BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1733, 22 September 1917, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Thursday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) and Crs. Coley, Henderson, Stevenson, McColl, Bryant, Thompson, Walker and Hurley. The Mayor stated that the concrete tank recently erected at the gas works was not watertight. The matter had been before the - Gas Works Committee, when Mr Kennedy, on behalf of the contractors, made a proposition to the effect that the whole of the inside of the tank be plastered. The contractors were prepared to do this provided the Council paid half the cost. The Gasworks Committee considered it best to refer the matter to the whole Council, Mr Kennedy, who was invited to attend the meeting, claimed that the leakage in the tank was caused through the borough workmen punching holes in the concrete before it was properly dry. They (the contractors) had, however, contracted to make the tank watertight. and were prepared to do so. The best, method would be to plaster the whole of the interior, and if the Council would pay £l3 towards the cost they would do this, Crs Stevenson and McColl. said that Mr Kennedy’s contention that the punching of the holes affected the concrete was ridiculous. Oneinch holes punched two inches into a 19 inch wall of concrete would not affect it. And, in any case, permission to punch the holes was given by Mr Kennedy’s partner, Mr McDermott. Cr Walker contended that in order to have it watertight plastering was necessary. As the agreement provided for a watertight, job, be was not in favour of paying anything'* towards the cost of making it watertight. Cr Henderson said a mistake was made in not providing for plastering in the specifications. He was of opinion that it would bo belter to pay the £l3. The Mayor said (lie contractors had agreed to make a watertight job, and should lie kept up to their agreement. He was very much opposed to paying them anything additional. Cr Bryant considered that under the circumstances it would lie bolter to pay the £l3 and get the tank plastered. Olhovwise the contractors might only patch it up, and later on it might cost (he Council much more. Cr McColl said ho was against giving them anything. They had contracted to make the tank watertight, and should he compelled to carry out their contract. Cr Coley considered the contractors were quite within their rights in asking for the £l3. By punching the holes in the walls for the holts the Council really look the job over. The Council had made a mistake, and would have to put up with it, lie would support paying the amount asked. Cr Stevenson said the job must he made watertight, but unless the Council paid the £l3 the contractors would not plaster it, and would probably only patch it up. lie (bought it would be host lo pay the amount asked and got the job done properly. Cr Thompson said the posit ion was unsatisfactory, but bo believed that the best bargain would be lo pay the £l3 asked for. The Mayor moved, and Cr McColl seconded, I bat no action be taken, as the agreement for construction of concrete tank lias not boon carried out. As an amendment, Cr Slevcnson moved, and Cr Hurley seconded, that the proposal to plaster the whole of the holder for £26, the Council to pay half, as submitted by Mr Kennedy, be aeeepled, subject lo an agreement being signed that this docs not absolve them from existing agreement. On being put, the amendment was carried, Iho voting being: —For: Crs Stevenson, Hurley, Coley, Bryant, Thompson and Henderson. Against: The Mayor and Crs McColl and Walker.