PUKEKOHE'S WATER SCHEME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 211, 22 September 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S WATER SCHEME.

Engineering Supervision Debate. The procedure to be adopted :n regard to carrying out thu water scheme, bs approved at the recent loan poll, was discussed at the monthly meetng of the Pukekohe Borough Council on Wedneslay evening, the memb rs present bei- g the Mayor, Mr H. G. K. Mason, Crs Koadlty, Bilkey, Clarke, Patterson and Bart r.

On a letter being read from Mr D. W. McArthur stating that he would be visiting Pukekohe yesterday and world be prepared to advise Mr Wyatt, Borough Water Engineer, as to construction works, Cr Koadley asked, "In what capacity is Mr McArlhur coming here?" The Major rerlicd that he presumed that Mr McArthur's letter meant that he accepted the appointment of Consulting Engineer. Cr Kuacley: Have any terms been arranged?

The Mayor: No, but I suppose the terms will be tbe usual scale charge ot two and a-halt per cent, for supervision.

Cr Roadley contended that some definite arrangement should be entered into, and he proposid that the Waterworks Committee ibiuld interview Mr McArthur and submit proposals to a special meeting cf the Council to be held next week. Cr Clarke seconded. A reference to the Minutei showed that although no resolution actually appointing Mr McArtW to supervise had been passed it was decid d to inform the Ratepayers' Associuion, in to a communication from that organisation os to tbe water sch-me, that it was intended that Mr Wyatt shouH undertake the work under Mr McArthur's supervision. Cr Koadley urged tbat the matter actually commenced and stopptd with the Ratepayers' Association. Tbe Mayor p in ted out tbat the Town Clerk communicated with Mr McArthur on bans of the decision referred to.

Cr Koadley's motion was then agreed to, RATEPAYERS' PE 111 ION.

At a later stsge in the meeting Mr Wm. Roulston attended and presented a petition, containing the signatures cf 216 ratepayers, which read as follows:—"To the Mayor and Councillors,— We, the unr/e-signed ratepayer", respectfully request that you engage a prominent hydraulic engineer to verify t e water scheme adopted at tbe recent, pell, and to see that it is installed without any alterations unless they are ti:st agreed to by the above-mentioned engineer."

Mr Roulston stated tbat the Council would remember that on the eve of the loan poll there was a good deal of agitation in regard to the wa'.er scheme. He according 1; had an interview with both the Mayor and Cr Barter ar.d as a result of Cr Barter seeing other members certain promises were made as to what course would be pursued by the Council. Ihe Mayor: Not by tfce Council. Mr Roulston: I accept the cjrrection. -Froceediup, Mr Houlston said that he understood Crs Fatterson and Hubbard were parties to the promise made, and a good many ratepayers voted for the loan id consequence of the assurance he (Mr Koulstor:) gave them the result of the promise in question. By the fact that the petition bore 216 names of ratepayers out ot 505 on the roll, the Council would recrgnise toat a good prjeortion deaired the scheme to be referred to an hydraulic engineer. In many instances a husband had signei but not the wife; it could, however, be reasonably taken that the wife woiiH also have signed if the petition had be'-n taken to her. If the Council thought it necessary many more lignatures could be obtained. He contended that the mjuislion was worthy of consideration as it showed that there was a general tiding tbat something should be done to verity the echeme so as to see that was right before public money v»as Bpmr. Ihe Mayor promicd Mr Kouhton that the petition would be duly De added that hp, personally, was satisfied with the scheme and he believed that he was more cautious than most men. Mr Houlston remarked that he thought there was an element of lisk and that was the reason he took an interest in the matter.

In reply to Cr Patterson, Mr Koul ston stated that he bthevM the signatories to the petition were aware that tbe Bcfccnie had been verified by Mr McArthur, Mr Koulston then withdrew. COUNCILS CONSIDERATION. lUpon the conclusion of the agenda paper, Cr Koadley suggested that some decision shoull te arrived at in rrgard to Uic petition presented'by Mr Roulstcn, as it was evident that there was an agree treat of public opinion that further qualified advice shoulf be secured, Cr Bilkey believed that a good many people bad signed the petition without knotting wbat tbey signel Cr Clarke considered tnat there woulJ be no slur on anyone if another engineer was enraged, and if bis advice corroborated things it woulJ be all the mere creditable to Mr Wyatt.

