WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 936, 8 July 1903, Page 2

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

o WAIHIRERE V. WAIMATA

A LIVELY MEETING

ADDRESSES BY BOROUGH CANDIDATES.

A public meeting was held in the Academy of Music last evening, for v the purpose of discussing the ques- I lion of water and drainage in its r bearing on the Borough election to b be held to-day. There was a large d attendance, Mr W. L. Rees presiding s The meeting towards the close was c particularly lively. t In opening the proceedings, the 1 Chairman said he could not allow 1 the opportunity to pass with- s out marking it as one of the most £ important occasions in the history c of the place. They were called to- < gether again to discuss questions 1 which had been settled by scientific i opinion, and the carrying out '■ of i which the ratepayers had agreed to. 1 If Gisborne was to progress they 1 must; have water and drainage. He < was surprised to read the remarks or Captain Tucker in regard to the 1 loan proposals and the harbor. He (Mr Rees) was prepared to stand by the expert opinion in regard to Waihirere. If they engaged an engineer, they should stand by him. By advertisement signed by Captain Tucker, Messrs Lysnar, Whinray and others, they were not asked to sup- < pert 'a gentleman who had no opinions of his own. They were asked 1 to rip up the whole question, and go back a period of five years. Mr Rees then called upon the candidates to address the meeting, first naming Mr East. Mr East, who was received with applause, expressed pleasure at being allowed to give an address upon the subject which had been before the public for the last twenty-five years. At different times during the interval tile question ul water supply atm drainage had been discussed. Tne matter was now agaiu before tnotu, and he desired to diseuss it from a business point ol view. He recognised that there was a difficulty in obtaining a water supply tor Gisborne. He was sorry that Mr Rees had sought to belittle him that evening, but he aid not wisn tuat fact to prejudice the chairman in the eyes of those present. (Applause). He was not tied to unj scheme. Mr Rees might consider this a weakness, but he (the speaker) regarded it as strength. He did not look upon Wui hirere as a adequate source of supply, neither did he view Waimata as a perfect supply. The drawback to Waihiiwe was that there was not sufficient water. (Ap plause). l'he YVaihirero would fail to supply them when they moat required it. (Hear, hear). The Waimata had three objections ; one being tnat pumping was required, the second that there was close settlement on its banks, and tho third the questionable quality of the water. They should, therelore, endeavor to do the best thing under the circumstances, and ihat was to obtain a full and comprehensive report from a competent engineer in regard to the Waimata odieme. They should get all the details of the Waimata scheme us they had done in the case of Waihirere. There was a large minority in Gisborne against Waihirero. A very large proportion of the business-men of Glaustone road were opposed to Waihirore, and in favor ol Waimata. (Applause). In the course of

a few weeks a report could be prepared from Mr Reynolds or some other eminent

engineer. What eke town was suffering from was procrastination in regard to obtaining water and drainuge. “ The Council has done nothing,” remarked Mr East. “It is said that they are iiko a lot of old women, but I do not think that women wouid make such a mess of things as the Council has done.” (Applause.; Continuing, Mr East referred to remarks made by tne Rev. H. Wiliiams and others in regard to Waihirere, and added that until these contradictions were overcome they could not expect to make much progress. At this stage Mr A. F. Matthews rose and sought to roply to a remark made by Mr East, but the Chairman called him to order.

Continuing, Mr East urged that efforts should bo made to get Mr Reynolds to report on the YVaimata, and he would be willing to contribute towards the cost of oDtaining this opinion, He was in favor of Mr Mestayer’s drainage scheme for Gisborne, and would support it unless a better scheme was brought forward. He desirod to see greater activity in public affairs. A Voice: No, it is water we want. (Laughter.) In conclusion Mr East said that he warned to see something done quickly and well.

