GOAL CONTRACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1892, Page 4

GOAL CONTRACTS.

CAKDII) CONFESSION BY THE MAYOR.

A Discussion , took place at the mooting of the City Council upon the question of the alternate supplies of' Kamo and Taupiri coal at the Western Springs pumping station. A letter was read from Mr J. J. Craig pointing out thiit his tender was accepted for Taupiri Extended coal for six months, whereas the specifications were for one or throe years. To merely pick oub itcam coal only and ask for it to be supplied alternately every three mouths appoured to him nob in the spirit of the specifications.

A tabulated statement; of tho results of the respsctivo merits of Katno and Taupiri coal was forwarded to the Council by Mr Franz Scherfl". It contained the results of trials at the pumping station, Western Springs. Mr Scherff called particular attention to tho following clauses in tho f tutsment: —" The tirst trial took place in July, J COO, and resulted as staled, cost £3 2s lid per million gallons. I thereupon vvroLo to the Council that tho trial must have been made under circumstances the reverse of favourable, and olTorod to provo that tha cost of our coal did nob exceed that) of Kamo for pumping purposes, and to guarantee that tho cost, with our coal, per million gallons should nob exceed £2 6.-.'. No notice was taken of tins letter, however. The Council has paid an extra 9s per million gallons ever since. Messrs Mitchelson and Co. state that the cost of [lumping with Kamo coal is £?, 7b II jd pur million gallons. 1 say that it has been £2 15m for tho last two years. Please consult your books and ascertain who is right." Tho Mayor said that <ho only way was to suspend t!ie orders and rescind the resolution. Tho Council had ordered from Mr Craig all the coal required for tho tirst three month 1 ?. Still, it was evident six months was not twelve month?, and tho contract said one year or three years. (V. Swales movod, and Cr, Julian seconded, "That the contract be one year each." Cr. Dignan said thab the former resolution would require to ba rescinded. Cr. Farrellsiid lie moved the three months' proposal. The contractor for Taupiri coal should s;::n the contract for tho alternate trials to t.huw tho respective values of the coal. When the Taupiri coal was so cheap it wus from Ralph's section of tho mine. Cr. Holland said a man could supply cheaper for 12 months instead of six months. Cr. Liver said they hud gone into tho question in committee, and found that tho Kamo coal cost C 250 Uioro for tho year at the pumping station than wus shown by tho month's trial. Cr. Luks objected to lottery being forwardud to Councillors, as ho considered it was an attempt to bring influence to bear. it had already been completely proved that Taupiri coal was tho cheapest. The Mayor said he had never before seen the Councillors in such a humiliating position. Tlicy were all prepared to udtuit: " Wo arc all as-os." Cr. Kan-oil : I don't. Tho Mayor : It ie tho Drst time I have seen Cr. fc'arrell serious for it long time. Tho .Mayor said that the only person to bo exonerated was Cr. I'atenjon, as ho was not presenb at tho last meeting. Cr. Alk in : i'icujc 1 was sick, and not hue. (.':•. Holland : 1 e=poko against ir. Cr. Carratt: 1 object to the Councillors being fpokon of in that way. Wo thought wo uvro fairly paesing tho contract. Cr. Garrutt said he frtiw na uiiliculty ahead with Mr Smith, ile moved tiiattho tender of Mr Smith be adhered to, and at tho end of fix months iresh tenders bo called. Cr. Wright seconded tha ainondmont,and explained that ho was not nrcs-GUD at tho lasfcraeoUng. Cr. ]>iguan considered ib unfair to divide a tender in tho way attempted. Mr Smith was not tho lowest tenderer, and it was only because ho had friends enough in tho Council to enable him to carry tho altsrnativo tenders. Mr Craig's tender was the lowest, and yet the Council must let some ono else dabble in if. Cγ. Atkin pointed out thab Mr .Smith had signed for tho second and fourth throe months. Mr Craig was asked to sign for tho first and third three month?. Mr Craig was in the room, and upon being asked said that he had got n price from the Taupiri Coal Company for twolvo months, and wan prepared to supply coal for that term in occordanco with the specification. [Jo was prepared, liowovor, to supply coal until the matter wan settled. Ultimately, the amendment was lost, and a motion was adoptod deferring consideration of the letter.-, until tho next meeting.