THE WATERWORKS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1247, 16 April 1880, Page 2

THE WATERWORKS.

At tlie meeting of the Municipal Council last evening, the following report was read : Engineer's Office, Oamaru, April 15, 1880. His Worship the Mayor and Councillors. Gentlemen. —I have the honor to report with reference to your resolutions parsed at last Council meeting—--Ist. Than I shall have a careful survey and estimate mail;' up of cost of putting the creek bed in proper ordr-r to receive surplus and flood water ; but such survey will enrail some time and trouble. The enclosed tracing, however, will give an indication iu what direction improvements should be made ; but the question of post Ijacl better be deferred until a complete survey is ipade. I have already reported on the matter of tjie creek division as carried out, and given my opinion that i the fall adopted was very much too great, and that the sectional area was not suffir cjent to carry off flood waters. With reference to tfre Jowjer part of the crpek at the dam at the Crpwij Mills, J have &130

reported. The weir, as constructed below the mill, is not sufficient to carry away flood waters. However, as far. as the Corporation is concerned, it ifiust be bgrne in mind that, in the negotiations for the purchase of this particular property or that part, of lb required by the. Goivernment for the main railway line) concessions and arrangements werfe made l>y the Government with' the then proprietors, which resulted ih the works, as now standing, ; being carried out, and it would appear to me that whatever action was then taken will have to be enquired into, and any proposed alterations as to present levels will have to be referred back to the Government. L 2nd. As to second the terms thereof will have my best attention, 3rd. As to the itejn of L 97 17s in Wallace's accountj this will be adjusted in final certificate of accounts. I have to send you herewith Mr. West's resignation as Inspector of Timber Works. I regret thivt Mr. West should see fit to send in his resignation, as he has been so long on the works and is so thoroughly well acquainted with all remains be finished that the loss of his services now will, I consider, be very detrimental to the works. I have on several occasions, in deference to the wishes of the Council, reduced the number of daymen employed, but find that it is impossible to. carry out the work without having discretionary power to put on men when absolutely wanted, and, consequently, have ha<J to put them on again. For example ; Yesterday I ordered six men to be discharged off the reservoir, and to-day find .that it is absolutely necessary to take them on again, or let the work be done in an inferior nianner.. At head works, owing to a sudden change in the river, I have had to employ six men extra for a few days to put the winter cut right. . : On the Black Pqint and Awamoko sections everything in connection with the works is in first-class order.

In timber we have over 30,000 feet delivered by M'Call am and Oct. to order, the timber now being sorted out and delivered on the ground. Day's and Barnes' contracts are fast being completed, plenty of timber being available for them to go on with. At the Italians' tunnel Messrs. Ritchie Young and Company are making fair progress. At the reservoir the works are progressing well. We are still short nearly IQQ barrels ccipent. I have sent for prices to different firms in Dunedin, and expect to get their replies to-morrow morning. In the meantime the Harbor Board will, I think, lend us 20 casks to go on with. In the pipe-laying contracts, first rate progress is being made, the contractors doing their work as it ought to be done under my direct supervision arid that of the Inspector, Mr. M'Farlane. The different contracts accepted by you on the Bth inst. have been taken up. IVIr, Flaherty will commence his contract next week. . Mr. Mullin has already begun his contract for pitching at the reservoir; and with reference to the fencing contract, I have, after due inquiry, got the posts and rails from Mr. Rickman, Waimate, at a reasonable figure, delivery now being made of 900 posts and rails, and Mr. M'Laren will commence erecting the fencing on Monday first.—l am, s;c.,, I). A. M-Leod, Engineer.

Considerable discussion took place upon the resignation of' Mr. West, and it was ultimately resolved, on the motion of Councillor Humphrey, "That the Engineer be instructed to accept Mr. West's resignation; and that the Engineer's report be received and referred to the Waterworks Committee."