DRAINAGE FOR GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2195, 20 May 1908, Page 2

DRAINAGE FOR GISBORNE.

MR. MESTAYER’S SCHEME. FURTHER REPORT TO RE OBTAINED. At the meeting of the Borough Council hist night I lit’ lollowing letter was received from Air. Jolni Rogers. A.A1.1.C.E.:- — “Napier, May 1, 1308. “His Worship Urn* Mayor, Gisborne. “Dear Sir,—From press reports 1 have, concluded that you are not lavora hie to the adoption of the system of sewerage recommended by Mr. Aiostayer, and under this aspect of tile matter 1 think I am at liberty to oiler some suggestions. 1 know from personal experience that the Shone system of sewerage is both costly in construction and very expensive in working, owing to the considerable loss in the compressed air. 1 am personally acquainted with Gisborne, and have no doubt that pumping must he resorted to, hub I should advise a centrally-situated pumping plant to pump the sewage through a short length of rising main to a sufficient elevation for How by gravitation to septic tanks and filter beds. It would bo necessary to construct on.’ main intercepting sewer which would Have to be laid fairly deep m order to give good fall and self-clean-sim*' velocities to all branch and reticulating sowers. The septic tanks eient capacity to deal with the sewerage of your nrcsont population,and as the volume of sewerage increases by growth and population the area of tTiese works could be proportionately increased at a moderate outlay. Air. Me,stayer’s estimated cost appeared to me to bo excessive for a town of the population of Gisborne, and I should think that an expenditure of from £40,000 to £50,000 would inst.nl a sewerage scheme capable of serving Gisborne for many years to come. As you will no doubt have plans and levels available, I should be glad to give you a report and estimated cost of a scheme such as foreshadowed for a moderate fee, and I ! would make a close and personal ini spection of the district affected. I may remark that 1 am personally acquainted wirli Or. Miller, to idiom you may refer. 1 include for your i perusal a report recently, prepared by ■ myself oil the Hastings sewerage, and i a report on the .Parramatta sewerage, j which kindly return. Trusting to re--1 ccive a favorable reply. I am, etc., I “JOHN ROGERS, A.M.1.C.E., “Civil Engineer.” DISCUSSION. The Mayor said the letter opened up an import a |.t question. They were ‘ all desirous of getting tho best drainage system, and not spend a pound I more than could be helped. He was I sure that Mr. Mestayer had gone into 1 tho matter fully, and lie would sug- ! gest that Mr. Jekyll, of Palmerston | North, he asked to report upon a ! drainage system for the town and the best system of sewage disposal. Gisborne was better situated than Palmerston North, as it had the sea, and the cost of the Palmerston North j system was only £50,000. Air. JekI yil preferred to use the sea if possible for tho disposal of sewage, and he (Air j L.vsnar) was confident Gisborne could 1 benefit by the experience of other ! towns, and Air. Jekyll’s experience. I He had already asked Air. Jekyll his | charge for a report, and had received 1 a reply that he would be prepared to ! report upon the work for. £5 5s per | dav, or about £7O for the total work. 1 He (the speaker) would like to see ! Air. Jekyll engaged to prepare a re- ! port, as Mr. Alestayer’s scheme mj volved an impossible expenditure. He i did not wish to interfere with tiro rc- : solution passed at a previous meeting, i but would like the Council to have a 'report from Air. Jekyll before the ! proposal to borrow £125,000 was gone | on with. I Cr.- Whinm v seconded the Alayor s ! motion that Mr. Jekyll be engaged, pro forma. He did not think the I town was vet large enough to under- ! take an expensive, drainage scheme. ! Gisborne was as sanitary from a health point of view as any other town of the sine. Tho money market was unfavorable, for a loan, and in- ! creased expenditure was impossible witli such threatened increased expenditure upon the waterworks and other i borough requirements. He did not think a poll on the-Mestayer scheme i would bear any fruit whatever, and ; tho ratepayers would never sanction ! an expensive pumping scheme, i Cr. Darton said tho Council was not;. considering Mr. jMestayer’s scheme. He was opposed to the engagement of Air. Jekyll. The Council had the advice of expert- engineers, and should not consider the advice of a mail who had not tho highest reputation. Air. Mestayer had reported that a septic tank system was not advisable, and before the Council departed from that advice it should bo I shown the advice was wrong. He was quite, prepared to get further advice ! on Mr. Alestayer’s scheme, which he j thought was too expensive to undertake- at present. He would not be adverse to having a report on a cheaper scheme, but would oppose the engagement of Air. Jekyll. Cr. Williams agreed witli Cr. Darton, and did not think the Council should put Air. Jekyll’s opinion on a drainage scheme before the opinions |of Air. Mestayer or Air. Hay. If the LCouncil got further opinions, an opi- | nion worth paying for should be obtained. It had been suggested that Air Midgeley Taylor should be sought, but the Council gathered from the report for Auckland and Napier that lie would favor the Aiostayer scheme for Gisborne. They should have information from the best- sources only. Cr. Sheridan also opposed tho motion. Air. Hay had said he could not better Air. Alostayer’s scheme. As ! far as ho could see all tho Councillors ! were agreed that the time was not j opportune for undertaking a drainage ■ scheme, and that the formalities pre- | vious to going to a poll should bo dej layed. as it was evident that such a poll would be defeated. | Cr. Pettie said the whole question i had been discussed, and tho Council ; almost- unanimously approved of Air. Alestayer’s scheme. He was not- in favor of a long delay before that scheme was placed before the ratepayers. He came to the Council pledged to see a scheme carried out-, and , lie thought the ratepayers were ready to approve of the- scheme- decided upon by the Council. Cr. Somervell said the motion was important. The septic tank system had already been discussed and rejected because there was not sufficient- fall. The Alayor: Air. Jekyll favors running the sewage into tho sea. Cr. Somervell: I have no objection to the getting of all information, and J have doubt if Air Alestayer’s scheme will ho carried. If we get a report, | .it should be from an eminent engineer before wc throw out Air. Alestaver’s scheme. Cr. Sawyer said Air. Jekyll might he quite as good an engineer as many men with a big name. He would like an opinion on Air. Jckyll’s scheme at Palmerston North from the Mayor of that town. Tho Alayor, in closing tlio discussion, said he recommended Air. Jekyll as the host source, because lie did not know a better man for the work. Air. Jekyll had been successful in Palmerston North and other towns, anu stood higher iu the profession than Air. Rogers. Air. Aiostayer and Air. Hay had only reported on drainage works in the larger cities, and the Dunedin sewage works had been a great failure. Air. Leslie Reynolds had had more to do with sewage than any man in the Dominion, but he -was not -available. The Palmerston North scheme was an admitted success, and possessed greater difficulties than Gisborne. Cr. Darton: Arc there not parts m Gisborne with less- fall than Palmerston North? The Alayor: No, liono; but that is what I want this mail to come and tell us for the sum of £6O or £7O. I almost feel like paying it iuvself. Why pause at such a small expenditure when there is so much money at stake.

