GISBORNE WATER SUPPLY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1261, 29 January 1883, Page 2

GISBORNE WATER SUPPLY.

The following letter re the Gisborne Water Supply appears in the “ New Zealand Times” of the 26th instant:— TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Your issue of yesterday contains a letter from the Gisborne Town Clerk, taking exception to my remarks re the waterworks plans competition. He says they are “ most misleading,” and for this unwarrantable assertion adduces as evidence that I did not inflict on your readers more of the absurd nonsense yclept conditions sent out by his Council. Cc -respondents are advised to be brief and c jiicLe. 1 endeavored to be so in my former coiarnunicatipn, not allowing myself to forget, whilst writing it, that the arrival of the English mail on the same date would have the effect of unavoidably curtailing the space usually so readily granted to correspondents. To the charge of misleading and unfairness, I reply that these terms may be more fitly applied to the Council of Gisborne. It advertises £lOO unconditionally as a bonus for the best scheme, and then sends abroad con-

ditions reducing the amount as a positive certainty to £25. All the rest (Clause No. 10 cited by the Town Clerk ineluded) ie contingant on the voice and vote of the rate, payers. Let Mr Bourke deny this if he can. As to the assertion that the professional gentleman entrusted with the work being liberally treated with, all I need say is, if he were paid over the recognised professional rates, then the Council would be fairly open to the charge of not protecting the just inti re its of the borough. L stly, will Mr Town Clerk state what is •eauy required by Clause No. 8 of the conditions, wherein it is set forth that “a sketch plan be furnished, drawn to a scale of not ess than ten chains to one inch.” Should it .lot read '• not more," or will plans scaled to twenty, forty, or sixty chains to the inch be iccepted as complying with the conditions ? Possibly it is my ignorance that makes me ioubtful.—l am, ie., C, E, Wellington, 25th January, 1883,