PUBLIC MEETING.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 309, 17 September 1908, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING.

WATER AND DRAINAGE SCHEME. On Tuesday evening a public meeting was held in the Town Hall to consider the question of inaugurating a drainage and water-supply scheme for Waipukurau. There was a good attendance. Mr Chambers, Chairman of the retiring Town Board, addressed those present, stating the reasons of the Board for putting the watersupply and drainage schemes before them. The Board had been in receipt of correspondence for providing an efficient water-sup-ply for the town, but they had s deferred calling a meeting of the I ratepayers in hopes of being able to give better news of the gas. They expected to have a better idea of what would be the cost of the gas when it was working, but they wanted before going out of j office to put the position before the ratepayers; and they considered they were better able to do this than a new Board without an intimate knowledge of the correspondence received on the question. It was absolutely necessary to know what the position of the town was before they started to incur an expenditure for the future. The Town Board was formed nearly three years ago, a petition having drawn up to form the township into a Town District. In the first twelve months they were put under heavy financial burdens. Last year the rate did not bring in anything like what it was estimated to do this year. In the formation of the Town Board they had interested themselves in what was best for the town. The Board had secured a promise from the " Department that in four years they should have a brick post office suitable to the size of the place. The railway station was written about; innumerable letters were sent, and Mr C. Hall, M.P., had done all he could, and now they could see the result. The telephone system next received attention. Guarantees were obtained and sent to the Govennent, and the service was installed with about twenty-two subscribers. They were now moving in the direction of getting a line through to Palmerston North, in addition to the through service they had with Napier. The Board had gone carefully into the question of lighting. The Kitson Light was shown, and it was adopted ; but, in consequence of certain representations made to the Board, the question was reconsidered. The 20 th Century Gas was then put before the ratepayers, and was unanimously adopted by them. In taking up the 20th Century light the Board had been helped by many ratepayers in the town. Mr Gow gave the site for the gas-holder, and they had received the general support of the town. As time went on they had trouble with the Company, and a number of letters were written. He (the speaker) had gone down to Wellington four times at his own cost to interview the directors of the Company. There was nothing better than the light they had seen in their streets used in any large town. The many delays were almost overcome when the accident of last week occurred. He held a communication from the 20th Century Company stating that they were prepared to go on.and renew the plant upon a better basis. There was no danger in the street lamps. The delay had been a great disappointment to him. The leaks in the gas-holder had been almost stopped, and the scheme seemed on the point of success when the fire occurred. As to his shares in the Company, he had taken •a hundred when the finances of the Company were low. There was nothing wrong in this. . He had kept himself above suspicion however and refrained from voting on the Board when any question of the light cropped up. He alluded to the good work of Mr Joseph Williams in getting a Town Library, he having taken a subscription list round the district and even gone to Napier at his own expense. The matter was put before the ratepayers and the loan of £6OO was carried by a

large majority. The library had since proved one of the best assets to the town. It was well supplied with papers, and the games provided had the effect of keeping boys off the streets. The Recreation Ground had been procured under the Public Works Act. It comprised some 16 acres on the river frontage. They had proclaimed it, and the total cost of securing it had been £27 ss. Mr Chambers kaid he had approached the Hon. W. 0. Smith to circulate a subscription list to raise funds to put the park in order for sports. Some £6O had been collected so far, and the townspeople had yet to be asked to subscribe. Every year the reserve would become of more value to the town. They had leased portions of it to the. Tennis and Bowling Clubs, and the Band had erected a practice room on part of it. Racecourse road, Wellington road, Gaisford Terrace, and the portion of the main street over the railway crossing needed attention.It had been difficult to at all times fairly apportion the work done to the rates, but the Board had always done their best. They had tried to get bridges between Waipukurau and Onga Onga. The Waipukurau County Council could not move in the matter. Ho had drawn up a petition to the Waipawa County Council, asking them to erect the bridges, and Mr Grenfell was taking it round to the settlers for their signatures. They should look to make provision for the future.

Mr Chambers then read the report submitted by the engineer, Mr Metcalfe, on the water supply and drainage scheme, which has been published in the Press. In considering the water supply Mr Chambers said they would have to consider the cost of a road to the site. The Board had secured the site from Mr William Nelson. The total cost of the water supply scheme was estimated at £9,075, which would be met by a fd rate. There would also be the cost of pumping, and a man’s services to look after it. The water rate should be made as equitable as possible, and no extra charge put upon suburban users. The scheme would practically supply the whole town and right up Racecourse road. At the present time they were hardly able to afford both water and drainage schemes. The library cost £6O a year, and the gas had not yet been brought to a paying state. It was his opinion that they should not put the drainage proposal before the town, as it was sure to bring them into debt. They had had a very heavy expenditure, Mr Metcalfe’s report costing £75, £6O was paid for the reservoir site, £27 5s for the reserve, and £6O .for fencing same, and over £2O for a plan of the Town District. The rite covered all the special loans. They were paying for all these things out of the special rate of jd, and they must remember the County Council was striking a rate of l|d. The Board wanted before going out of office to say that they had not neglected the interests of the ratepayers in any matter. Mr Chambers then intimateed that he would be pleased to hear questions, and said he had on the table the agreement with the Twentieth Century Gas Company, if anyone required further information on the matter.

Mr Gow: Does that agreement still hold good ? This was to have been finished twelve months ago. The Chairman : Fourteen months ago. Yes, it was still good. The penalty was very small, but the Board felt they could not ask for a larger one. On completion of the work the company had to run it for a month before it was taken over, and the Board, if they were not satisfied, had the option of saying they would not take it over. The company had increased the size of the gasometer from 5000 to 10,000 ft capacity. Mr Gow : Is the company talking over the liability for the last accident ? The Chairman: An answer to that would be rather premature. The company’s letter said they were prepared to co-operate with the Board for the reinstatement of the works. Mr Gow : Why co-operate with the Board ? What have the Board to do with it ? The chairman ; The Board have to erect the building. Mr Gilbertson thought it would

be advisable to explain the cause of the accident.

The chairman said his opinion was that when the pressure was shut off the gas in the pipe burned back till the fire reached the

petrol. The danger was in generating the gas from petrol, but when all lights were taken out of the generating-room the danger would be removed. Mr Gow asked about the blow'ing up of the main. The chairman replied that this was caused by too much pressure, owing to the pumping being continued after the pipes were full. Mr Seymour stated that from an experience he had had with the gas he was satisfied it was not explosive. Mr Carroll asked if they were likely to have any more explosions, and if the Town Board were going to put an expert in charge of the works. The chairman said the gas was as safe as any gas light could be. The Board would take all precautions and get the best man they could. ' Mr Gqw : To satisfy the public and restore public confidence there should be a public inquiry. The chairman said he had not the slightest objection to this policy. Mr Grenfell said an expert would endorse everything said by the chairman regarding the cause of the explosion at the shed. It was an unfortunate thing and yet a very good thing. The engineshed had been badly constructed. He had inspected it and did not think they would lose by the explosion. . Mr Gow said it was no use to go on with the water-supply and not the as the two should go hand in hand. (Applause). He proposed : —“ That consideration of the water supply and drainage proposals fie deferred till the gas was in forking order.” The motion was seconded by Mr Gilbertson and carried. Mr Gpw proposed a vote of thanks'tq the Chairman for his able addSess. Mr Chambers replied and the vote was carried by acclam-