WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1122, 15 July 1913, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

AGAIN DISCUSSED BY

COUNCIL.

TO BE BROUGHT UP AGAIN NEXT MEETING.

At last night’s Council meeting, Mr Suggate, of Auckland, wrote advising that he had been engaged by the Shannon people to report on a water scheme for that town and offering «l the same time U» furnish a report ior Fox ton, OK iXat ol the eport to be paid con jointly by Shannon and Foxtuu. The Mayor said that for the small amount the report was to cost he thought the Council would be wise in accepting the offer and he moved that this Council accept the offer of Mr Cheuery Suggate who has been engaged by Shannon, to furnish a report on a water scheme in the terms of his letter.

Cr Freeman seconded the motion.

Cr Speirs said he believed the Council, as a whole, was anxious tor a water and drainage scheme, but he considered that if any more reports were required they should get Mr Cliraie to furnish them as he already had submitted one scheme.

Cr Barber thought very little harm could be done by getting the report and whether it was used or not the information would be valuable.

Cr Coley said lie couldn’t support the motion. He was in favour of getting Mr Climie to furnish any further reports required. Cr Whibley opposed the motion on the ground that it was inadvisable to combiue with any other town in a matter of this description as in the event of the scheme being gone on with, there would always be trouble about the control. In any case he was of the opinion that an artesian water supply was the most suitable scheme for Foxton.

Cr Chrystall also opposed the motion and said he wanted to nip the Shannon scheme in the bud. He would like to hear more about the air pressure scheme. Cr Coley said he wanted it to be clearly understood that he was not opposed to a water scheme. Cr Henderson was of opinion that as Mr Climie had already furnished one report he should get any further work that was required, He was opposed to cooperating with Shannon. The Mayor said that some of the Councillors had missed the point. It was not a case combining with Shannon for a water scheme but only combining to share the cost of a report. Cr Coley ; The Shannon people want a water supply but they want us to pay for it ! The motion, on being put, was lost, the voting being : For, the Mayor and Crs Freeman, Barber and Read ; against, Crs Chrystall, Coley, Whibley, Speirs and Henderson.

At a later stage in the meeting, Cr Speirs moved a small committee be set up to go through Mr Climie’s original report and make any suggestions for improvements or alterations. He said he was satisfied that the borough was ready for a water scheme, and that the ratepayers were prepared to vote for it. He thought it would be a good idea to go through the report and see if any alterations could be made.

Cr Whibley couldn’t see why a small committee should go into the matter —it should be dealt with by the whole Council, and each councillor should have all the information possible. If the motion was amended in that direction he would support it.

Cr Speirs signified bis willingness to have the motion altered as suggested, and this was done. The Mayor looked upon the motion as an absolute waste of time. The point they had to consider was alternate schemes, and it was no good wasting lime going through a report they knew all about. The ratepayers were not satisfied with the artesian scheme, and it was necessary to put something new before them. Cr Chrystall said be failed to see why the Council had turned down Mr Suggate and his air compression scheme. It was a recommendation handed to the new Council that this matter should be fully considered. Cr Freeman said the Councillors had come to the table pledged to support water and drainage. Were they keeping those promises ?

Crs Whibley, Speirs and Coley said they had made no pledges of any kind. Cr Henderson said he was always in favour of water and drainage. He knew that Mr Climie had furnished a report. He did not know Mr Suggate, and he didn’t see why they should turn Mr Climie down.

The Council at this stage went into committee, and the motion was withdrawn. Cr Speirs then moved, and Cr Coley seconded, that Mr Climie be offered the same sum as Mr Suggale had offered to do the work for, to furnish a report on a water scheme from Shannon. Cr Chrystall opposed it, as he said they all knew that a Shannon scheme was out of the question. The Mayor said he was pledged to endeavour to get a report on a scheme from Shannon, and he would do all in his power to get same. The motion on being put was lost, the voting being : For, Crs Coley, Whibley, Speirs, and Henderson; against, the Mayor, and Crs Chrystall, Freeman, Barber and Read,