WATER SUPPLY REPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1021, 14 October 1903, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY REPORT

At tho meeting of the Borough Council a letter was received from Mr R. Hay, who replied to the query ro reporting on drainage and water supply, stating that he was willing to do so at a fee of 100 guineas, and out of pocket expenses. Cr Kennedy asked that the minuto bo read calling for that- letter. Tho Mayor said he thought it a business transaction to ask terms first. Practically, they had decided to engage Mr Hay.

Cr Kennedy said he simply wanted the position made plain. At! they hud to do now was to quarrel with the fee.

The Mayor sail that tho Committee hail interviewed Mr Reynolds, who had offered to give au exhaustive report cm any source for a fee of 60 guineas. He took it that before they went into that they would havo to rescind the resolution.

Cr Lysnar did not think that the position should be disturbed. They could simply defer giving an answer until they considered Mr Reynolds’ oiler.

Cr Harding: You suggest taking Mr Reynolds’ offer first. Cr Lysnar : Y’os, ho is available now. He would like to see Mr Reynolds given a freo hand, including a report on Te Reiuga for generating power. Cr Kennedy said tho Government were going into that matter. It was not for the Couucil. Ca Lysnar went on to urge it was important to have such a report. The Mayor said they already had one. Cr Whinray: I understand that he would like to report on To Reinga for his own information.

Cr Lysnar moved that Mr Reynolds be engaged at a foe of 60 guineas to report on any source suggested, and to be given a free hand in regard to any other source. Cr Kennedy saql they could not shelve tho resolution in regard to Mr Hay. Thoy had sat until eleven on a previous evening, and decidod in favor of Mr Hay. Now it was sought to substitute Mr Roynolds. Ho spoke very highly of that gentleman, and said he would not miod him boiug given a foe, but ho was not yet before the Council. Ho was here at the request of those who had done all thoy could to frustrate them in obtaining water, and he (Cr Kennedy) was not going to knuckle down to them. They must- first deal with the resolution regarding Mr Hay. Tho Mayor said that he should not have given the report, which was an informal one. He himself had suggested that thoy might insert Mr Reynolds’ name in the resolution, but Mr Hay's name had been put in.

Cr Lysnar moved, and Cr Whinray so eonded, that the matter of Mr Hay be deferred.

Cr Harding said he would not object to half-a dozen reports, but the straight forward course was to first deal with Mr Hay. The Mayor : That was carried unanimously. Cr Whinray said he understood the Mayor to say they could have the two reports.

Tho Mavor : Where is the money to come from ?

Mr Harding moved, and Cr Morrison seconded, that Mr Hay’s offer he dealt with.

Cr Morrison said that the more engineers thoy had it seemed the more thoy wanted. He referred to the feeling of surprise outside that the pooplo had rejected the water scheme.

Tho amendment to deal with Mr Hay’s offer at once was carried. For : Tho Mayor and Crs Kennedy, Morrison, Harding, and Hepburn. Against : Crs Lysnar, Whinray, Johnston, and Somervell. Cr Morrison then moved, and Cr Hepburn seconded, that Mr Hay’s offer be accepted. Cr Hepburn said that Mr 801 l had recommended Mr Hay or Mr Mestayer. They had had Mr Mestayor’s report, and now thoy should have the next best. The offer was reasonable. Tho other gentleman had been brought by those who had lost the scheme for them. They should take Mr Hay to all the sources that could be suggested. Cr Lysnar said he bad suggested Mr Hay, and ho would vote for that, but ho thought it would be money well spent to get a roport also from Mr Reynolds. Ho

himself was not wedded to Waimata. He should like Mr Reynolds to have a free hand.

