The Auckland Custom House.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1887, Page 4

The Auckland Custom House.

Whilk we hear from time to time of the acceptance of Southern tenders, our Auckland Custom-House eontnact still hangs five. Some of ilia tenderers interviewed Mr Hobbs on the subject, and that gentleman wired to the Public "Works Department inquiring the cause of delay. A reply wan received yesterday, •stating that the matter has been referred°to the Cabinet for decision. Now this-sheets the responsibility right home to Ministers. The tenders, wo are informed, come well within the architect's estimate ; what then is the cause of delay 's Do Ministers believe they can dangle this work, which has been so long authorised, before our noses for a year or two longer ? This appears to l>e one of those instances in which firm pressure by our representatives is desirable. Five weeks have elapsed since the tenders were closed and the work ought ere this to have been well in hand. Tenderers have already been jilaeed at a disadvantage through the rise of Is per 100 feet in timber, and an increase price in bricks is also threatened. No doubt the Treasury is suffering from a tightness of the chest, but we protest against Auckland for ever being made the scapegoat of colonial finance. Working men aro deeply interested ill this question, because the contract means an expenditure of £1,400 a month in wages and materials, a sum which is not to be despised in the present depressed condition of the building trade.