WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 924, 24 June 1903, Page 2

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

A L Li >J A A vU L - Tl' .) A" KAI6ITD. At r, : .0 liOroiiAi A cm.-icil meeting last night ;• • : ;-T,.v. j .'crier w.i< received from t he- Ji .hvjl'u buliciior, Air K. J. Chr»,i> : - *• j!. v. n.:or • ri:> pci] : A? instructed, I iiu\c ccc • ... i.i.iuof of the no tiee | to lot i-t tep ivtf .. -u.i by you to me. Tut i.o, p >ii ... !.t . .;-j; «..>:• r the PiCnMOi:.- of " J. 1.0 i,. jjj,,. ... Ll«:|s ACi, Uhl," .yhicu rtf,. e.L out po.c-K- t.i\ rt—. •at s tba: fu.it o. •• The Municipal j i I 1:.. ims Act, 190u,' under «ui.'i tUt | p-VLliOUti poii \wts taken, i •• .vij fbcimi 1, Li -action s, of " The Lncai Jijolts Loan Act, 19u1,” provides that u;t notice snail set forth tile particular uiut. risking to be engaged in ; and i: is pcs •on , i tin,lit, mat tin- reference to the- drainage sc,it.ne should he move ! sp.cifie.

“ Toe in.ist iiupcn'iiut point, however, is whether the water supply is tor the benelit of some defined portion of tiie district, and, if so, whether the steps should not he limited to the part affected, and the poll taken in respect of that part only. This also applys to the drainage scheme. Vide section 3 of “ The Local Bodies Loans Act, 19u1.” The point is not absolutely free irom doubt, hut I maintain that bout schemes must he held to atlect me whole Borough in us entirety. Toe acquisition of the sit?, the ivories, and the Cost thereof, taken together with IUo general scheme, appears to me to be lor tne common benefit of the whole Borough.

•• It is probable that some parts of tile Borough will not be immediately served with water and drainage, but I understand tiie mains are to be extended as required. Tiie service rate is, of course, confined to the statutory limit of out hundred yards. •‘As tiie point is doubtful, it might be prudent, and I would suggest that further opinion be taken. This would occasion very little delay, and would not be eusliy. " I observe that the special rate is one shilling and sixpence, is it dear, as a matiei: of iact, that tms rale, together with ttie eiilimaleu water rate, is sufficiently high to provide lor the annual eiiuige ol ±33752 Tou must aisu bear in mind section 3 ot " The I.ucal Bodies Loans Amendment Act, 1902,” which provides that every special rate made us security for a loan shall be so calculated as to yield 10 per centum more than the annual or other charges in respect of the loan. “ The Cuuncil, under the Public Works Acts, having acquired the water woiks site, it might be wed to consider what would be the position if tho new poll should not be earned.

A question might then arise : Is the firsl one still in existence or not2”

Tho Mayor said they hid not seem to be able to move round without finding some defocts.

(Jr Morrison asked whether the previous poll had been taken without the Solicitor’s opinion being obtained. The Mayor said that tho Solicitor had drafted the advertisement.

Or Miller said the Solicitor gave his own opinion clearly enough ; fie had no doubt, but thought further advico should be obtained, it was a proper luttor. Or Whim-ay : Yes, a very wise one.

Cl- Lysuar moved that the recommendation be adopted. xYt the same time it was only lair to the Solicitor to say that his opinion had not been taken prior to the lust poli. Ho (Or Lysnur) had moved for a written opinion to bo obtained from tho Solicitor, but was outvoted. Had tho loan bee/a gouo ou with, as he pointed out, tne proceedings would not have stood in law. It was better to get the opinion now than to have a hotchpotch and a lot of oispeuse. Or Somervell seconded the motion. Cr Lysuar said that thoro was no doubt tho schemes were not lor the benefit ot tho whole Ddruugh. Or Miller : That is what you say. Continuing, he said they were determined to have the lull facts placed before the people, and much more information than would be appreciated by thoir opponents. The Mayor was tiie moving spirit in the matter, and tho obtaining of this opinion probably emanated irom those who were obtaining the lull information. Or Lysuar asked why the opinion was not obtained two years ago. Or Miller said mat tho opinion of their solicitor had always been tho same. He had no doubt now, but as a few people had ho said they should got another opinion. There was no use of the opponents trying to make capital out of this. They would have tho lull details. Or Johnston said one point should be settled as to whether, in case of the poll for authority to borrow at 4j per cent being lost, would the old authority to borrow at 4 per cent still stand. Ho thought they should go to tho poll with a clean sheet, to accept or reject the 4& per cent authority. The Mayor : That is what we shall do. Or Miller : We cannot declare the old poll off, but ws can get that phase includod in the opinion to be obtained. Or Johuston: Let it be part of the opinion. The Mayor said he supposed that was why the point was mentioned. Or Lysnar said it was quits clear they had not taken Waibirere under the loan. Or Miller said they quite understood all along that they had not. There was no uso of Cr Lysnar trying to make capital out of that, for he could not do so. Or Lysnar : If we are getting the truth out hoiv can it be called making capital ? Or Miller said that some people did not want to get tho truth out. Or Lysnar : We are commencing to get it now.

Cr Miller : You will get more of the truth than you want. Cr Lysuar : More than you want. When they found they had to pay £21)00 to £3OOO for NVaibirere they would squeak. Die Mayor pretested against any Councillor naming such a sum. It was not proper for any Councillor to prejudice the Council. Or Lvsnar said be did not wish to say

anything to injure the Council in regard to values, but the matter had been discussed many times without taking exception to it. Cr Harding said he had sat on the Conncil for 14 or 15 years, seeking to get a water supply for the borough, and to his mind it was most deplorable that they should have this little quibbic Cr Lysnar : It is not a little quibble. Cr Harding : It is a little quibble. If it were not for you we would not have heard of the question. You are an engineer, solicitor, and everything else. Though he (Cr Harding) bad sat there for 14 years they had not been ah,e to get it yet Cr Lysnar : Contrary to law. Cr Harding : These questions are raised by yourself. Cr Lysnar: You should see and comply with the law.

Cr Harding said as far as he was concerned they could get as many solicitors’ opinions as they liked, but he did not like to see money frittered away, and to go on paying for engineers and solicitors without getting any nearer. Were they to continue in this state for ever ? He was much astonished at what Cr Whinray had said at the ratepayers’ meeting. No Councillor had the welfare of the borough so much at heart, but since the Motu business had come up he did not seem to be rational. (Laugnter.) If the solicitor had any doubt on the point raised, by all means let him get it ; let- him get the opinion of the best solicitor in New Zealand.

Cr Hepburn agreed to the solicitor's suggestion, out would the opinion be accepted when they obtained it '! They had goi the opinion oi one of the best engineers in New Zealand, which he had said he would abide by, but that had not satisfied some Councillors.

After further remarks, the motion was carried unanimously.