Mr A. Ff Kennedy, who on rising. Having represented you in the Coun-

cil for some eight years, I have no

was greeted with applause, said : hesitation in coming before you at this juncture, and offering my services with the object of resisting determined efforts that are being made to keep our city in the same old groove, resting under the very

damning reproach of insanitation, on account of the absence of water and drainage® It is not my intention to-night to go into a wearisome disquisition in connection with the many figures that have been so much in evidence during the past week. These will be dealt with by the Rev. Herbert Williams later on in the evening. ’ I propose to put the matter very simply before you. During the many years that this burning question has occupied the Council, many expert opinions have been obtained on the various sources sug-

■gested, and I have no hesitation in saying that the weight of engineering opinion is overwhelmingly in fa-

vor of Wailiirere. (Applause.) The tw<; standpoints from which to approach this issue are undoubtedly efficiency and economy. With regard to the efficiency of the scheme suggested by Mr Mestayer, I can only say, that this gentleman was selected; by the townspeople, who were enthu-

siastic enough to'subscribe to his guarantee, on account of the widespread reputation earned by him through the many successful works carried out under his design and supervision. Is a gentleman so well established likely to prejudice his reputation by so strongly recommending a work in which there is any risk of failure ? (Voice : No.) No. sir, I am not prepared to accept any amateur suggestions as against an op-nion such as this. lam in no way wedded to Waihirere or any other source, but am anxious to see the town get to work on the best possible source, and not repeat the unprofitable wrangling that lias been -gcing on in the Council for the past twenty years or more, during which period we have witnessed a frequent recurrence of the dread typhoid season which has deprived us of so many bright young lives, and brought misery and distress into so many happy homes. From its economical aspect, I have no hesitation in asking you not to listen to the wiles of those whose parsimonious natures influence them to set money against health. You have been told that the proposed special rate of Is) 6d in the £ will impose a heavier burden than the taxpayer can bear. Now, sir, I propose to put to you the position from the standpoint of the individual, whose back, camellike, is to be broken by this last straw. Tate my own case: My house is rated at an annual value of £7O, and my proportion of the special rate of Is Cd in the £ would be. £5 ss, for which I am to be furI nished with an adequate water and I drainage supply. I ask you if this can be called an expensive luxury : and would like to ask you—any one of you—to say whether in the event of water and drainage being an accomplished fact, and it were held out as an economical inducement that I could save that £5 5s per annum by foregoing the service of water and drainage, would you not look upon me as a lunatic to entertain any such consideration ? Another convenience for which I pay about the same amount yearly is the telephone, yet we don’t hear of this as being an undue strain under which. the ratepayers suEer, .True, the]

