COUNCIL PAPERS.—No. 10.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1407, 1 June 1865, Page 6

COUNCIL PAPERS.—No. 10.

Session XXIII. CORRESPONDENCE Respecting the Advance of £5000, for Obtaining a Supply of Building Stone at a Reduced Price. To H. F. Cridland, Esq. My dear Sir,—As in the preparation of the Gaol plans you must have fully considered the wl.ole question of the supply of stone, I shall feel much obliged if you will Messrs. Bury and Mountfort, and let me know to which quarry or quarries, in your opinion, a tramway would be most useful in bringing a plentiful supply of stone for the buildings contemplated by the Government, and for Christchurch generally. Also, what are the usual prices at home for rubble stone at the quarry. If the Government assists Messrs. Brittan and Forgan in bringing their stone to Christchurch, it has a right to ask that they shall supply it at a reasonable price. Yours very truly, John Hall. Oct. 4th, 1864. To the Hon. J. Hall, Secretary of Public Works, Christchurch. Sir, —We have had your letter of the 4th Oct., addressed to Mr. Cridland, under our consideration, in the which you request that Mr. Cridland should confer with Messrs.Bury and Mountfort as to which quarry or quarries we collectively consider the most plentiful supply of stone could be obtained. As the number of quarries or scratchings on the Port hills, from which building stone is procurable, are almost numberless, and, as a personal inspection of them all would take up a considerable time, and involve expense in instituting a thorough investigation of these quarries or openings in the hills, we have considered that it would be more to the purpose to consider the quality rather than the quantity. There are only four quarries known to us that are sufficiently developed, and from which we could recommend the Government or private individuals to obtain stone for rubble walling, viz.—Ellis', Thompson's, Brittan's, nnd Fisher's. The stone procured from these quarries is good, and the cost, delivered in Christchurch, almost the same, viz., 26s per cubic yard. The Messrs. Ellis, we believe, have a large quantity of rubble material in stock. Mr. Thompson, who is now laying down a tramway under Mr. Dobson's superintendence, will also shortly, we believe, be in a position to send a large quantity of rubble and cube stone to irarket at perhaps a reduced price. Mr. Brittan's quarry appears to be almost inexhaustible. Mr. Fisher's old quarry is, we believe, worked out, but he has lately opened another equally good; but we are not aware whether he is in a position to send much to market. Having used stone in various buildings from the before-named quarries, our experience leads us to prefer the stone from Brittan's quarry, as, from its geological formation, it possesses a true natural flat bed, which produces better work, at less cost, than stone from the other quarries, and in the item of labour alone is worth quite 2s per yard more than stone from other known quarries. For these considerations we have decided upon the use of rubble stone from Brittan's quarry,in preference to the others, for all those works we have in hand for the Government. We have gone into the subject of the cost of rubble delivered into Christchurch by carts and also by trams, and we find it to be as follows:— Cost by Tram. Stone at quarry 9s per yard ] Haulage, 7s ; transhipping from depot into I 19s. town, 3s. i Cost by Carts. Stone at quarry 9s per yard) Cartage to town 17s „ | Thus, if assistance is given to Messrs. Brittan and Forgan, to bring stone to market by means of a tram, a saving of seven (7s) shillings per yard would be effected, provided the cost of haulage was not more than 7s per yard. We think it might be made a condition that should assistance be given to Messrs. Brittan and Forgan, to construct a tram from the Halswell Quarry, that they should be compelled to run a siding into the jail site, and lay down there rubble at 16s per cube yard, thus effecting a saving of 10s per yard ; and assuming the quantity of rubble stone to be used at the jail at 3000 cubic yards, there would be a saving of £1,500 to the Government, and the same amount may be computed for the Government works in Christchurch, at a saving of 7s per yard, would represent £1,050. The consumption for private works we estimate will amount to about 6,000 yards, which would effect a saving of £2.000, and probably induce buildings of a more substantial character to take the place of those now being generally erected. We therefore think that, looking to the saving that may be effected, provided the tram is made speedily and opened lor traffic—say within six weeks—that assistance given towards that object would be a great boon to the public, and also effect a considerable saving to the Government. Yours, &c., H. Cridland, Maxwell Bcnr, Bbnj. W. Mountfort. Christchurch, Oct, 14,1864. To Mr. William White. Sir,—l have the honour to request that, for the purpose of enabling the Government to decide upon

