The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 9, 1905. WATER SUPPLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1476, 9 June 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 9, 1905. WATER SUPPLY.

Upon dispassionately looking into the attitude adopted by the Borough Council at its last meeting upon this subject, it would seem that there are grave reasons to question the course the Council decided to pursue when the following resolution, on the Mayor’s motion, was carried : « That the Council being of opinion that the steel-rivotod pipes had been sufficiently tested to warrant thoir adoption, Mr Hay be requested, if ho approved of using them, to visit Gisborne for the purposo of making detailed arrangements as to remuneration and the carrying out of the scheme as ap-

proved by him.” l’bp offer to engage Mr Hay if ha approves of using the setol-rivoted pipeß does seem to us very questionable, if not improper in the face of that gentleman’s very doubtful and unfavorable opinion given on two previous occasions. We extract the following from Hr Hay’s report to the Council of the Oth February, 1904 : •> With regard to using steel or wrought iron riveted pipes, I am not awaro that ' there has boen any experience gained so far af the life of pipes of tbU class if laid in trenches underground. When in England in 1902 X made a number of enquiries with regard to using pipes of this class, and found that although small st.el pipes had been used for gas and water in Germany, English engineers had not adopted the practice. Spigot and socket cast iron pipes, with lead joints, when properly laid very seldom show any signs of leakage, while the contrary fs tb® o» 9 ° with riyetted : pipes under heavy pressure, I am not, . without further experience, prepared to . reoommond your Council to adopt riveted

steel pipes in lieu of cast iron pipes. 1 Then again, Mr Hays says in his letter to the Council, dated 23rd of last month : "Pipes c£ the riveted steel class have been employed in water supply works at Wanganui, and also Feildlng, X think in large quantities; also the steel pipe at Cartortou, but I have no experience with rogard to their lasting properties beneath the surface of the ground.” The question appeals to us—ls it right or proper, when the Council have the deliberately expressed opinion of Mr Hay that ho himself cannot recommend them, to offer that gentleman engagement if he will.in effect alter his opinion and say he

will reeommond them ? A number of opinions have been put forward by our contemporary upon the suitability of wrought iron pipes, but the fact should Dot be lost sight of that the pipes referred to in the opinions given are not the pipes in question. The opinions generally refer to wrought iron p’pes, whereas those suggested for our water supply would be steel, and it iB a wellestablished fact that corrosion takeH place ; \ -Wt 1

with steel elutes at a more rapid ruts than iB the cane with wrought iron plates. There does not appear to us to ho much certainty concerning the satisfactory lasting properties of strul pipes, and special attention is drawn to the caro required in manufacture, coating, laying, and handling and to the danger to bo approhondod when laid in unsuitable) ground, that is ground containing salts or other mnttor deleterious to tho lasting properties of stool. Wo are told that tho soils in this district oro

heavily charged with aalts, ami contain 10 por cent and ovor, when thoro Bhoultl only bo about 1 and per cont. Wo understand that on tho West Const of tho South Island stool pipes, owing to thoir toadonoy to rapid corrosion, aro not in favor, and in ono instance particularly a steel pipe lino on a sluicing claim near Hokitika was through corrosion replaced within soven years. Tho experience of tho abnormally rapid decay of wrought iron pipes sunk for wolls in this district should alone tend to 1 warn oguinst any indiscriminate advocacy of steol pipes in connection with our proposed wotor supply. Except on tho score of cheapness wo cun hardly conocivo that any authority would advocato steel pipes, which are only about one-oightb of an inch in thickness, iu preference to cast iron pipos for a permanent work. Mr Hay has expressed himsolf more than doubtful U 3 to their suitability, and wo understand Mr Mostayor and Mr Reynolds do not recommend them. As apparently Mr Hay caunot bring bis scheme within tho prescribed conditions except by substituting a steel

for a east iron pipe main, it becomes a question whether at thiß junoturo it wouH not be judicious to follow up Mr Leslie Roynolds’ O Bohomo further, tho reticulation of whioh is that adopted by tho Council, and thß Bupply and prossuro stipulated by the ratepayers’ conditions are promised by him. Mr Reynolds' estimate for this scheme, allowing cast iron pipes throughout (which aro unquestionably the beat pipes), is £71,376, or only some £4,400 more than Mr Hay’s sohemo with the doubtful steel pipes, and as Mr Reynolds allows for contingencies 10

por cent, as againßt Mr Hay’s 7-£ per cent, there should bo a reduction of off Mr Reynolds’ figures and bringing the ostimate of both gentlemen to a common basis. Were this done Mr Reynolds’ estimate of his sohomo—to fulfil the conditions demanded by the Council with the beßt cast iron pipes' throughout —should be only some £2500 greater than Mr Hay’s proposed sohomo with doubtful steel mainß, besidos other disadvantages which we do not propose to touch on at present. Would it not be wise therefore to again consult Mr Reynolds and postpone for a little time the accepting of any scheme with steel pipes when tho probable difference in cost appears to be so trifling? That Mr Roynolds’ estimate may be equally accepted with those now adopted by MiHay appears evident, as apart from allowance for contingencies the difference in their estimate for the retieulation-i-whicb is in all respects common to both schemes and covers some £22,000 —is under £2O. Wo might point out that with Mr Reynolds’ scheme put upon a Bteel main basis the cost should be still proportionately less than Mr Hay’s scheme. In making this suggestion we of course , assume that Mr Hay is not going to retract his unfavorable opinions already ex--1 pressed about the steel riveted pipes, and . now express himself favorable in order to > secure the carrying out of the work as stipulated by tho Council in their resolutions. The great surprise is that a majority of the Council should anticipate that he will do anything of the sort. At the Police Court yesterday morning Thomas John Harris was charged with drunkenness, and on the application of the police he was remanded until this morning. j

