THE BOROUGH REQUIREMENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2098, 5 June 1907, Page 2

THE BOROUGH REQUIREMENTS

“WE MUST FACE THE POSITION.”

WATERWORKS, DRAINAGE,

AND METAL.

A long list of “necessary works” was submitted to tlio Borough Council last night by the Engineer) '(Mr. E. Harvey Gibbon). it was somewhat formidable in character, tlio eost of metal, etc., being £36,000. Amplifying his report, tho Engineer told tho Council that tho roads generally speaking were “thoroughly worn out,” somo indeed being in a dreadful condition. Somo comprehensive scliomo of work was essential, oven to put tho thoroughfares into docent order.

Cr. Sheridan, reviewing tho financial position, said that “urgent requirements” included £30,451 for metalling alone. In addition to this it had been urged with good roason that Gladstono-road required kerbing and channelling to Roebuck-road, 180 chains at £5 12s 6d, totalling £lOl2 10s. To put in storm-drains and connections, etc., tho Engineer roughly estimated at £IOOO, and grading (including Gladstone-road) would take £2OOO. Tho estimate provided for asphalting as far as Pool-street, but in his opinion it should proceed as far as Carnarvonstreot, say an additional 40 chains at £9O, £3600. It was proposed to build municipal buildings at a cost of £2OOO, and the -proposed new bridge connecting Kaiti and Whataupoko, to relieve tho press of traffic, would not he less than £3OOO. A complete drainage system—which had to be faced —would cost roughly in the, aggregate £70,000, so that within a year, the Council would want £119,063 10s, roughly £120,000. This did nob include tho cost of acquiring tlio Waihirere quarry. The sum of £120,000 at 5 per cent. (4i p.c. interest • and i p.c. sinkingfund) would cost £6OOO per annum. This would mean ail extra rate of Is 7Jd. Once formed, the roads, according to the Engineer, would only entail half the present cost of maintenance, which was £5700, say £2850. So that against an increase of Is 7Jd, a reduction of 9d could be estimated for tho saving in maintenance, leaving a not increase of IOJd to the present rate of 2s Bd. The extra water rate would he 4d, and a water service of 4d would need to be levied, making a total Borough rate of 4s 2Jd, tho Harbor Board rate of Is bringing tho aggregate to "os 2Jd in tho £. “It lies with the people themselves,” continued Cr. Sheridan. “People arc complaining and growling about tlio roads. We should put it to them: Are they prepared to pay these extra rates; if so wo can do the work. If they arc not prepared to jjay extra rates there is no alternative but to potter along with bad roads and no drainage, as we have been doing. On top of tho necessary road work, there was Mr. Mestayer’s estimate of £40,000 for Borough drainage, with probably another £30,000 for extending the drainage system to the suburbs. If the Council were to carry out tho improvements the people must pay the pijier.

Cr. Wliinray said all this work could not be undertaken in the next twelve months, nor in the next twelve years. The metal was not available, nor would it be advisable to spend such an enormous sum for metal. The jilace had prospered for many years, and got along very well on ordinary works out of revenue, and ho great hardship had been felt. Why not continue to manage with the revenue derived from the present rating, without incurring any additional taxation. To suggest a loan of £36,000 for metal alone was out of tho question, and must not be entertained. The people must put up with some of the difficulties. Wajter was an essential tiling, and the Council was supplying it. The Council had been a bit saving with metal, and, in any case, it was impossible whilst the water was being laid to do anything with the streets. With the means at their disposal and Mr. Rees’ metal scheme, they might be able to do a good deal. Reformers in the Council must run slower until they got a little more experience. It would he impossible to g<fc any metal for tho next four months, and the Council must manage as best they could.

Cr. Mann remarked that Cr. Whinray personally liapponed to bo exceptionally favorably situated. Perhaps if ho liy.ed out where tho speaker lived lie might take a different view. 11c and others had not tho advantage of well-laid and well-lighted streets, etc. It’ was easy enough to talk glibly about “must put up with things,” but Cr. Wliinray did not know the inconvenience many had to endure.

Cr. Miller mentioned that a considerable sum of money had been spent in opening up the Waihirere quarry. What about metal supplies from that source?

Cr. Whinray said ho did not propose to discuss that source of supply at that juncture.

The Engineer’s report being still in the printer’s hands, it was agreed to wait until complete copies were furnished to each Councillor, before continuing the discussion. A special meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday evening next to consider the report in detail.

SHOULD THE DRAINAGE BE EXTENDED ?

