THE DRAINAGE REPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2113, 12 February 1908, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE REPORT.

DISCUSSED IN COUNCIL

REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COAIMITTEE.

Mr. Mestayer’s report on a drainage scheme came before the Council last night. The Committee, which met on the 4th inst., reported that after giving the question very careful consideration, they recommended that in their opinion a drainage scheme for Gisborne was now absolutely necessary, but they could not see their way to entertain the alternative scheme of a septic taut on the Ivaiti beach uast the breakwater, and suggested that such scheme be rejected, lhe committee approved of Mr. Mestayer s scheme for the complete drainage of the borough, and recommended the Council to prepare a scheme for raising the amount necessary to carry out that portion of the scheme proposed to serve a population of 12,000. The committee also suggested that areas 6,7, 8, and 12 be omitted for the present; that £50,000 be borrowed at once to drain areas 1,2, and 3: that a further £20,000 be borrowed within five years to drain areas 4 10, and 13; and that £20,000 he borrowed within 10 years to drain such parts of 5,9, 11, and 14 a 3 may " be needed. , ~ , , The Mayor said the matter needed careful consideration, and he was sorry that all the members of the committee were not present. At this stage, Cr. Whinray took his seat. . The Mayor continued that tne question now was the borrowing of tho £50,000; this would 1 bo sufficient for the present, and would allow for. the construction of the outlet dram. He moved the adoption of the reF On the suggestion of Cr. Williams, tho report was taken paragraph by paragraph. ‘M iJ ; - The first paragraph, that a scheme of drainage was necessary, was carried.

Cr. Whinray thought they were a little precipitous. If they went to work they had a problematic water supply, and if it failed. they would simply breed a pestilence. If tho Water continued as it had been there was no guarantee of its future, Councillors objected to this remark. . Or. Whinray said that it was a child of 21 miles, and required a wet nurse, etc. Councillors: Order! Order! Cr. Whinray : I don’t want it said that I sat" silent and allowed a work of this sort to be initiated. It wants £50,000 to initiate tho scheme. Councillors: No! Question! The Mayor said that the paragraph under discussion was that a drainage scheme was necessary. Cr. Whinray : The question is—Are wo going the right way about it? I think we must clear the ground first. It was decided, on Cr. Pettic’s suggestion, to call it sewerage and drainage scheme, Cr. Whinray alono objecting^tt ie sa j t i that all must agreo that'a system of sewerage .and drainage was absolutely necessary, and as long as he had a seat on the Council ho would do all in his power to further a good sewerage and drainage Cr. Williams: Hear, hear! I Tho paragraph was adopted, only Cr. Whinray being heard in dissent. The paragraph that Mr. Mestayer’s report be approved, and that a scheme for 12,000 people bo adopted, caused considerable discussion. Cr. Whinray: Too much. The Mayor said that the outlet lor the completed scheme was included. He moved the adoption of the paragraph. Cr. Williams seconded the motion. He said this motion should be freely dificussed, in order that the ratepayers might thoroughly understand •what tho Council was driving at. He was in favor of the modified report to allow for a drainage scheme for 12 000 people. It was obvious that t</ go in for a makeshift policy would be foolish, as it would require

altering afterwards. The outfall sower was included, and this required lH IM flf ■ *Sbs wohld ultimately kM> (N*MlaUori of fIO.OOO, «.nd last. Rjb a (Vj ltnig time, (Tho cost would Uo uim incidentals and contingencies £90,000 would be needed lor a 12,000 basis. Tho Council would ask that portions of this sum as it became necessary, be borrowed The burden should bo distributed over the wholo borough. The Council should ask tho ratepayers to look upon this matter in a broad-minded way with a view to benefiting tho whole borough. The outfall sower would cost- nearly £15,000, but thav would servo tho whole borough, and it would bo very unfair if tho cost bail to be borne by the reduced areas. The scheme would servo the business area, and 99 out of 100 ratepayers wore interested in having the areas 1. 2, and 8, which includes the old borough up to Roebuck Road, thoroughly drained. . As means would allow, the remaining portions would bo attended to. When people saw the benefits, they would not wait tho five or ten years, but would want to come in ns soon as possible, ns is the ease with the water supply. Cr. AVhinray asked for something within the sphere of practical politics; this would not pass tho ratepayers, he felt confident- of that, although drainage was very desirable and necessary. Tho Council had admirable methods for getting rid of nightsoil and deodorising it. Of course, sewerage was another matter. They had better wait until they gotrid of the “cripple child” in the waterworks. What was tho use of a sewerage scheme and no means of flushing it? Tho suggestion was chimerical. The Mayor, and Mr. Couston found a few leaks, but when they put the plugs in they found more.

