WATER SUPPLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1569, 27 September 1905, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY.

MB E. HAY’S APPOINTMENT.

A LIVELY MEETING.

OR. LYSNAR WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM. The Borough Counoil meeting opened very lively last evening. Members were in a good humor for business, and the minutes and correspondence having been speedily disposed of, tbe introduction of the question of water supply put everyone on the qui vive. Mr R. Hay, engineer for the water supply, wrote in regard to the terms of bis agreement with the Counoil, striotly adhering to the teirms of his first letter. A communication was also received from, his solicitor in reference to the same question.! The Mayor said that a few alterations bad been made in regard to the agreement with Mr Hay. Cr Lysnar: He has practically struck out all that we suggested, and gone hack to the terms of his first letter. The Mayor said that the Council had decided to engage Mr Hay, and therefore they should aocept his conditions. There was nothing unreasonable in tbe stipula- ' tions Mr Hay made. He moved that the conditione laid down by the engineer be accepted. Cc Sheridan seconded the motion, endorsing the remarks of tbe mover. Cr Lysnar insisted that tbe Borough had a distinct duty to perform to tho ratepayers, and they should not back down altogether. Tbe Council had made certain i amendments and conditions in the agree- ' ment, and these bad been struok out. They should insist upon their insertion before going further. Tho very least Mr i Hay conld have done would have been to ' have come to Gisborne, and discussed the terms of the agreement with them. The Counoil had stretohed thiogs to the uti most in order to meet Mr Hay, and in the - stipulations made were backed up by their aolioitor. The conditions laid down by Mr Hay in regard to the payment of commisi siou were unreasonable, as aho was the clause in reference to the engineer personally mspeoting the work. Under the • terms of the agreement there was nothing to prevent Mr Hay absenting himself from Gisborne, and sending some one else to look after the work. Cr Harding supported the resolution, and criticised at some length the position t taken up by Cr Lysnar, who, he characterised, as an obstructionist, from the start. The Council were exercising evsn more oare than they would have done had the work been one that they were personally interested in. Or Colley supported the resolution. Mr Hay’s demands were most reasonable.. Had the engineer not insisted on the conditions first laid down, he (Or Colley) would not have thought he was a fit man to carry out the work. .Cr Miller, who was apparently warmed up by Cr Lysnar’s remarks, lost no time iu making it plain that he was strnogly in favor of the resolution. He designated Or LysDar as an obstructionist of the first water. “In every paper we read oolumns of W. D. Lysnar,” he added. “He has talked himself into prominence. I have been too modest. If I, like Mr Lysnar, had got up on every platform and talked, I could have talked Or Lysnar to a standstill. I have never let you know what I oan do, but I intend to do so iu the future. (Applause.) Or Lysnar talks about our duty to the public. Our duty is to give them water, and therefore I vote for tbe resolution.” Cr Bright did not think the alterations made by Mr Hay of sufficient importance to justify any further delay. He strongly supported tbe resolution, Cr Webb thought tbe Council could have scoured tho services of the best engineer in Australasia for the money they were paying Mr Hay. The Council, he was sure, could have done much better for tbe ratepayers had they invited applications for the office of engineer Or Whinray supported the resolution. The Mayor, having notified his intention to reply, Cr Lysnar rose to move an amendment.

Tne Mayor: xoa .nave already spoKnc and have do right to say anything further. You cannot move an amendment now. Or Lysnar took Btrong exception to the Chairmen's ruling, remarking “ I hope your Worship will remember this. If you do not I shall remind you. I trust you will always follow your ruling this evening and not blow hot and co'd." Councillors supported the Mayor and in answer to a further interjection from Cr Lysnar, the Mayor said “It is absurd for a lawyer to come here and raise a legal quibble and ask us to refer the matter to another lawyer. It is a purely business question. This is not the time to talk, it is the time for action.” The Mayor continued at some length to criticise the action assumed by Cr Lysnar, whom he referred to as an obstructionist. Cr Lysnar : I shall claim the right to make a personal reply. Thß Mayor : You oannot do so. You have once spoken, and yon shall not speak .again.' We have wasted weeks and months over this matter, and now is the time for action. Councillors applauded the remarks of the Mayor, Cr Miller remarking, “ I am glad to see Your Worship showing a littl° fight.” Or Lysnar persisted in his efforts ti make what ho termed a personal explana tion, and the Mayor declining to allow hiu lo do so, Cr Lysnar said, “ Very well; 1 shall walk out of the Council.”

Cr Lysnar thereupon left the room, and I the motion was put and carried without I opposition. I When order was somewhat restored, Or I Bright remarked, “ It is pleasing to see ICr Lysnar walk oat of the Council, I I shall pair with him and walk out too. (Laughter.) Cr Harding addressing His Worship I said, “ 1 am glad to see you take a stand, Thcro has been too long delay in this matter,’’ Or Webb: Let us order the pipes straight away. Cr Sheridan : I am pleased to see the way in which Cr Webb aeoepts the inevitable. He has shown the right spirit in this matter. The next basinet was then proceed with