Cr Batter stited that be was mainly responsiUe of f he promise given of which the petition was the outcome. He recogms-d that there had been a good deal of talk as to the woeful wrste of money in I'ukekohe, and if another engineer was appointed the responsibility fur the scheme would be shifted from the Council on to the ratepayers, and all future talk would be stopped. When he gave the promise alluded to he was not aware that Mr McArthur hart spent three days in going over and checking Mr Wyatt'fl figures If he had known that he woui.l not have been so ready in giving the prorrise. Nevertheless, he considered it the Council's duty to listen to the ratepayers when (hey presented such a petition as they had before them that night, but it was astonishing to him on looking at the names on the petition to find that certain people had signed and thus i\a r i no confidence in the Council

The Mayor: They Mave confidence, but (hey were '.manic t" say "no" when asl-fi to sign, Ur Harler, in conclusion, took ex caption to the latter portion of the petition as to no alteration being rittiy _ faii|NM|i K iHU

being submitted fur endorsement to the engineer to be appointed. Cr Koadley proposed that in accordance with the petition an independent byidaulic engineer be appointed to verify the scheme.

Cr Clarke seconded. 1 In reply to Cr expressed the tnlrtsulution ai Koadky did nut cast any obligation on tbe Council in regard to tbe concluding paragraph ot the petition and Cr Koadey acquiesced.

Cr Patterson moved ?s aa amendment that a public meeting should be cali.d and the whule position be placed before the public. He contended that it was absolutely useless fcr the Courcil to sit there night after right and then for the public to say "Appoint someone else." As Mr McArthur caa been sppninted to supervise he doubted whether by reason ot professional etiquette they would get another reputable engineer to act as proposed, but it the meeting favoured such he would agreu to that course. Signatures were easily obtained on any petition taken round.

Cr bilkey seconded the amend ment.

Cr Koadley urged tbat it was not for the Council to conjecture how the signatures were obtained. The petition was presented by a citizen of repute and they had to take it as bona fide. The simple question was whether they were prepared to act on it. Cr Barter: A public meeting is no good. Only about a dozen people will attend. Cr Koadley: TLis petition is our public meeting. We are tbe servants of the ratepayers and shouH act in accordance with their views. Cr Clarke: It is no won vr from past experience tbat the people of Pukekobe are suspicious. (To Cr Patterson): Why are you frightened to call in another engineer. The Mayor: Address the chair, please, The Mayor said he was sorry tbat indications pointed to the reeoU ot the voting depending on bis vote: tie regretted that he had made any promise in the matter, and it would be a lesson to him for 'the future. He did not regard tbe petition as a slur on Mr Wyatt or Mr McArthur but it wa* a ilur on the Council. It meant that a few people bad bestirred themselves and bad decided tbat tbe town's business could not be entrusted to them (tbe Council 1 . However, he had made a promise which bound him and he might have to vote contrary to what ha wished. He did not know what was the basis of doubt in regard to Mr McArthur. Cr Barter: The basis of doubt is due to Mr McArthur not coming to Pukekobe. The Mayor: An engineer does not do the field work, but leaves it to bis assistants. A vote on the amendment was taken on tbe voices, but uncertainty prevailed as to tbe result, although Crs Clarke, Koadley and Barter audibly dissented. Tbe Mayor, 'apparently voting with Crs fatterson, and Bilkey in favour ot the amendment, announced-tbat he would give his casting vote against the amendment. Cr Bilkey, rising from his seat and taking up his hat, thereupon announced, "I am not going to be made a foci of. I will resign." The Mayor: I will give my casting vote tor the amendment, so it is carried.

Upon the amendment becoming tbe substantive motion, Cr Koadley advised that a public meeting would only raise strife. The Mayor suggested that tbe question should be adjourned to a special meeting to be held next Wednesday.

Cr Barter moved an amendment that the matter be adjourned as suggested by tbe Mayor.' Cr Koadley seconded. Cr Bilkey: It would have been far better it promises had tever been made and tbe loan turned down.

The Mayor: I was caught napping,

Cr Barter: I was not caught napping as ] recognise that it a genuine request comes forward it should be considered.

Tin- adjournment of the debate was then agreed to as proposed oy Cr Barter, and it was understood that tbe Waterworks Committee would communicate the position to Mr McArtbur on his visit to Pukekohe yesterday.