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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1336, 31 July 1883, Page 2

Borough Council, when we hope that the vexed questions relating to the bungling and mismanagement in connection with the construction of the fire engine died, and the wasteful expenditure of ratepayers money on the same, will be made clear, and the blame brought home to the guilty person, or persons, whoever they may may be. At the ! last meeting our Engineer met Cr. Smith’s accusations with the assertion that he would put iu a statement that would entirely alter the present aspect of affairs, and pul an entirely new complexion on the tiling. Whether this be eo or not, we must still say that the Public Works Committee is much to blame (1) in allowing the engineer (even should it be proved that he is in fault) to proceed in incurring such, outlay of large sums of money without let or hindrance ; and (2) for not nt once, when it. became clearly apparent to the meanest capacity that the work was not being properly executed, promptly stop the same, and so prevent ing a useless squandering of public money. J here is little doubt but what the whole aft »ir Ims been a disgraceful specimen of incompetency and jobbery, even down to the new hose, which proved useless on its first trial, the hose parting from i*s socket couplings on the first strain. W«» Is ope that the expense of repairing the same will be charged to the j firm from which the hose was bought. Whilst on this matter we cannot help asking j why the hose was not ordered direct from j the makers, and the commission thus saved i instead of through doubtful agents ? If some of those Councillors who arc so exacting and unjust about a paltry printing contract, demanding bonds out of all proportion to the amounts concerned, and only enforced in a paltry and vexatious spirit—straining al a gnat and swallowing a camel—were to direct their perspicuous genius to really important and flagrant, matters such as thse. they would far better servo those interests they uro supposed to represent, and which (hey so often sacrifice to personal and interested motives. In the public interests we patiently wait and listen.