the expediency of making an advance of money in 1 aid of the construction of a tramway to the neighi bourliood of Mr. Brittan's quarry, you will be good enough to inform me— 1. What the estimated cost of this tramway will be, and what the gauge will be ? 2. Within what time it can be completed ? 8. At what rate you would undertake to carry rubble stone from the qnarry to the tramway terminus in Christchurch, including loading and unloading ? 4. Assuming that the Government will advance £5000 towards the work, at seven per cent interest, within what time that sum would be repaid, it being understood that the sum payable for carriage on all stone for Government buildings will go towards repayment of the advance ? 5. Whether you will construct a siding on the gaol site on the Lincoln road, and deliver stone there at 78 per yard for carriage ? 6. What security you can offer for the fulfilment of the above conditions ? I shall feel obliged by as early an answer as possible, as the assistance this work would render to the Government in the erection of contemplated buildings depends upon its being completed at an early date. Yours, &c., John Hall. Secretary for Public Works. Oct. 15, 1864. To the Hon. John Hall, Secretary for Public Works, Christchurch. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter to me,885/ Oct. 15, desiring certain information with reference to that portion of the Little River Tramway, extending from Christchurch to the neighbourhood of Mr. Brittan's quarry. I now beg to lay before you the following answers to the questions you have submitted to me. 1. Estimated cost from the Christchurch terminus to the neighbourhood of Mr. Brittan's quarry. £ s. d. Twenty-two sleepers, at 3s 6d each 3 17 0 Bails, double measurement, and allowing for waste, 275 feet 3 8 9 Spikes or trunnels 10 0 Formation 10 0 Bail laying 15 0 Ten yards of ballast, at 4s ... 2 0 0 Spreading do 0 5 0 For one chain £12 15 9 For one mile ... £1023 0 0 For seven miles £7161 0 0 Three bridges, culverts and crossings 1200 0 0 £8361 0 0 The gauge will be four feet.

2. With the assistance of the Government's advance of money in aid, I shall be prepared to complete the above portion of the tramway in four months, presuming nothing very unforeseen to occur. Should such happen, the Government shall say whether the delay is reasonable or not. 3. I will deliver stone from the foot of Brittan's Quarry Hill to the tramway terminus, Christchurch, at the rate of 7s per yard ; but the stone- should be put into my trucks at the expense of the quarry owners: it would induce them so to construct their carts or tram trucks so as to shoot their loads into my trucks. With a view to accelerate the delivery of stone, and to save much labour, I would suggest that boxes be provided, and constructed a> to contain one yard of stone each, and with appliances for being lifted by means of a crane. I would provide a crane at the Christchurch terminus for this purpose, it will enable carters to shift the box, with its contents, from my trucks into their carts, or from the ground into their carts, as the case may be, occupying, under any circumstances, but a few minutes. I will willingly provide some of these boxes for the purpose, charging a small sum for the use of them, and I am inclined to believe that the quarry workers will find the system so convenient as to induce them to adopt the principle, and furnish their own boxes. 4. If, at the expiration of three years, the sum advanced by Government be not repaid, the balance then remaining shall be paid off by four equal inetalments at three, six, nine, and twelve months. 5. I am willing to construct a siding on the gaol site, on the Lincoln Road, and deliver stone there at 7s per yard for carriage; the Government paying half the cost of such siding, and be themselves the valuers of the cost of the said siding.

