PUKEKOHE'S WATER SUPPLY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 13, 16 February 1915, Page 1

PUKEKOHE'S WATER SUPPLY.

Borough Council's Attitude., At ths adjourned meetirg of the Pukekohe Burcugh Council, he I J on Wednedasy, consideiation was again given to the matter of the local water supply as affected by the defeat of the Council's proposed loan. The result of the deliberations was that the Council will continue to administer the affairs of the Borough until they vacate office ss required by law for the biennial election due to take place in April next. The Mayor (Mr C. K, Lawrie) presided, and there were also present: Councillors Comrie, Hubbard, McGough, Hamilton, Beatty and Pollock. A letter was read from Messrs Endean and Hollo way, the Councl's solicitors, intimating, in accordance with the Council's request for advice, that an "extraordinary" election of the whole Council at an earlier date would not obviate the necessity of the biennial election being held next April. The Mayor counselled that in view of the legal opinion received the Council should not bow vacate office but shculd carrry on as best they could until April. He considered that the best course to pursue in regard to the water supply would be for the Council to secure fresh expart advice, as such seemed to be the wish of the residents. He saw no reason why they should forthwith resign. Cr Hubbard stated that he also was opposed to resignation as the Council represented the whole borough and not only the ratpeayers of the "inner" area, the latter alone b;ing responsible for the rejection of the proposed loan. Cr Hamilton favoured the loan proposal being again submitted to the ratepayers. If the people only realised the position of affairs he thougui they would accord their support to the loan. It had been suggested, he said, tr»U the loan principally concerned the of land for a new source of supply but that was incorrect, The real object of the proposed loan was to avoid the existing waste of water, caused by the present reservoir being on such a high level, some 1000 gallons per hour during the night running to waste owing to the pressure valve not keeping back the flow of water.

Cr Pollock said that although the Ratepayers' Association and the Press were not satisfied with Kr Lo.ckie Gannon as an advisory expert the Couocil had full confidence in him, and he was opposed to the employment of aoy other engineer. Cr Hubbard suggested that if another expert was to be engaged the choice should fall on Mr McArthur, the engineer to the Piako County Council, who had had considerable experience in hydraulics. Cr Hamilton: If we get another engineer we are only pandering to agitation. Cr Follock: Why take notice of the man in the street. 1 am opposed to incurring further expense to satisfy agitators. The Mayor: I think that if further advice were obtained the Council would be placed in a better position. Cr McGough: The trouble is that half the ratepayers cousider themselves engineers. In reply to a question, the Town Clerk gave the information that a period of about two months would necessarily elapse before ar.uther loan poll could be taken, and that would accordingly mean that election day would be close at hand. Cr Cumrie remarked that if a start was not quickly made with the construction ot another reservoir it could not be gone on with until next summer. He advocated that a public meeting of ratepayers should be convened within 14 days and the Council's proposal submitted to that meeting. If a favourable vote waß secured at the meeting the reservoir should be built, the cost being charged to the general fund, and if the proposal was defeated the Council should resign straight away. I'hey would then know how they stood. Their idea had been to construct the new reservoir in two divisions, and they could build one half out of the general fund and tne other half coul be added later. Such would provide temporary relief and later on the ratepayers could be asked to vote for another loan to move the works to another source of supply, for which the new reservoir would still be utilised. He considered it quite inadvisable for the Council to continue as they were now doing, be was opposed to obtaining further professional advice as expert opinion had already cost the Borough a considerable sum and they did not need an engineer to tell them that they were losing money by pumping water to the present high level reservoir, nut to mention the loss of waer brought about in connetion with the pressure valve. He therefore proposed that a public meeting should be convened as mentioned in the earlier stage of his remarks. Cr Hamiltcn seconded. The Mayor stated that he had no objection to a public- meeting held for the purpose of things being explained to the people, but he was thoroughly opposed tu any resolution being submitted to Buch meeting, as whether paßsed or not it could not be regarded hb a proper expression of public opinion since a comparatively few could rule a meeting. If such meeting were held it would be use less for the Council to submit their prop-isal without a corroborative professional report, aticl be therefore at ill urged that furrier expert advicp should be obtained. Ct Pollock agreed with the Mayor that a vote al a public meeting

