The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1066, 19 September 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1879.

There is a good deal of truth in the assertion, which has so often been made caligraphically and orally, that Municipal Council debates have never been published in the local papers. But there is some excuse for the omission, for debates have never occurred in the Council. Here perfect harmony has reigned, and the business was transacted as though by one man. We have frequently deplored our inability io supply the ratepayers through onr columns v.ith information which we thought they were entitled to, but which was only convej'ed to us in unauthoritative whispers, the Council often deeming it prudent io select the news for our reporter, and to deprive us of that which the ratepayers expected us to supply by going into Committee, or suppressing correspondence by handing ifc round the table instead of reading it aloud. We congratulate the Council upon an improvement in the conduct of its proceedings. Last night there was a somewhat animated and full discussion upon the management of the waterworks. The Council lias apparently awakened io a realisation of the fact that is about time they exercised a little extra snpervision over this undertaking. To ourmindjit is somewhat late in the day, and the Council and ratepayers can do little more than condole themselves with a recollection of the axiom, " Better late than never." The Municipality has been landed in the rpwMlg of a slough through lavish exp, *nditure, it would appear, and the only wa v io get out is to emerge on the other side. The Council appears to be quite S a t i s 6'ed with the extent of its difficulty, and is endeavoring to prevent a further accumulation of trouble by somewhat trespassii 'f? upon what has been considered to be the domain of the Engineer. In doing this ti>ey have acted in accordance withthe wis'i of the ratepayers, who, like Mr. Hnmphi ey, i'avc becme alarmed. The Couucil arif n«» v indebted on account of Waterworks f -o the extent of nearly LIO,OOO, exclusive of the liability on account of pipes. ben this fact was stated at last night's meetiug there seemed to be a general feeing of snrprise that we think should not ha je arisen. Surely it is the duty of Councillors to know what liabOities they ; vrc incurring. They have to provide !e therewith to meet those liabilities. It seems most improper that an ellicial should be Engineer, Council, and, indeed, everything except the ratepayers. As the ratepayers have to pay the piper, itis only right tht-y should have a voice in tl.c selection of the tune that he is to play. It is for them, or rather I heir representatives, to stipulate what works ■hall be done, how they shall be done, and when they shall be done, with the idfica of the Engineer, ol course. Bat

the discussion last night brought a fenfacts to light tending to show that the Council—the representatives of the ratepayers—ha vebeen little better than cyphers so far as th«j Waterworks are concerned, except, of course, that they will have to meet all liabilities connected therewith. It transpired that the Engineer was requested to discharge day laborers, except those actually required, and he responded by reducing his staff by two. We suppose that it was the Council's wish to reduce every expense to the lowest possible standard, seeing that its funds had run I out. The Engineer may have carried out the behests of the Council when he reduced the day laborers' staff by two hands, but he surely knew that the reason why the Council desired the reduction of the staff was that they were compelled to retrench. If he was aware of this, why has he been so extravagant in his management 1 Why engage Mr. Bull to effect certain surveys in connection with the works, and Mr. Fraser to test the pipes 1 Both these things could be performed by the ordinary staff without any increase of expense ; and it was Mr. M'Leod's duty, as an officer in the pay of the Council, to look after the Council's interest, as though he were actually placed in their position. Councillors Smith, Otterson, and Roberts have been appointed by the Council to inspect the works in conjunction with Mr. M'Leod. It will be difficult for them to offer an opinion on matters on which they have no technical knowledge. But the Council have taken a step in the right direction. Our suggestion twelve months ago was that independent professional opinion should be secured bj' the Council, and we still think so. Had the Council adopted our recommendation at the time we first made it we think they would not have acted unwisely.