Cr. Sheridan: I would, prefer to engage Mr. Rogers. Or. "Williams: "Wo could even get a wood man from Australia. ° The Mayor: We want a scheme within our means, and I would like to see the £7O risked not to delay, the other resolution.

Cr. Sheridan: I think it is almost sure- to ho delayed. Tito Alayor: i made enquiries as to where wo could got another engineer, and was recommended to Mr. Jekyll. whose work is standing tlio test. Cr. Sheridan: I don’t know Mr. Rogers, but the A.A1.1.C.E. business tickles my fancy, and I prefer him to Air. Jekyll. Cr.Whinray : Look at the A1.1.C.E., mice or whatever it means, mistakes that were made at AVaihirero. Cr. Pettie moved the adjournment of tho debate. Tile- Alayor said ho had closed his remarks, unci 1 would put the motion. Four Councillors voted against and three Councillors and the Alayor for tho motion, which was declared carried on the Mayor's casting vote. Mr Jekyll will therefore be engaged o report. Cr. Sheridan then moved that in tho meantime tho Borough Solicitors bo asked to stay the drafting of the loan proposals on Air. Alestayer’s scheme. Alter -a short discussion, the motion was unanimously agreed to. Cr. Sheridan then gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Council that the motion carried on the Mayor’s easting vote bo rescinded.