WATER AND DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2307, 26 July 1921, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE SCHEME.

At-last night’s Council meeting the Borough Engineer reported as follows: —

“As the necessary notice had not been formally served on owners, avc could not proceed with the nine-inch sewer behind Main Street, After completion of work in Duncan Street, However, as Messrs Osborne, Barber, Podiuore, and others readily gave permission to proceed through their properties from Duncan Street towards Hulke Street; this work has been gone on with. By doing this the men have been kept employed, otherwise it would have meant putting them all off. We also have had to use a certain quantity of six-inch earthenware pipes. The Cement Pipe Company were not in a position to supply enough to keep the work going, so as the above mentioned reason (dismissal of men) also applied in this case, the writer accepted the responsibility of ordering these pipes, enough of which arc now to hand to complete the section now being done. Given fine weather, this will he completed about the end of the month, when a commencement will lie made on the nine-inch sewer (Main Street area). Yesterday advice was received from Hastings, saying that a good supply of cement pipes would be available very shortly, so there should be no more occasion to use earthenware pipes. The foreman in charge requests that another Dropham pump be purchased, before any more work is started on ‘wet’ streets, as he found that there is too much waste time when using only one pump. We will therefore be glad to have authority to order another pump. To dale twenty-one manhole covers have come to hand, and the contractors have promised to send them forward more regularly. All covers have now been cemented in, and are now complete for traffic. Larrikins have again been tampering with the lamps at night. This matter has been placed in the hands of the police, who intend to make an example of the offenders.”

The Mayor stated that at the last meeting (lie Council had cancelled the balance of I he order for earthenware pipes, and lie did not think that (he Engineer should have ordered the pipes without first getting the Council’s consent. Cr. Marlin stated that the Water and Drainage Committee had never been consulted in the matter, yet the Council had to “foot the bill.” Cr. Coley asked which was the best —for the Engineer to have to put off the workmen for some time, or for him to get the pipes?

Cr. Whibley stated that the Engineer should take his orders from the Council. Cr. Ross slated that the Water and Drainage Committee should be consulted, and be responsible, as the Council was not always available.

It was decided that the Engineer be advised that when any variation in a policy laid down by the Cohnpil is considered necessary by the Engineer, such matters shall first be referred to the Water and Drainage Committee; and that the purchase of a pump, as recommended in the report, be held over in the meantime.