SHANNON WATER WORKS.

Shannon News, 3 October 1924, Page 3

SHANNON WATER WORKS.

COST OF TRENCH DIGGING QUESTIONED. CRITICISM IN BOROUGH COUNCILAt last meeting of the Shannon Borough Council the Engineer (Mr R. Edwards) presented the following report:—- " The work on the water supply scheme is progressing satisfactorily. Tne main, pipe/has been laid i.rqm, tine reservoir to the intersection of Stafford and Grand Streets, a distance of two miles and five chains, and the fittings to connect up the private services and owners outside the borough have been completed. On the 25th inst. preparations were made to put the pressure on the first section, extending from the reservoir to the junc- | tion of the pipe track with East road and at 3 p.m. the water was slowly turned intq the pipes and the maximum pressure from the reservoir of 431ibs to the square inch resulted in a perfectly satisfactory test. No leaks at. any points or fittings could be found. On the 27th similar precautionary measures were taken tq pro-, vide against dangerous air pressure and the water was slowly turned on to the whole lengtii of. pipe to Grand Street, the result being in every way satisfactory, no leaks at any point being ' found. The maximum pressure in the pipes was 66lbfe to the square inch. I may point out that the first tarn© the maximum .pressure is put on pipes invariably protvies the most severe test owing' to air pressure. Within the next few days the balance of the earth filling will be completed and the track surface cleaned up. The work of reticulating the streets will now b£ put in hand. I may remark that for some weeks past the weather for outside labour has been .very trying for the men. I trust there will be an improvement from this on.

The men at work forming the footways are making fair progress. I hope to give more attention to this work during the week. The old blacksmith's shop has been secured for 12/6 per week. This place will make a good workshop and I hope to get possession) of it in about a week's time.

I intend to empty the reservoir in about a week's tune and make a careful inspection qf the inside work. So far, however t this is-satisfactory. The contractor has done some more, work in plastering the valve pits. In the carrying out of the work of laying the main supply pipes over private property I desire tq state that the owners have shown every consideration 'to the Borough employees in the execution of this fairly heavy work and I desire to place on record my hearty thanks to those good people. During the discussion of the above •report Cr. Murray complained of the delay in' the progress of the waterworks and stated the Council should take steps to have the work speeded up, so as to have it completed for the summer.

The Mayor agreed and in .referring to'•' the cost of digging the trenches and laying the pipes) and fitting to the town boundary he said that from thewages that the Council had paid out, this work had cost about £3 per chain. Cr. Gunning said that he would not say that, as it must toe remembered j that the men were going back and ; forward to the beadwork on. other work. Gr Murray said he was not satisfled and if ihe "Mayor cquld substantiate the istatment he had made an enquiry should be set up. ■ The Mayor pointed out that £1027 had been paid in wages, no£ including £6O to the Wanganui man, and after allowing £6OO for labour frqm the mtake to the reservoir, according to his reckoning, £587 had been, the cost for I digging 200 chains of trenches, laying the pipes and fitting. Cr. Curran said it was too late now, but' the whole work should have been let 'by contract. In his opinion the wtorst chain length cquld have been done for 15s per chain. Cr. Butt .said it must be remembered that a dertain amount of work had been done in the Borough, the cost of which was included in the sum, quoted by the Mayor. Cr. Murray sien made reference to the Engineer's estimate. Cr. Gunning: This matter wafe gone into fully at a previous meeting and if members do not attend, we should not ha-ve to. go qver the whole matte* again. Or. Murray: A special meeting should be called to go into the whole matter. If the work has cost £3 per chain it is. absurd. Something is wrong. Cr. Butt: We haye a waterworks committee whose duty it is to look after the work and if anything is wrong it is for them to bring the matter befqre the' Council. Cr. Beard stated that at two previous Council meetings he had asked the Engineer if he could assure the Council <that the work would be carried out within his estimate .and on eAcJi- occasion he had replied in the afttrfaative. Cr. Gunning said in regard to contract woxkv, the minutes stated "■ sihould he. *But the Engineer, to save putting his men off temporarily, had put them on digging trenches, when the Engineer was ready tenders would be invited for the Borough trench digging. * Cr. Butt: If the remainder qf the work takes as- long as the first portion the work will never .be finished before tffie summer months. Cr. Gunning said the work now to be done would "be straight going. In the past it had been tricky and difficult, 'fhe Engineer had been instructed when opening trenches to keep the laying Of pipes dose up; also that the work was to be speeded up, and he had recently put on more men. The Mayor: The pay sheets will have to be thoroughly overhauled and we will, have to see*'that we. get full value tor our money. Cr. Gunning:* The men will soon be working"ln town and *K> douibt good progress will, be made. He said he had made several visits to the work lately and good progress was being made.

Thife concluded the discussion and the report was received.