use of it is voluntary, not compulsory, but who after benefiting by its convenience would dream of econ'omising by doing without it. I have taken the trouble to enquire what revenue is derived from our telephone system, and I find that last year’s income amounted to close upon £2OOO. Now, sir, this sum at 5 per cent, represents a capital value of £-10,000, or sufficient to provide the whole of the water scheme. I also want to point out that as our rateable values increase, so will the burden of taxation become less by distribution, and under the proposed sanitary conditions we. can oiler to outside families and up-country settlers to live in our midst under healthy conditions, and lam sure that, with these conveniences wc should soon see a number of outsiders making beautiful homes in our town, whereas under present conditions nothing , would induce them to come here. This stigma must be removed. Another heavy item here is fire insurance rates, which are exceptionally high, and with an efficient water-supply a very considerable saving could be effected, which would go some way towards compensation for the additional burden of Is 6d in the £- Take the example of other progressive cities in New Zealand, who have shaken off the cloak of stagnation, and ask yourselves how our city presents itself in comparison. (Applause.) Mr Yardley asked Mr Kennedy if_ eight or nine gentlemen wore to go to him oh the following morning and ask him to change his views on the water question, | would he do so ? Mr Kennedy replied that ho would certainly not do so. Mr Taylor, in a brief address, stated that he was a workor, and not a talker. He was in tli6 Council for six or seven years, and bad done the best ho could. He supported Mr Mestayer’s drainage and water proposals, and was in favor of better lighting of the town. He also advocated another bridge higher up the river. He hoped that those present would roll up early and record their votes. (Applause.) The Rev. Herbert Williams, in the course of a lengthy address, replied to the statements made by MrLysnar and others in regard to tho Waihirere water supply. An advertisement dealing with the report of the committee appointed in 1881 had been published, with a view of showing that Mr Townley had changed his mind in regard to the quantity of water at Waihirere. This same statement had been made at the time tho poll was taken. Mr Townley had not changed his mind in regard to the quantity of water, but with regard to the cost, which the borough could not at) that time pay. In 1881; the cost of obtaining water from Waihirere was deemed to bo too'expensive. After looking elsewhere for a scheme they had gone back to Waihirere.' Continuing, Mr Williams criticised the estimates supplied by Mr Lysnar in regard to the two schemes, pointing out their inaccuracies. He showed the cost of the Waimata scheme as reported upon by Mr Boylan. To obtain a supply from this source Gisborne would be saddled with interest, the amount of which capitalised would be over £46,000. From a financial point of view be preferred to stick to Mr Mestayer’s Waihirere proposals. • A voice : Whore are going to get tho water from at Waihirero? Thero is no water there. Mr Williams: It will come from the sky, I supposo. (Laughter and applause.) At some length tho speaker, by means of a blackboard and chalk, demonstrated to the audience the inaccuracies which he stated wero contained in Mr Lysnar’s estimates. He pointed out that it was unwise to interfere with the engineer’s opinion, and the electors could not do better than support Mr Mestayer in his recommendations. (Applause.) Mr E. G. Matthews askod Mr Williams would the amount of water stated by Mr Mestayer supply Gisborne through a season of drought ? Mr Williams replied that Mr Mestayer allowed a sufficient supply for a population of 8000 during the most severe drought we had had. Mr Ernest Matthews was replying to Mr Williams, when the audience broke in with cries of 11 Platform," “ Get on the stage.” “ I will do so if I can have the chalk and blackboard,” replied Mr Matthews. “ You are at liberty to use both,” re- ' plied the Chairman with a laugh. Mr Matthews accepted the invitation, and soon showed the audience that on Mr Mestayer’s own figures provision had not been made for a supply of water sufficient to last a town of 10,000 inhabitants during a dry season such as had been experienced. He contended that it left a shortiigo of 90 days’ supply. “Mr Williams, you will correct me if I am wrong,” remarked Mr Matthews as he put on the blackboard. According to the supplementary report the reservoir will only hold 30,000,000 gallons, and during such seasons as 1885 and 1886, thore would only be added to this in a period of seven months 32,000,000 gallons, makiDg a total of 65,000,000 gallons. Off this amount thero would be, according to Mr Mestayer’s figures on page four of the report, 80,000,000 evaporation (from eight acres of water surface at the rate of one-fifth of an inch per day) and 9,000,000 gallons for bottom water. The consumption for 10.000 people at 40 gallons per days for 210 hays, that is in tho dry season, would be 84,000,000, which added to the shrinkage for evaporation, and tho nine millions bottom water made a total of 101,000,000 gallons required. “ You will therefore see that thero would be a shortage on Mr Mestayer’s estimate of 36,000,000 gallons or ninety day’s supply,” concluded Mr Matthews, amid great applause. A voice : “ The young man has knocked you out.” (Applause.) Mr A. Forde Matthews then addressed the electors, pointing out that he was not a candidate at the present election. He I was subjected to much interruption end finally left the stage without concluding his speech. Mr Williams, in replying to Mr E. G. Matthews, admitted thore wns a shortage, but stated that Mr Mestayer had Btated that during tho dry season the supply was only for 8000 persons, whilst Mr Matthews had placed it at 10,000. A voice : Admit you are beaten, aDd give the young man a chance. Mr E. G. Malthews: But would there not even then be a shortage for 8000 inhabitants. A voice : Come ndw, Mr Williams, you must admit you are licked. Mr Williams took the chalk, and was about to clean tho board, when he was prevented by the remarks, “ Leave the figures there ; turn the board over.” The speaker was proceeding to show tho audience where Mr Matthews was mistaken, when he was met with the cries of “Hurry up, hurry up.” “ If anybody is tired it is open to him to leave the room,” remarked Mr Williams. After finishing his calculations on the blackboard, he remarked, “I admit that the amount of water required is above 65 million gallons. “ How many days’ shortage would that leave?” remarked Mr Matthews. Mr Williams: Thero is certainly a shortage, but not so much as you make out. A voice: But you must admit that you are licked. Mr Williams : Certainly. 1 say that as far as I know I have never shown any inclination to smooth over shortages. I have never said a word in favor of the Waihirere scheme. What I have said has beeu in regard to the unfair criticism on the other side. I admit that there is a shortage. Bfr Matthews : Wbatis the shortage ? Mr Williams: Twenty eight days. I admit that that so far is unsatisfactory. In regard to Waihirere, I have never laid I myself out to say a word in favor of it. If it cannot recommend itself on its own merits I have nothing more to say about it. Mr J. W. Bright next addressed the meeting, urging that tho wishes of the ratepayers, as decided at the poll, should be given effect to. There were three candidates there that evening, two of which are pledged to the proposals. Voice: No, no. Mr Bright: But I say that they are. Mr Joyce : No, you are wrong. Mr Bright: Mr Joyce says no.—Applause and cries of "platform” as Mr Joyce was seen to rise. “Little Taylor is the only one who binds