6. The Government to hold, as security, a lien on my Waimakariri Bridge, and likewise on that portion of the tramway as it progresses, for the construction of which this advance from Government has been sought. 1 beg permission to state, in conclusion, that the progress of this work greatly depends upon the Government aid referred to in your letter, and with its assistance I am prepared to push the work on immediately and vigorously. Tours, &c., W. White. Christchurch, Oct. 17, 1864. To W. Guise Brittan, Esq. Sir, —I am directed by his Honor the Superintendent to state that the Government has under consideration the question of advancing a sum of money to Mr. William White, for the purpose of enabling him to construct at once that portion of the Little River tramway, extending from Christchurch to the neighbourhood of your quarry. As such a measure will probably secure for this quarry almost a monopoly of the supply of rubble stone to Christchurch, the Government feels bound, before arriving at a decision, to ascertain definitely the terms on which this stone would be furnished. I have the honour, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to state at what maximum price you will undertake that rubble stone shall be delivered on to Mr. White's trucks, on his tramway, in boxes holding not less than one yArd of stone. The charge is to include the use of this box, which would be returned from Christchurch, by Mr White, free of charge— the arrangement to be binding on you for a period of five years. Yours, &c., John Hall, Secretary for Public Works. Public Works Office, Christchurch, Oct. 18,1864. To the Secretary of Public Works. Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in reference to my quarries at the Halswell. In the first place, I may observe that I have leased these quarries, on payment of a royalty, to Messrs. Forgan and Feathers, for a term, the remainder of which is now nearly six years. I have, however, with the view of affording you the information which his Honor's Government require, had an interview with those gentlemen, and, after carefully considering the subject, we have jointly come to the conclusion that we can engage to put stone from the quarries in question into boxes at the station of Mr. White's Tramway, in the way proposed by you, at a maximum price of ten shillings per cubic yard. We wish to observe that we have been given to understand that Mr. White proposes charging seven shillings (7s) per cubic yard to convey the stone into Christchurch, and that we are decidedly of opinion that this charge is too much, and that it should not exceed five shillings (55.) Yours, &c., William Guise Brittan. We concur in the above, James Forgan, James Featheu. Lansdowns, Oct. 19,1864. To the Hon. the Secretary for Public Works. Sir,—Referring to my letter to you of the 18th inst., on the Bubject of the price at which stone from my quarries at the Halswell could be delivered at the station of Mr. White's Tramway, I now beg to inform you that I am prepared, with the concurrence of the lessees of the quarries, to deliver the same at a maximum price of nine shillings per cubic yard, in the way proposed by you in your letter. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, William Guise Brittan. Halswell, Oct. 24, 1864. This deed, made the twenty-ninth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, between William White, of the city of Christchurch, in the province of Canterbury, in the colony of New Zealand, contractor, of the first part; William Guise Brittan, of the same place, gentleman, of the second part; Grosvenor Miles, of the same place, merchant of the fhird part; and Samuel Bealey, Esquire' Superintendent of the province of Canterbury, of the fourth part: Whereas the s:tid William White is desirous of, and has commenced the laying down

