WHO WAS TO BLAME?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 619, 22 March 1929, Page 1

WHO WAS TO BLAME?

Collapse of Mt. Eden Reservoir

QUALIFIED ENGINEER TO BE APPOINTED

W° attempt to place the blame upon any individual officer £ ™ S r m w e n y^ r - F ‘ W ' Furkert > engineer-in-chief of t^ e .^ U sil C rks De P artmen t> in his report on the collapse of the Mt. Eden reservoir. Neglect of essential precautions arose through misunderstandings and faulty organisation m the City Council s staff. After discussing the report last evening the council declared its confidence in its officers and adopted a recommendation that a qualified engineer be given authority over all officers in the Waterworks Department. Mr. A. D. Mead was appointed temporarily to the position. J

Summarising individual negligence of the official directly concerned, Mr. Furkert said the City Council erred in placing its most vital service under the control of a man who was not responsible for the design of the works and in removing from the city engineer the responsibility of maintaining wliat he had constructed and the opportunity to see in operation how his structures were functioning. “This is not intended to be a reflection on Mr. Carr’s management of the water distribution and the staff engaged therein, these being matters concerning which I have do knowledge,’* Mr. Furkert stated. “The city engineer erred in not having laid it down definitely in connection with the construction of the new reservoir, that the water level of the old reservoir must be kept below what he considered a safe level, before the ground was removed from the south side of tho old reservoir. However, when he had had the leaks reported, and seen them and realised their significance, he did all that could reasonably be expected of him in dispatching his chief assistant to Mr. Carr to have the water level reduced. Had his instructions beer followed this report would not have been called for.

“Mr. Carr er :ed in not carrying out the request to have the level reduced, and in assuming a different level as good enough, or alternatively in not replying quite definitely that he was not reducing till instructed by the council. Mr. Car.r further erred in not accepting the offer of a man to see that the level of the reservoir was kept at the height required, and in nut giving his pump staff written instructions what to do in order that, even his predetermined height should not be exceeded. “The pump officer also erred in that he did not take the instruction of the superintendent of waterworks seriously, but appeared to please himself what height he kept the water at. “When pursuing the inquiry, I was Very surprised to find that no better method of ascertaining the levels of the water in the various reservoirs existed than visual observation on the spot by men specially sent to observe. Had there been a system of automatic recording, it should have been possible for any member of the council’s staff to have seen at any time the height at which the water was standing in the reservoir, and I think I can safely say the accident would not then have occurred.

“In view of this happening, I am of the opinion that the city engineer should be called upon to make a careful investigation, which cannot be done in any hurried manner, of all the reservoirs, with a view to ascertaining whether any defects are developing which, though now hidden, may eventually lead to another disaster. “Touching the reservoir now being constructed under contract by Fletcher Bros., I have examined the plans, and I am of the opinion that the structure is designed on the best lines, and that if faithfully carried out it should absolutely safe and need cause no anxiety to either those responsible for its upkeep or to those who live below it,” Mr. Furkert concluded.

WATER COMMITTEE’S REPORT The report came before a meeting of the Water Committee on Monday, which in turn reported to council as follows: The system of organisation under which the Waterworks Department is operating was adopted by council many years ago and has in many ways given excellent results. Mr. Carr was appointed to the position of waterworks superintendent by the council in March. 1925. with his presdt au. ority and duties, in continuation ol the policy successfully carried out under Mr. Carlaw and on his recommendation. It recommends that council appoint a qualified engineer to bo head of the Waterworks Department with authority over all officers of that department, and that in the meantime, pending completion of council’s consideration of the intended reorganisation of tho engineering departments, Mr. A. D. Mead be appointed temporarily to this position. “I wish to emphasise the fact that most councillors have only had this report for two hours,” complained Cr. W. H. Murray. “In the future members should have more time for consideration of such important documents.” The councillor wanted to know what officers had been examined. He also desired to know who designed the reservoir in 1912, and who the contractor was. “When the city engineer went to Australia he knew the dam was in a very faulty state,” Cr. Murray proceeded. “He knew all along that it was inherently weak. It should have been the duty of our engineering staff fo take protective measures. I think that when the city engineer left the work in the hands of what is termed jn the report an unqualified engineer he should , on returning, have made fi ure the reservoir was safe. “The reservoir in Khyber Pass to my knowledge is leaking and should be immediately investigated.” He went on to say that the Upper Dam had shown defects and was leaking. Engineers had gono to investigate. Allum: That is all totally incor- ***, - - —._

Continuing, Cr. Murray said ho had pointed out certain erosion. He asked r * Allum to jog his memory. “I think it is quite wrong that the engineer’s responsibility should cease when construction had been completed.” Cr. Allum: You are quite wrong. Cr. Murray: I am always wrong in Cr. Allum’s opinion; but I happen to be right this time. Cr. Allum: Well, we’ll see. “Cr. Murray complains that he has only received the report this morning, but I notice he has had time to write a reply almost as long as the report itself,” observed Cr. T. Bloodworth, amid laughter. “I can only think it is a mercy he only received it this morning.” Cr. Bloodworth, while deploring the disaster, felt that on the whole the council’s officers had been entitled to tho city’s confidence and respect. NOBODY VICTIMISED “I am pleased that the report has made no recommendation that anyone should be made a victim to what was the accumulated fault of the council,” declared Cr. Bloodworth. Although gratified by the way the report had been received, Cr. Allum regretted Cr. Murray’s remarks. “J have had a miserable ten minutes in making this known to the officials concerned. Mr. Bush and the other officers have been very frank, and the city engineer accepts responsibility for the removal of the supporting earth. “I want to correct Cr. Murray’s statement abopt the Nihotupu dam. Mr. Bush reported to me that certain earth had washed away. He told me there was no danger, and that was so. The erosion was immediately repaired. “Cr. Murray had been in error in stating that Mr. Bush had left an unqualified engineer in charge during his visit to Australia. He had evidently confused the names of Mr. Carr and Mr. Carlaw. The latter had been in charge, and was a qualified man.” The committee’s report was adopted and that of the engineer received. CONTINUED CONFIDENCE On the motion of Cr. Allum, the following resolution was then carried without dissent: That while the council does not wish to minimise the seriousness of the conclusions reached by Mr. Furkert it does not see anything in them to disturb its confidence in the officers concerned, a confidence which they have earned over a long period of loyal and faithful service. Council formally gave the Waterworks Committee authority to meet claims arising out of the accident. It also recorded its appreciation of the promptitude and courtesy of the Public Works Department and Mr. Furkert.

EIGHT CITY RESERVOIRS NEW ONE THE LARGEST When the new reservoir on Mount Eden is completed the City Council will have eight storage and supply points in the city. Of these the new reservoir, with a capacity of approximately 3,500,000 gallons, will be the largest. There have been two reservoirs on Mount Eden for many years. One has been demolished to make way for the new structure, and the other was the one concerned in the recent partial collapse. These reservoirs are situated 493 feet above high-water mark. Tho next highest is on Mount Hobson, at 448 feet. Here there are a reservoir and two tanks, the total capacity of which is about one and aquarter million gallons.

Two more reservoirs are situated in the Ponsonby- Archhill area, one at the corner of Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road, and the other near the school. Between them they hold 6,000.000 gallons, each being 232 feet above high-water mark. Khyber Pass now has three reservoirs. Each of them holds about 3,000,000 gallons, and all of them are over 320 feet above sea-level. When the new reservoir on Mount Eden is completed the city will have storage provision for slightly over 20.000,000 gallons, or sufficient to last nearly three days on normal consumption. The full text of Mr. Furkert’s report is published on page 16 of this issue.