Captain Edwin reported yesterday : “ Strong winds to gkle from between north-east and north und west ; glass further fall ; tides moderate; sea heavy oS shore ; rain probable." Mr Oswa'd Gardner, flaxmillor and farmer, of Paiaka, has announced his intention of contesting the Manawatu seat at the general election. It is understood that he will stand as an Independent, with a leaning towards the Liberal Party. Aftor a five months’ strilto the New York Cloth Hat and Cap Makers’ Union has gained practically every point contended. It was (says the Coastal Seamen’s Journal) one of the best strikes ever waged, only twelve mombors out of a total of 1800 breaking ranks. At the National Hotel, Cambridge, a roast'joint was being cooked in the range, and the fat becoming iginited ’the cook called in the proprietor, Mr A. A. Smith. The latter opened the oven door, and while io the act of pulling out the meat-dish, the flames from the fat burst out, inflicting nasty burns on his hand and foot. The mantlepieoe also caught firs, but a bucket of water put this out. Medical aid was promptly summoned, and Mr Smith is progressing satisfactorily. The Gisborne Club’s new building in Lowe street was opened yesterday, when a largo number of ladieß and gentlemen were entertained by the members to afternoon tea. General admiration was expressed by the visitors in regard to tho new rooms, which are excellently appointed and thoroughly up to-date. Mr W. J. Quigley was the architect for the building, and its erection was carried out by Messrs Mackrell and Colley, who are to be heartily congratulated upon the excellence of the workmanship. Established less than ten years ago the Club has steadily progressed until the membership has reached 120, whilst the fine building erectod speaks volumes for the manner in which the finances have been controlled. To-morrow evening a dinner will be held in honor of the opening. General Booth has appointed Colonel Peart, who has held the position of chief secretary and second in command of the Salvation Army in Australasia, to be chief secretary to Commander Eva Booth, who has charge of tho Salvation Army operations in the United States of America. He leaves Melbourne on July 10th. Colonel Hoskins, who is well known in New Zealand, and has held the post of field secretary at the Australasian headquarters, has been promoted to the position of chief seoretary and second in command in Australasia. . Despite the inclomency of tho weather last evening there was a good attendance [ of ladies at the rooms over Mr Good’s ! building, whore Miss Allan gave a demonstration of the Imperial system of dresscutting. Keen interest was taken in the work, the simplicity and accuracy of the system being warmly commended by those present. There is every reason to believe that Miss Allan will be well supported in tbo popularising of tho Imperial system. Classes will be commenced to-morrow afternoon from 3 to 5 in tho rooms above Mr Good’s shop, and those desiring information may consult Miss Allan there between the hours mentioned. Alternate classos will bo held on Thursday from 3.30 to 5.30. A demonstration will be given on Tuesday evening from 7.15 to 9.15. Thus Mr Hogg, M.H.8., at Eketahqna : The Cotqmission was devoting its attention to the suggestions of the landholders who wore fairly comfortable, and

ignoring the pressing wants of the people who were asking for land and could not get it. He read letters to show that the workers wore vainly appealing for land, and maintained that the duty of the State and the Government was not eo much In further aesißt those who had secured homesteads as to find land for the landlees and homes for the homeless. The

landless, he maintained, wero not particular about their tenure, so long as they were able to secure homes free from tho dangerous grip of the private landlord or capithlist.

The East Coast Native Trust Lands Board has made excellent progress in connection with tho realisation of tho properties uudar their control, and were yesterday in a position to pay off the balance of the bank’s claim against the lands. At the dace of tho appointment of the Board the indebtedness to the bunk amounted to dsl6o,ooQ, the whole of which has now bpen cleared off. The Board are to bo heartily congratulated on the results already achieved, and filje settlement of these lands most tend gcoutly to the general prosperity of the East Coast. The most pleasing feature in connection with the Board’s administration is that, notwithstanding the extensive sale that has been necessary to pay off the bank debt and other large claims on the estate, the Board I has been able to conserve for the benefici- j aries large and valuable blocks of the * Trust lands.

Kf the Magistrate's Cauct yesterday; morning, be Coro Messrs Vincent Du account of ftha wet weatlier last ovoniug the I-Ilou, Ju Carroll’s address at rills Majesty's Theatre was postponed until Blond ay even-! ing noxt. ,At Mp'tu on the Prince of Waites' s Birthday the result of the 'Rifle Club coxn'i)olition was as follows : F, 1 Jansen (00 poEnts) l x It- Jacltfsorv ,(07 points) Z,. anil & Hayes (G2 points,) 3>j

At tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, beforo Messrs V. Pylte and J. Townloy, J.P., judgmont by default was given in tho ease of Hamon and Smith v, Alfred Baby, claim £lO 11s 6d, cobts £1 14a Gd. Coatß 10s Gd wore granted in tho caso of E. P. Joyce (Mr Finn) v. A. M. Hirschborgo (oonfo3sod). Our Motui corrosttfondonh writes : [A] general feeling of disappointment prevailed on last Monday _ night i.n Motn owing to tho Hon. U. Carroll being unable to got through hecauso of tbo hail weather. There is no doubt that Mr Carroll’s visit will he earnestly looked forward to here, and hid reply, to the uncalled for criticisms of rtlio Mqitul settlcrsi will ho of imuioli interest.,—Tho weather for the Hast week has heon very cold. On Frlfday morning last thero was a Slight sprinkling of snow, and on Saturday night a heavy fall was experienced.;