and constructing at a tramway from and out of the i aity of Christchurch aforetnid to the toot ot the { aaid William Quite Britten'* | at Halswell. And whereas the said William White lias requested the Provincial Government of the province of Canterbury to advance him the sum or five thousand pounds, towards the construction of the said tramway, which the said Government has i agreed to do, upon, under, and subject to the stipu-; lations, covenants and agreements hereinafter contained. And, whereas the said William Guise Brittan and Grosvenor Miles have (amongst other ) reasons) agreed to join in, and execute these presents | for the purpose of securing the performance of the j said stipulations, covenants, and agreements on the part of the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns. Now this deed witnesseth that, in consideration of the sum of five thousand pounds, paid to the said William White by the Provincial Treasurer, out of the public funds of the said province of Canterbury, the receipt whereof, he, the said William White, doth hereby acknowledge, they, the said William White, William Guise Brittan, and Grosvenor Miles, do hereby for themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators, and each of them doth hereby for himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant with the snid Samuel Bealey, as the Superintendent of the province of Canterbury aforesaid, and his successors in office, that he the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall and will forthwith commence the laying down and construction of a tramway from and out of the said city of Christchurch to the foot of the said Quarry Hill, according to plans and specifications to be approved of by the said Provincial Government of the province of Canterbury, and shall and will proceed with the laying down and construction of such tramway with all due diligence, and shall and will complete the said tramway within six calendar months from the date of these presents ; and shall and will, within the said period of four months, construct a siding from the said tramway to the site of the intended gaol on the Lincoln road; and that in case the said tramway and siding, be not completed within the time prescribed as aforesaid, the snid sum of five thousand pounds shall be forthwith repaid to the said Government of the province of Canterbury, together with the interest thereon in the meantime, at the rate of seven pounds per centum per annum; and that upon the completion of the said tramway, the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall and will at all times during the next ensuing five years, take charge of and convey all rubble stone, of whatever description, which shall be offered and committed to the charge of him the said William White, his executors and administrators, or assigns, by any person whomsoever, from the terminus at the foot of the said Quarry Hill to the terminus of the said tramway at the city of Christchurch aforesaid, at the rate of seven shillings for every cubic yard of such stone; and shall and will take charge of and convey all stone of whatsoever kind which shall be offered and committed to the charge of him the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns, by any person whomsoever, along the said tramway from any terminus or siding to any terminus of the said tramway, at a rate not exceeding one shilling per cubic yard for every mile which the said stone shall be carried ; the said stone to be delivered in boxes holding one cubic yard each for carriage, and shall and will convey and deliver all stone which shall be required for the erection of the said gaol on the Lincoln road, and brought from the said Quarry Hill to the gaol aforesaid, at the rate of seven shillings per cubic yard, aad shall and will not make any other charge whatsoever for or in respect of such goods which may or can be chargeable under any name whatsoever incidentally to the carriage of such stone ; and shall and will take back from the said terminus at the city of Christchurch aforesaid, to theterminus at the foot of the said Quarry Hill, all boxes in which the said stone has been conveyed free of charge ; and that all and every sums or sum of money which shall be due and payable by the said Government of the Province of Canterbury aforesaid to the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns, for or in respect of the carriage of stone upon the said tramway shall be devoted and detained by the said Government for or towards the repayment of the said sum of five thousand pounds, and interest thereon at the rate aforesaid; and that in case the said sum of five thousand pounds and the interest thereon as aforesaid be not wholly paid to the said Government by the means aforesaid, within two years from the date of these presents, then he, the said William White, his executors, administrators or assigns shall and will well and truly pay unto the Government of the province of Canterbury all and every sums or sum of money which shall then be due and owing by him the said William White to the said Government, by four equal payments, at three, six, nine, and twelve months, together with interest thereon at the rate aforesaid. And that the said William Guise Brittan, his executors, administrators, or assigns, during the next five years, shall and will sell and deliver to all and every person whomsoever requiriug the same, rubble-stone on to the trucks at the terminus of the said tramway, at the foot of the said Quarry Hill, in boxes holding one cubic yard each, at a rate not exceeding nine shillings per cubic yard. And it is hereby declared and agreed that upon the breach, non-observance, or non-performance by the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns of any covenant, stipulation, or agreement herein contained, it shall be lawful for the said Samuel Bealey, as such Superintendent as aforesaid, or for the Superintendent for the time being of the said province, or his assigns, unto and upon the said tramway, and all buildings and premises connected or used therewith, or any part thereof, to enter, and thereout and therefrom to eject, expel, put, and remove the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns, and to have, hold, and possess, and enjoy the said tramway and premises, and to work for the then unexpired residue of the said term of five years, and use the tramway and premises for the use and benefit of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, and free from any interference or control on the part of the said William White, his executors, administrators, or assigns. And it is hereby declared and agreed that, upon default by the said William Guise Brittan, hisexecutors,administrators, or assigns of any covenant, agreement, or stipulation herein contained, it shall be lawful for the said Samuel Bealey, as the Superintendent as aforesaid, or for the Superintendent for the time being of the said province, to enter into and upon the said Quarry Hill, and therefrom and thereout to eject, expel, put out, and remove the said William Guise Brittan, his executors, administrators, or assigns, and to have, hold, possess, and enjoy the said Quarry Hill, and the quarry of the said William Guise Brittan, for the then unexpired residue of the said term of five years, and to work and use the said Quarry Hill and quarry for the use and benefit of the said Government, and that free from any interference or control on the part < f the said William Guise Brittan, his executors, administrators, or assigns. In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto subscribed their names.

W. White William Guise BrittanSigned by the said William White and William Guise Brittan in the presence of W. P. Cowlishaw, Provincial Solicitor, Christchurch. G. Miles. Signed by the said Grosvenor Miles in the presence of W. P. Cowlishaw, Provincial Solicitor, Christchurch. This deed, made the eighth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, between the within-named William White of the first part, the within-named William Guise Brittan of the second part, the within-named Grosvenor Miles of the third part, and the within-named Samuel Bealey, us Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, of the fourth part, witnesseth that each of them, the said William White, William Guise Brittan, and Grosvenor Miles, doth hereby for himself, his executors and administrators, covenant and agree with the said Samuel Bealey, as the Superintendent of the province of Canterbury, and his successors in offloG, that, in lieu of the rute of mtGrcstiWhoncvor payable under and by virtue of the within written deed, there shall be payable and paid to the Government of the province of Canterbury the like rate of interest which the said Government at the time of any payment may be paying or liable to pay to its bank upon its then overdrawn account (if any') with such bank; provided always, that in case the said Government shall have no overdrawn account the rate of interest payable shall continue and be payable as fixed by the within written deed In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto subscribed their names. W. White, William Guise Brittan. Signed by the said William White and William Guise Brittan. in the presence of James B Fisher, Articled Clerk to W. P. Cowlislmw" Solicitor, Christchurch. G. Miles. Signed by the said Grosvenor Miles, in the presence of W. A. Sheppard, Accountant, (/hnstchurch.