Mil. MESTAYER TO REPORT,

At a later stage Cr. Dr. Williams

moved that Mr. Mestayer, consulting

engineer, be asked to formulate a complete drainage scheme to embrace the Western portion of the Borough iti and Whataupoko. He pointed out that at the time of tlie original estimate those places were not included in the Borough. The question

must bo faced and the sooner they got to work the sooner they would get the drainage scheme. Mr. Mestayer’s previous report had been ap-

proved by Mr. Hays, a good authority, and he thought the Council could not do better than entrust him to report oil a more comprehensive scheme.

Cr. Sheridan seconded. It was just as well to 'know at once what the Council had to face—the question could not be fended off much longer. Mr. Mestayer’s former estimate of

the Borough drainage was £29,000, with £IO,OOO for an outlet at Pakirikiri—roughly a total of £40,000. The larger area would probably cost £25,000 or £30,000, bringing the total to about £65,000 or £70,000. The people were crying out for drainage. It was absurd to have the water wtihout the drainage. It was no use shirking the question. Tho town could not go oil in its present insanitary state. The position of affairs, Dr. Williams and others assured them, would lie aggravated rather than otherwise by having the water wtihout drains.

Cr. Whinray said that he had no objection to a report, as it would commit the Council to nothing. He did not see the necessity for extending the proposed area. The people would have to be content with a more limited area for the time being; the other would follow as the population justified it. With the present population it was not within their means to undertake it. The enlarged scheme would be of such magnitude and cost as to vitiate the wholo drainage project. Their pretensions would have to be reduced to something more moderate altogether and to the area

where the urgency was more apparent. Ho did not hold with the argument that abundant water would aggravate tlio insanitary state of the town, as the sandy soil had a deodorising effect. He was assured that the people would not sanction a £70,000 scheme. Or. I’ettie was entirely in favor of tlio motion. It was of the greatest importance. It was really the suburbs, whore the majority of people lived, that required the drainage. A scheme that would only embrace the old part of the Borough would be practically useless. He thought the Council should know what the large scheme would cost. It must bo faced and he believed the people of Gisborne would face it.

The Mayor said they knew what was in. Mr. Mcstayer’s mind, and be would like to see a report by some other eminent authority. The original schemes had never been approved by the Council. They neither carried the water scheme nor the drainage project—the reports were merely read and adjourned. He (the Mayor) quite agreed with a good deal that Cr. \Vhinray had said. He did not think the extra water would lead to mud and slush in the back yards, illustrating the comparatively dry state of the roads after so much rain. Timaru was only now going, in for drainage alter having the water service for 26 years. Ho hoped the Council would not rush the motion through without duo consideration. The population was not crowded, being only about (Cr. Williams : Between 5000 and 6000 on 2000 acres.) To undertake a largo scheme would bo surprisingly expensive. It must bo remembered that Mr. Mestayer’s report was made as far back as 1901 and ajiproved in 1904, so that condi'r tions may have changed since. Once started it was very i.-Hieult to rectify any error. In this connection he quoted the experiences of Christchurch, Napier, Palmerston North,'

Auckland and Dunedin. He preferred some other eminent man going over the whole Borough. They must get the best and latest advice: it would pay in the long run. Ho moved as an amendment that Mr. Mestaycr’s name be, omitted, but a report obtained. Mr. Mestayer’s report on Auckland drainage had not been accepted with several modifications by English engineers. Cr. Miller said the Council did not want to rush the matter, hut wanted to be guaranteed against delay. He wanted to keep the Mayor and others up to their election pledges. Any scheme to be efficient must take in the populated suburbs. Cr. Sheridan supported the motion. The Wellington scliemo was an excellent one, the best in the colony, and Mr. Mestayer had supervised the work, -whether he had originated it or not. Bet them get his report and then submit it to an outside authority if they desired. Cr. Williams, in reply, said he appreciated the Mayor’s desire for caution, but did not want such an urgent matter hung up. An eminent engineer, Mr. Hay, approved of Mr. Mestayer’s scheme. The Council would only have to pay Mr. Mestayer for part of his report—any other man for the whole. He emphatically emphasised the point that' with the water supply matters would be in a worse state than before. Some parts of the town and suburbs were not sandy and water would lie about. If the drainage were restricted to portion of the Borough the other ratepayers could not be asked to pay up, so the rates would be just as heavy for the remainder. The amendment was lost, only the Mayor and Crs. Whinray and Sawyer voting for it'. The motion, deciding to obtain a report, was carried.