WAITARA NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 139, 4 August 1911, Page 5

WAITARA NOTES.

(Per Press Association.) Waitara, August 4

Tiie Waitara Borough Council has just .received tiie result of tiie arbitration proceedings in connection with the price over-paid the Mephan and Ferguson Steel Pipe Co. for carrying out the waterworks contract. Owing to a variation of the original agreement as to terms of settlement of the Council’s liability being questioned, the Borough paid- £13,828 13s 2d under the certificate of its engineers, but the company claimed £1257 14s 9d more. The arbitrators did not agree, and left the matter to an umpire, who decided that the Borough should pay £298 14s lOd in full satisfaction, costs of arbitration (amounting to £l2B 2s) to ho borne by the parties equally. At a public meeting last night, it was unanimously decided to authorise the Borough Council to call for competitive designs for a Town Hall, to cost about' £4OOO. Business men arro aggrieved at the action of the Underwriters’ Association in refusing to reduce insurance rates in the business area. These arc the same now as before the introduction of the high-pressure water supply, and seeing that the town has equipped a fire brigade, and the water pressure is never under 1251h5, it is considered the treatment is inconsistent. The Underwriters’ Association will be petitioned to reconsider its decision, and failing a favourable reply, the State fire office is to be approached direct.