South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2424, 23 December 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1880.

Tub report of the engineers on the Timaru waterworks scheme, which appears in another column, is of such an assuring nature that it can hardly fail to afford a good deal of satisfaction to citizens generally. The information conveyed is eminently clear, practical, and straightforward. Facts and figures are arrayed in such a way as to define, in the most simple manner possible, the progress that has been made, the present position of the works, the cost of the contracts already let, and the total expenditure likely to be incurred. In a word, the waterworks as they stand are so lucidly photographed that no ratepayer who devotes a moderate share of attention to the report can possibly be deceived.

When the scheme was entered into some time ago there were considerable misgivings as to the reliability of the figures submitted. It was suggested that public works of this nature were usually under-estimated, and that the approximate cost in this instance would probably he largely exceeded. Now, however, that the principal contracts have been let, vague conjecture and uneasy apprehension can be set aside. The cost of the works has been removed from the realms of doubt to the realms of certainty, and the ratepayers ought to feel gratified at (he result. The-original estimate of the works up to date was £9101), ami the actual cost, including probable additions, amounts to £7712 Ills sd, showing a balance to the good of no loss than £IIIG, or 15 per cent, on the engineers’ approximate. This is extremely satisfactory, because it proves that Messrs Dobson and Son have deviated from the well-trodden path of civil engineers, and, instead of under estimating', have slightly over estimated the-cost of the undertaking. Nor can tlie discrepancy—fortunately on the right side—between their figures and the actual cost be termed a flagrant inaccuracy in view of the spasmodic and transitional state of the labor market. The contracts have been uniformly let at astonishingly reasonable figures, and when all the circumstances are considered, the engineers have been wonderfully fortunate with their estimates. So far as the water scheme has progressed, it bodes well for the future of the undertaking. If compared with other schemes of the kind in New Zealand, it will be found that the relationship between actual cost and original estimate is so close as to be most creditable to all concerned. The Oamaru scheme has cost the ratepayers of that borough nearly double the original approximate, and the same may he said of the Silverstream water supply in Dunedin, for which quite a variety of engineering talent was provided. The Borough Council, we think, may be congratulated on what has already been achieved with reference to our water works. Of ivuisu R is folly to “ Halloo before we arc out of the bush,” but the figures given are so satisfactory that we think the ratepayers can comfort themselves with the reflection that the waterworks loan will be found ample for all purposes, and that the town will be placed in possession of an abundant and permanent water supply at a cost that will compare most favorably with the expenditure on any similar undertaking in any part of New Zealand.