bimsslf to Waihirere,” roinarked Mr Joyce. Mr Bright: Two of the candidates have pronounced themselves in favor of carrying out the wishes of the poll. We have one candidate who I am afraid is doing a little bit of wriggling. The question is. ladies and gentlemen, do wo want water and drainage '? . tJ Voices : “Yes, but we want plenty of it. “We won’t get it from Waihirere.” Mr Bright (laughing): Anyone would suppose that I was a candidate. I assure you it does nor put me out. 1 intend to say what I intend to say. (-Laughter.) Wo have gono about this in a business-like • way ; wo have purchased the land. A voice : But it is no good. Mr Cogar rose to speak, but was ruled out of order. Mr Bright said that ho would rather have a man who would do something, even if he made mistakes, than a persou who would sit down and argue and do nothing.. They hud obtained the best advice, and they should proceed. (Applause.) Mr G. Lysnar rose at the back of the hall to ask JMr Williams a question, but was greeted with cries of “plattorm.” Going forward Mr Lysnar asked Mr Williams how he arrived at an estimate for the cost of tbo Waimata water scheme. A voice: Don’t bother, George; the young fellow has already tied him in a knot. “ It is no use to leave Mr Lysnar in tho dark,” replied Mr Williams. “I cupltaltsod Iho amount paid lor fuel, pumping, and dcpiecialiun ol plant.” A Voice : The young fellow beat them in figures half an hour ago, so yj,i might as well come down. Mr Lysnar contended that the £2i;,000 referred to by Mr Williams as the capitalised amount on the yearly expenditure was not a liability. It had not to be repaid at any time. If the pumping scheme proved a failure, the liability for the £22,000 did not exist, and Mr Williams was thereby, misleading "tho people. A Voice : .This is (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar then left the stage, amidst applause. The Chairman : At the time referred to as the dry season, there was not sufficient water in the Waimata' river for half a dozen cows. (Laughter and prolonged applause.) A‘ Voice : Well, that is very tall !) (Laughter.) “ 1 assure you it is true,” reiiiarked Mr Bees j “I have it on the authority of our oldest settlers.” (Laughter and applause.) A Voice Then we shall have to go to Wakapunake. Amidst considerable disorder, Mr Joyce made his way towards the platform, and said that he desired to ask Mr Bright a question. When order was obtained, and the Chairman’s consent liad been given, Mr Joyce asked Mr Bright whether it was the man or the system that he came to the meeting to support. Mr Taylor was the only one who had declared himself in favor of Waihirere: Cries of “ No ” and “ Yes.” “ Is it the man or the system ?’* insisted Mr Joyce, amidst much laughter and applause. Mr Bright : It is both. (Cheers.) Look here, Bright, you arc wrong,” retorted Mr Joyce. Mr Bright: It is the man who will carry out the system. Mr Joyce: But the only candidate in favor of Waihirere is Mr Taylor. Mi Bright : You are wrong ; you can ask Mr Kennedy yourself. “ But where is Mr Kennedy ?” replied Mr Joyce ; lie is gone, the same as he did at the Council—” No, he is here,” responded Mr Kennedy, Jwho amidst applause, came from the front seat, and confronted Mr Joyce on the steps of the stage, much to that gentleman’s surprise. Mr Joyce : Did you say that you were in'favor of Waihirere.? Mr Kennedy : I said that as Mr Mcstayer had given his opinion I was going to stick to it. I said that I was not wedded to any particular scheme. Mr East, in moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman, drew attention to the fact that the meeting had ended in the state of chaos that lie , had predicted when addresting them earlier in the evening. From the tone of the meeting it was evident that both schemes would have to be'adopted.