SHANNON'S WATER SCHEME.

Shannon News, 13 March 1925, Page 3

SHANNON'S WATER SCHEME.

ENGINEER'S NOTES ON .THE COST

The following supplied to the Shannon Borough Council at its meeting on Tuesday evening by the Engineer (Mr B. Edwards):— "it would appear from remarks made by councillors at the last meeting of the Borough Council tin at ratepayers are of the opinion that the scheme has exceeded the estimate by a sum not anticipated. I feel sure that jwhetn they are supplied witn sqme data relative, to the oast and history of t'he scheme and happenings over which the Council and the engineering department jhad utterly no control, any. fair minded person will at once admit that the first-class water supply, capable of supplying a very much greater population Man will live in Shannon for many years, and sufficient water to sell to people outside of the Borough equal to half t'he interest on the cost of construction, is very well worth the money. already contracts have been entered into in this respect Which provide approximately one-twelfth ;.qJL mo whole interest on the cost w' ,; • the ,' works from outside the Borough. "At this point I will refer to trie sharp rise in the cost of steel owing to the 'Ruhr Valley occupation /by the. French troops at a date suds&quent to the date when the estimate was made. This matter is referred tu in one of Messrs Duthie's letters dated 5/4/23, thus ', 'Developments in the Bu'hr Valley are having a violent eifect on the steel market.'' Tlie foregoing was pommon knowledge in the steel circle. It is hardly necessary to point out that all estimates are based on market values, and quotations .supplied to professional men by those producing the materials at the time of making the. estimate. "On looking over quotes lor estimate purposes supplied by several firms in the pipe business, the above rise in steel increases the cost of the work by approximately ,4; 1000 ,on roughly 13,0001't of 8-indh diameter steel pipe £826, the price of the 6mch x iinch pipes being similarly affected. It is a very low estimate to put the difference at £2OO or more.

"It would be interesting to know whether the ratepayers consider that the Council and myself were in any way responsible for the occupation of the "Ruhr" by fie French troops. "About two years ago a new Council was' elected with the result that the cost of the scheme was increased by about £7OO by going beyond the point of intake originally planned try me, for which extra cost no provision whatever has been made by the Council and at fiat, meeting the plana were ion the Council table for the information, of the councillors.

"The question of extended reticulation private services and the addition of a system of rider pipes was freely discussed at' a special meeting of. the Council when it was decided to adopt my suggestions in these matters. Ttie reticulation was extended to siutpJTiy water to the settlers along the Levin road, also to what is practically an extension of Grey Street as applications were being made for water at these points; indeed in the case 01 the Levin road the Council has agreed to supply to m Liggins with an immediate prospect of supplying others with water in this direction. In this case no provision has been made for extensions. "As to the reduced estimate ol £lO,<)77 Is 3d it was common knowledge at that time the 10 per cent, allowed bv Act would all be required; the date was September, 1922, long before any additional work was authorised. "I may here draw attention to the fact tlhat your Gcxuncil has it recorded on the minutes that in buying materials for this job, I had ful in effecting a saving of £330 4s t>u. Since the date of. that record two ; further savings, £l2 6s and Uo 10s respectively, have been made. Theie, are also many other smaller sums saved in the same way. The total, shown, however, is £387 14s 6d. : "In looking into tlhis question ofestimate, it is, as well to note that the first estimate made was £12,903 i*s sa. The following short summary shows clearly that the ratepayers have got 1 Ml value for their money. Shortly, the scheme now practically completed is with the exception of a decrease j in the size of the reservoir, the same j scheme as the one estimated at £12,-1 953 14s 3d. A summary and analysis | of the figures in the cost of the water'supply scheme shows clearly that the work has been carried out and completed for approximately £3OO less than the reduced estimate of £lO,973 Is 3d. Estimate of figures com-J puted by the Town. Clerk, £12,865. To, show how the estimate compared with | the cost we must reduce this sum by: the following amounts not provided for ajnd referred >to in this report:—lncrease in pdee of steel CIOOO alteration of intake not provided for £750. A low estimate of extension of reticulation, etc, £SOO, total £2250 leaving a balance of £10,6i0.

LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER. •The following letter was received from Mr Edwards by the Council:—"l dulv received your letter of the 27th ultimo, including what purports-., to be a copy of a resolution passed on the 26th of February by the Borough Council, I desire to meet iftie Borough Council in its efforts to keqp within its financial engagements, and if it is of any assistance to you to do so, 1 shall not put you to any further expense in travelling expenses, supervision, or otherwise than has already been incurred in connection with my appointment as Engineer for carrying out the water works scheme for Shannon; the scheme so far as my remuneration and settlement of same is concerned, to be taken as completed on the date of the resolution. So as to conclude tlhis matter, will voiu be good enough to supply me at your earliest convenience with particulars of the amounts expended on this w;ork< up to date so that I may be able to- let you have an account of the money payable to me. Of course

the foregoing has no reference to my appointment as Engineer to the Bor-1 ough of Shannon, whieli was referred to and distinctly understood at trip last meeting of the Borough Councilt

held on the 26th ultimo that 1 suould continue hi that capacity." The Mayor: This is not his resignation. On looking over tin.' figures the portion about the rise in steel is all rubbiiSih as we ordered our material long before the Riuhr occupation. The Mayor then .outlined the work being done by the men now employed in filling 111 the open drains, stating that 128 chains had been completed in the week, which at tins rate would only take four" weeks, to rinis'n. It was then moved by Cr. Gunning, seconded by Cr. Hyde, "That Mr Edwards' resignation us contained m his letter of the sth March, 1935, as Engineer for the waterworks scheme be accepted, that is to say that his services in connection with the waterworks cease from the 27th February last, he to be paid ius commission and expenses to that date and no, furtner."—Carried. A further resolution, .proposed by Cr. Murray and seconded by Cr. Bun, was also carried: "That Mr Edwards' services as Borough Engineer and ah other services terminate on Uie 31st day of March, 11>25, this resolution 10 be notice of termination of engagement."

Cr. Murray then drew attention to a letter which appeared in the "News'' in respect to the water scheme, particularly as to the reticulation of Uio whole of the Borough and he said he would like to point out that Uieiv was not the slightest question t*ial the whole of the Borough was to be reticulated, but he would like to hear an expression of opinion from the Council on this point. The Mayor and councillors said there was no. doubt on this poi.nl. Cr. Gunning said he had always believed that the whole of the borough was to be reticulated with the exception of one or two out-of-tlie way places. Cr. Curran said that at the fast meeting the Engineer had insisted that tlhe plans had been placed on the Council table. Councillors could only remember a. blue plan being shown them. Cr. Murray: "Outside, people say we should have known our position months ago and should have had reports as the work progressed." He said he had pointed oist to them mat both the Town Clerk and Engineer had presented reports but they had not understood from these that only part.of the town was to be reticulated. The Town Clerk said that he had always presented a monthly statement of revenue and expenses in connection with the scheme.

. Councillors expressed their opinion ! that there could be no doubt the whole of the town was to be reticulated according to the original intention.