Cr Kennedy : You have got him horo. Cr Lysnar said they had not got the means. Ho did not think any of tfie ratepayers would cavil at thn expense. Cr Hepburn : I think they would. Cr Lysnar said that what they desired was the best result. Jt was the Council’s own suggestion that Mr Reynolds should be interviewed. Cr I-larding considered that Cr Lysnar was out of order. A resolution had been carried, in which Mr Hay was named by the unanimous wish of the Council ; they had obtained his terms, and should accept or reject them* Cr Whinray : I am afraid that it will defeat a resolution with .which We are in sympathy. Cr Kennedy : “We ” ■?• Cr Whinray : -Yes, we. Cr Kennedy : Who do you mean by we ” ? Cr Whinray : Well, I individually. Cr Kennedy Then don’t say “ we..” Cr Whinray '(warmly) : I will say what I like.Cr Kennedy : Don’t say “ we.” Cr Whinray : It’s like your impudence—t— The Chairman : Order ! Cr Kennedy Was repeating that ho did not wish to be included in the “ we ” referred to by Cr Whinray. Cr Whinray : I will call on the Chairman to keep order. Continuing, he accused the CounciL-of having rushed the last scheme through, and •said it seamed to him that this motion had been put to try and hlook them. It was just pique because the Ratepayers’ Association had engaged Mr Reynolds. They wanted

unanimity in this matter, and not bickering, but they would not get unanimity by trying to block a report from Mr Reynolds. Cr Harding expressed regret at the position taken up by Cr Whinray and he denied the accusations made. He repeated that they had unanimously -decided to ask Mr Hay to report and (they should deal with that before going into anything else. He would -block nothing that might secure water and drainage for the town, Cr Somervell said that he would support having reports from both the engineers'.- They should obtain all the information they could, He .would vote for the resolution. 1 Cr Lysnar : I shall vote for jit if it is not to block the other.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously. At a later stage the Mayor reported as to the interview with Mr Reynolds. He had offered to report on sources indicated for sixty guineas. A suggestion had also been made that if the Ratepayers’ Association contributed their amount to the Borough Council, Mr Reynolds would report on the whole (Waimata included) for 70 guineas, the report to come through the Council. Thus the cost to the Council would he about- 50 guineas.

Cr Lysnar moved that the oiler he accepted, urging that it would he much more satisfactory to have the report come through the Council. The little extra expense involved would he money well spent. The best results were what was wanted. They should let by-gones be hy-gones and push ahead, seeking to obtain the most suitable source. Only that day he had been informed of an entirely new source. Cr Harding seconded the motion, -and said that he did it with the one object. A little dissension had been started that night, although at the previous meeting he thought it had been overcome. He would like to see the Council unanimous for once. Cr Kennedy : We were unanimous as to Mr Hay. Cr Harding said that further in?, formation was desired, and 8 ui ~ ■ncas was not a very big item compared with what they had spent. Cr Somervell supported the motion. . ;

Cr Hepburn said the difficulty he foresaw was that one engineer might favor one source, -and the other favor another. Then they would have the old fight OYCf again/ and have some

of them wanting to dig up tho ground to see if it would hold water.

Cr Kennedy agreed with Cr Hepburn. They did not want to have engineering differences. I-Ic objected •to appointing two engineers at once. The Ratepayers’ Association had engaged Mr Reynolds, and should get what reports they thought proper. In reply to a remark by Cr Lys-n-ar, that Cr Kennedy was going over old ground, Cr Kennedy ‘ said that was what lie intended to do. Cr Wliin-ray supported the motion, and suggested that a committee be -set trp to indicate ’the sources to bo reported on. Cr Morrison said he was in the same difficulty as Cr Hepburn. if the engineers differed what were the Council to do with the reports ? The, Mayor : Pile them up, the same as we have done all the others. The report, woul-d only deal with water, not drainage. The motion was put and carried. For : Crs Whinray, Lysnar, Johnston, Harding, and Somervell. Against : The Mayor, Crs Kennedy, Ilepburn, and Morrison.

Cr Whinray then moved for a committee, hut it was" decided that the whole Council be a committee to suggest the probable sources to Ik,: reported on, and after discussion the. following list, (with power to add), was unanimously 'adopted : Waimata Te Arai, Wakapunakc, Waipaoa, Wailiirerc, Waibatiac stream? The point, as to when Mr Hay was to he invited was -discussed, and it was agreed that lie should be asked to come as soon as Mr Reynolds had completed his inspection.