OUR WATER-WORKS.

Otaki Mail, 1 June 1923, Page 2

OUR WATER-WORKS.

ANOTHER TEST DESIRED. WAS THE LAST TEST SATISFACTORY?

At yesterday’s meeting of the Otaki Borough Council it was pointed out by the Mayor that the Engineer had asked for an expression of opinion relative to a te't of the pipe line. He had understood that the Works’ Committee had asked for a 2-1 hours’ test, that this test had been made, and that the Council was satisfied as it was getting 100 per cent, efficiency, lie considered a reso- : union should have been passed that the Council was satisfied, but it now ap- ! peered some were dissatisfied with the Uvt. He would, in view of outside critic ism, like to see a resolution passed ■ that the Council was satisfied.

Cr.’ Kilsby said, as Chairman of the Works’ Committee, they li-.ul not had a 1 satisfactory tost, and that there had been leaks at the by-pass. Until these were remedied they could not have a satisfactory test, further, he desired to see a full* tank before expressing an opinion. [ Cr. Kiimister said the Works ’ Coinnnttee had not said that the test was snt- ! isfaetory. He had not said >t was a I good test: what he had said was that ‘it was not a bad one. What he desire to see was a 18 hour test.

Cr. Kilsby said when the tank was satisfactory a test could be made and then ,I,OV could express an opinion. Or. Tavlor said all that was desired was a IS hours’ test, ad not a 191 hour as had been made. If the test was satisfaetorv. Mr. Davies would receive congratulations, but until it was made lie would withhold his opinion. Or. Cockrell said, unfortunately, he w„s not present at the test, and pointed ,hat the break in- the by-pass had not been mentioned at the last meet"c7. Kilsby asked why hurry, advised to ,ifuigs in order, and then have a test. Tim Mayor said he understood that ike test had been satisfactory. Or. Kiimister said lie attended with ,hc Engineer and read the meter, and 1 that other members of the Works’ Committee were absent on the occasion. The Mayor maintained that all would have to pull together and support emI plovees as long as they proved efficient. If thev proved inefficient then lie would 1„. tin! first to find fault, but if a feel-

ing of distrust was created among employees the Council would not get efficient work. The Engineer said he had asked tor a test: it had been granted, all attended, cvervthing appeared satisfactory. The tank was full when the test was made, and tlm break in the by-pass no difference. He was prepared to stand or fall by the test, and the committee had agreed to do likewise. He invited the Committee to have any test in units. Reverting to the test made, he stated that he had asked Counmade, he stated that he had asked Cr. Kiimister if the tesl was a tair one, and he had received an answer that n wa „ a good one. He maintained the Works’ Committee agreed to abide b)

Cr. Kilmister’k report, and contended if the test was a good one it should now be accepted as such, lie considered the Committee was going back on it- word. Mr. Davies also pointed out that the break ill the by-pass in no way affected the test; it was the pipe line they were testing. He strongly maintained the test was a good one. Cr. Kilmister said the Engineer was putting him in a false position. He had gone with Mr. Davies to read the meter and was not appointed to pass the job. He had simply reported the reading of the meter to his committee. The Mayor said he desired to guard against outside criticism. He had been told all sorts of things- that water had run up hill to fill the tank, that the pipes were leaking, and so on. He con- : sidered it unfair to the Engineer to withhold an expression of opinion B the test had been satisfactory. If it had been a good test, he maintained the public should be made aware of it. and then, if desired, more tests could be made. It was a reflection on -Mr. Davies to sav the pipes were all wrong ami that the joints were unsatisfactory. Cr. Kii-by said no reflection had been cast on the Engineer, he (Mr. Davies) was willing to give a test, then why not have it. say one of 4S hours I The Mayor emphasised the fact that

a test had already been made, that it was satisfactory, and that ali the Jvn--1 gineer wanted was the Council to ad- ; mit it was sO. The Council, he said, should support the Engineer. Or. Kilmister said the Works’ Committee desired another test. If they had 1 been satisfied they could not have asked : for it. He denied that he had said the ' test was a good one—he had only said ' it was not a bad one. He was not told off to pass the job but merely to read the meter. Cr. Kilsby said a 4s-houi> ’ «>•»« had been asked for and they should have it. The Mayor again pointed out that a test had been made and it Vi *es only fait* to give an expres>ion of opinion on it. Cr. O’Rourke said they were only splitting straws. He considered if there was no fault with tne previous • test Councillor* should -ay rO. j Cr. Cockrell agreed that there would j be iio harm don* f no - -hois -nvi»g j if the test was satisfactory or otherwise. J Cr. Kilmister considered a 19-hours’ ■

j tost too short, and that a Ad-hour test | was accessary. ; Cr. Rikihana said he understood that j the Works’ Committee v.as cot satisfied with the test. Cr. Kilmister said if they were satisfied with rite teat they would not want . another. The Mayor said it was a pity in btv of criticism that anything should be °3id that the pipe-line was not satisfactory- If the pipe-line was satisfactory it was only fair to let the public know it. Ke thought the matter might he referred hack to the Committee for ga expression of opinion.- Mr DavjjJ3

had given a test and was led to believe it was satisfactory, and this he (Mr Davies) wished recorded on the miuut es. Cr. Kiimister said he hud never led the Committee to believe that the test was a satisfactory one. Cr. Kilsby: We are not satisfied with the test! The Engineer to Cr. Kiimister: \ou told me the test was a good one. Cr. Kiimister said he went to read the meter, but lie had never said it was a good test. On the other hand lie re-

ported it was not satisfactory. This was denied by tlie Engineer, who still maintained Cr. Kiimister has assured him the test was a good one. Cr. Taylor said he saw no need for argument. He favoured a second test, and if that was alright then Mr Davies could be given credit.

The Mayor said he wanted to know if n promise had been made to Mr Davies by the Works’ Committee that an opinion would be expressed on the test, and asked had this been done,’

Cr. O’Rourke said if a further test was needed the Council had a right to ask for it. He did not see that any slur was east on Air Davies; nothing had been said one way or the other. He did not consider Mr. Davies’ reputation would suffer by having a second test.

He did not consider Mr Davies’ second test. Cr. Rikihana: Cr. Kiimister has said the lest was not satisfactory, then why not have another? Cr. Kilsby: We are justified in asking for u second test! It was agreed to have a further test.