A Councillor rose to a point of order. They were not- discussing tho waterworks. The Mayor said that as the Council had not taken over tho supply, he thought it unfair to drag it up on this occasion. Cr. Whinray: 1 am one of the custodians of the public weal. Cr. Whinray again referred to the wet nurse lie had mentioned. A Councillor: These are mock heroics.

Cr. Whinray said that it- was a waste of time discussing sewerage at all.

Cr. Bright thought tho Council had advanced many steps in getting the . borough subdivided and ascertaining the cost- of each division, but tho question was—Was tho scheme within the powers of the ratepayers? Were they able to bear tho tax? The taxation was large at the present time. He did not- agree with Cr. Whinny about-, their crippled scheme: without it, everyone would be camped on the riverbanks and their homes would have to be deserted, and the stock would bo loft, and any Councillor who belittled the scheme did so at the expense of showing himself as not acting in the public interest. They must go slow, as a small community. They had seen the outer harbor report calling for £400,000, and £150,000 for drainage, with £2OOO a year maintenance, and whether it- was popular or not the borough was not in a position to stand it. They would be unwise if they did not hold their hand. There was not only the interest on tho loan, but there was the annual maintenance. The information gained was valuable, and it- would keep. He knew of South Island towns which were practically deserted owing to heavy borrowing. As to the reduced area, if they could bo sure that tho peoplo in that area would pay for that, he would not complain, but if a scheme put forward by the Council should be paid for only by those benefitting. In the meantime, they should adopt a better system of dealing with the nightsoil. Cr. Mann took the opposite view to Cr. Bright. -If ifr-tree* irquCStllm' Of choosing -between -a harbor anil drainage, ho would go for drainage. The interest on the £so,asked for, only meant a shilling rate; the water meant a similar rate, and did -anyone, he asked, grudge that? As ■a consequence of the water supply, -they must have a drainage scheme. -It was a question whether the ratepayors would vote for the benefit of otiiers. die was -prepared to support the committee’s report, and ho hoped that a majority of the ratepayers were with him.

Cr. Miller 'agreed with Cr. Mann. As to Cr. Whinray, he must remember that others took just as much interest in the borough as he did. He did not think for a moment that the water would give out. Even if it did, they should get more. That was no argument against tho drainage scheme. Cr. Whinray issued a pamphlet- stating that the rating would be os 6d. As a matter of fact, the rating would be added to by about Is fid. The argument was fallacious. It was argued that the scheme was too great, but it would be undertaken gradually. As soon as the reduced areas were given drainage, the others would want to come in, as they do now for water. Cr. ’Sawyer did not think the people were in a position to support tho drainage scheme. They would prefer to go in for a harbor in preference. They would never go in for a sewerage to cost this amount. Cr. .Pettio said that, generally speaking, ho was in.favor of the report, but they would bo prudent in going slow. It- would be wise if the .whole matter was referred to the Finance Committee to look into tho question of means. If we went to a division now, he would vote for the committee’s .report, but- he would rather see the matter going to ■ the -committee. He was not in favor oi only the people in the reduced areas .paying for what they got... Ho hop,ed ,-the ratepayers would rise to the occasion.

~ The Mayor agreed with Or. Pettie. This was simply .a start for future guidance, dt would be discussed many times before going to the ratepayers. [t was a question for the whole borough, because it was the start of a work for the whole borough, and it was an advantage to the whole borough in making tho portion in which all moved healthy and sweet and clean. He would have health before tho harbor half a dozen times. In regard to the water, without it some of them would be under tho ground. . A ..Councillor : Poor cnpplo though Continuing, his Worship said that they could affirm the principle and discuss it freely later on. If the report was carried; it could bo reterred to the Finance Committee to go into tho matter. They had spent money on the report, and were they to pigeon-hole it ? It was their boundon duty to do something. Cr. iiright suggested that the report be referred to the Finance Committee to bring up a report as to .tho rate involved in the proposed expenditure. Anyono who had read between the lines would see .that a harbor rate would bo charged chirm" .tho year. They had beon relieved from it, but the rate was inevitable during the coming year.. They had .made a mistake in imposing duties so as to minimise the advantages of the port. Although the water rate would not be so great as the pessimists prophesied ; the valuations bail also been very greatly increased. -tie moved that the report be referred to the Works Committee. This was seconded by C-r. Sawyer.

Cr. Mann and Cr. Miller were in favor of passing tho report first. Cr. Pettio agreed with tho 'amendment. lie would rather see the report adopted by a fuller meeting, and there could be no difference of opinion .amongst -tlio Councillors. Cr. Williams asked if tho passing of the report tied the Council to it. As they had not adopted anything, .what could be referred to the committee? Cr. Bright replied tint further information" was required before adopting the report. The adoption of the report would certainly tie tho Council to tho report. The amendment was put and carried unanimously.