shculJ catry little w.iglit The people really concerned would hardly be likely to attend a meeting, and n resolution passed could rot in that case be regarded as representative ' ot tile peopß Ac their proposed loan had been turned down their duty was to do the best they cculd until April and then let the electors give an expression of their opinion at tbe eleciicu. Meanwhile some of the street-corner engineers might come along and fix the trouble up. Cr Hubbard remarked that the main existing difficulty was with the gas generator bix, and the Council's resignation would not mend matters as regards that. A new generator box had teen ordered and it would be installed in due coyrse. Cr Comrie interposed and stated that the diliieulty with the air compressor machinery was entailing an extra cost for the time being of £& per week in woiking expenses. Cr Hamilton urged that things ought not be allowed to slide. If a loan was not new secured a new Council could not get it carried through until June at the earliest, and that would mean that thev could not have a new reservoir until a year hence. It weuld b3 a serious matter tor the town if by taking no further steps the water supply had to be shut down. Their train facilities, for instance, would seriously suffer if the Kailway Department ccuid not be supplied with water. The tupply was now practically hanging by a thread and it might fail at any time. Answering a question asked, tbe Waterworks Foreman (Mr Wyatt) stated that it wtuld be possible to maintain a supply of water under existing conditions, but the expenses would be high. He added that at the time of speaking the reservoir was full of water to within one foot of the top. Cr Comrie (to Mr Wyatt): Can you carry on safely? Mr Wyatt replied that he would not give a guarantee in that way, as the engine-bed might completely fracture. Otherwise, with the assistance at intervals of the traction engine now being used he would be able to maintain the supply. Referring to the suggested acauisition of a new Ronro? if oupply the Mayor stated that his opinion was that there was plenty of water at the existing source of supply, and the only trouble was that it had to be pumped to so high a reservoir. Mr Lockie Gannon had recommended that another bore should be sunk and he (the Mayor) favoured that work being carried out. If such were done and an expert reported on the results he believed the ratepayers would give their consent to the construction of a new reservior. If it was found that a plentiful supply of water could, as he anticipated, be relied upon there would be no necessity to move the power house to another site. Cr Pollock: Even if there is sufficient water at the present site we should not continue the expanse of rasing water from the bore to the well when wc can secure it on the surface elsewhere. Or Hamilton pointed out that the question of a new site was outside the scope of the loan the Council now wanted. All that the Council bad sought as regards a new site whs confined to getting an option on certain lands. Cr Beatty failed to s.|3 the neces* sity of a public meeting, which would only be a farce similar to a meeting previously held. He thought the Council should cuntinue to go on under existing conditions. Cr Hamilton suggested ihat people did not realise how things stood as they seemed to think that the loan was for a new site. A public meeting would be tbe means of making them acquainted with the

Council's real object?. The c\t:a expense they were now incurring if spread over a year would build tie half portion of the reservoir. Cr Comrie contended tl.at I here was nothing in the argum nt that a representative vote cculd not be secured at a public meeting owing to attendance teing limited. If people were too lazy or indifferent to be present they would rnve to put up with the results. It the ratepayers at the meeting were teli the true position of ;ffairsand secured a majority against the resolution as submitted they would have to suffer the consequences. In that easa be for one would quit the Council. Cr Conine's motion tor-a public meeting was the-i voted on a r d lost by fourvotea to three, Crs Comrie, Hamilton and McGough supporting, the Mayor, Cis Hubbard, Pollock and Beatty dissenting. The Mayor (hen proposed that the Council should secure further expert advice. He thought it would be money well spent. In order to obtain a vote on the matter Mr Hamilton formally seconded, but remarked that any schoolboy Knew that the cost of pumping water tc a height of 500 ftet was excessive and they did not require an expert to tell them that. Cr Hubbard opposed the motion, pointing out tfcat their term of office would have expired before an expert's report would come to hand. The Mayor said that in getting further advice the people would see that the Courcil had done their best. Cr Comrie remarked that they would b* no better off if a second engineer gave them a report. He believed that it was not by the advice of the engineer who dratted the scheme that tbe present reservoir occupied its existng position. Cr Hubbard was of opinion that if the loan had been spread over the entire borough as was proposed by the Waterworks Committee and all the ratepayers had been able to vote on the proposal the whole: of the trouble might have been avoided, as the loan would probably have been carried. On the motion being put for engaging an expert the Mayor alone voted in tavoor, all the other members voting againgt.. Mr Lawrie laughingly declared the motion lost. In reply to a question by Cr Hubbard, the Mayor said that he not propoes to ask the Council to reconsider the matter of water charges. In view of the approach of the election and the result of the loan poll any alteration in current charges would be unwise. Cr Comrie gave notice that at the next Council meeting he would move that a monetary allowance should be made to Mr Wyatt, the Waterworks Engineer, in.lieu of a holiday. Mr Wyatt had not only Been working day and night of late but he had not been able to take a holiday during all the time he had been in charge of the works.