BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2367, 7 December 1908, Page 4

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

REPAIRS TO' BE CONTINUED. A NEW AGREEMENT. For many months past tho question of continuing the water works contract by the Spiral Steel Pipe Company, of Wanganui, has been under consideration by the Borough Council. In April last the pipe line was damaged by a flood in the To Arai creek, and from that time onwards the Council urged upon the, contractors the necessity of pushing on the work to completion. The contmctors, however, finding that it was almost impossible fo'r men to repair the ‘lino in winter, were in June last allowed to suspend operations until October Ist. In the meantime the Council's engineer foF the work (Mr. R. Hay, of Dunedin) asked to be relieved of his duties, on the ground of illhealth. The contractors then applied for an amount of £IO,OOO due to them in connection with the work, but this the Council refused to pay. Messrs Hatrick and Bignell, representing the contracting company, visited Gisborne about a fortnight ago, and after a conference with the Mayor and Councillors, a settlement of the difficulty was reached. A new agreement vtjs signed on Saturday morning, and provided that on the Council making a progress payment of £SOOO (which was paid on Saturday) tile contractors shall at once resume work, and shall complete their undertaking within four months. Concessions have been made by each party in the new agreement. On the one hand tho contractors have abandoned a claim of over £IOOO for extras, have undertaken to build a break pressure tank at Flood’s, on the To Ami creek, and to do certain additional work necessary to strengthen the pipe line. The concession granted by the Council is to pass the work at a working pressure of 1501 bto the square inch, instead of insisting upon a pressure of 17-51 b. A continuous domestic supply is to be maintained in the town in the meantime, and if from any cuuse the supply is interrupted for a space of 12 hours, the Council may put the matter right at the expense of the contractors. The agreement safeguards the wuter supply of the town during the summer months, and the litigation and inconvenience that were anticipated will he avoided.