CALLIOPE DOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 11 January 1899, Page 3

CALLIOPE DOCK.

LETTER FROM MR BRIGHAM. SATISFACTORY NEGOTIATIONS. At the. meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon a letter was read front the Secretary, Mr ,!. M. Brigham, who is at present in England conduct ing the negotiations with the Admiralty in connection with Calliope Dock.

Mr Brighani stated that since his last letter (October 21) he had had a number of interviews with the Secretary to the Admiralty, and on the 2bth October met the Admiralty Board of Works, to whom he submitted the estimates he had brought from Auckland, together with an estimate for men's quarters, sleeping accommodation, etc., and extra machinery recommended by Admiral Pearson. The sleeping accommodation and men's quarters were not considered to be required at present; extra machinery and preliminary expenses were all allowed. Two of the Board, however, did pot in any way accept as correct the estimates Air Brigham submitted, and after repeated interviews with these gentlemen Mr Brighani pvc± pared fresh estimates to include all the matters that had been referred to, and on October 31st delivered schedule and proposals to Sir Evan MacGregor, who congratulated him -upon the business-like manner in which the whole matter had been handled, and the expedition with which details had been arranged and proposals submitted. He, however, warned Mr Brigham iiot to expect such despatch in dealing with the Commissioners of the Admiralty, as he would not get a reply to his letter within a month at the very least. He saw Sir Evan again on November 17th and Ayas "assured that everything was now settled a,nd the whole matter progressing in a most satisfactory mariner. So far as he could form an opinion at this stage, Mr Brigham certainly thought the Board would get all that they had asked for. The New Zealand Government had promised to arrange for the remission of all duty chargeable on the machinery for the'equipment of* Calliope Dock, and this would effect a saving of expenditure on the part of the Board of at least *£2,500;' probably a good deal more. The estimates submitted to the Admiralty showed an increase of £26,740 over the estimates prepared in Auckland and approved by the Board, and the figures, so far as Mr Brigham could gather, were virtually agreed to. If the Admiralty would undertake to pay a subsidy of £ 2,374, four per cent, on £59,350, the Board would, he thought, be well able, within the figures quoted, to provide all that was required. The letter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee of the Board.