’Waimata river water was sent to Wellington (so I am informed), and after analysis was declared to he utterly unfit for drinking purposes.— I am, etc., J. PECKOVER. Gisborne, January 17, 1902.

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR. (To the Editor of the Times.) Sir, 41 . An impression has apparently been created in the public mind and has been industriously encouraged by the opponents to the present loan proposals that no definite scheme of drainage and treatment- of sewage has been formulated, and that the Council is likely to depart from the suggestion made bv Mr Me-stayer. I think therefore it should be made clear that the Council is now asking the public to support them in carrying out the schemes for both Water and Drainage as furnished by Mr Mestayer. For general information I supply the main head of Mr Mestayer’s report and estimate ; and trust this may clear up any doubts that may exist as to the proposed work and the intention of the Council to give effect thereto. Mr Mestayer presented a report embodying estimates for a water supply from Waihirere to serve a population qf 17,000 at a cost of £44,500 with reticulation at a cost of £11,470, and a similar drainage system at a cost of £29,250, making a grand total of £85,220. Feeling that the amount would he too heavy a burden upon the community the Council requested Mr Mestayer to modify his estimates to a basis of 10,000 population if it could be satisfactorily accomplished at a cost of not more than £65,000 for the whole In response to this request Mr Mestayer furnished estimates as follows : Water Supply from Waihirere. Reservoir to hold 30 million gallons Supply main, Bin diameter ... 12,500 Peticulation 9,500 £30,000

Drainage Scheme. Pipes, sewers, etc. ... ...£12,500 Engines, compressors, iron mains, buildings, etc 13,750 Septic tank and outfall sewer near nightsoil depot ... 1,750 House connections in streets ... 2,000 £30,000

Making a grand total of £60,000 In order to secure the advantages of the 12in main embodied in tho original draft, and cover other contingencies, the Council added £SOOO to this sum, and a further sum of £IO,OOO was included in the loan, as stated in the advertisement, for forming and metalling roads, bringing the grand total of the loan to £>( 5)000. The scope of the drainage and reticulation schemes is shown on the rough plan which has been prepared by the Householders’ Committee, and which is displayed at- Mr Miller’s shop. J. Townley, Mayor.