HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1018, 31 March 1857, Page 3

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Sir,— After reading the specifications you so kindly published for general information, allow me the privilege of making a few remarks on the Queen Stteet

The failures and botches at wharf erecting,' within the last few years, at Auckland, shoulS have induced those in authority well to consider the subject before again proceeding in such hitherto expensive and badly I planned works. Instead of so doing, to the surprize of many of the good wishers of the present government, the most ex- ; teiiMvc&Jlkl the most extr'a\agunll) formed i-ork, on the olU^jjpi, is now mit forward, in the shape of tenders for piles and workmanship, for the extens-ion of the Queen Street Wharf. From this it wo iAI appear that the plans of the wellabused board of works are still to bo carried on. This i. surely a great mistake. For it requires no very bright carpcntei to discover that full one-half of jhe timber and labour expended on the present wharf could have been dispensed with, and a firmer, better, and much more carpeuterijike wh.iri erected .at halt the cost. Notwithstanding this very apparent fact the new engineer has issued a pile and labour specification, exceeding the old works in useless labour and timber, in the shape of huge piles, bhd-cage staying, and devil, me-hold spiking ; concluding one part of the same with the sage, knowing, workmanlike remaik,to "bore lheholes for the treenails before driving." I am informed that the Government work (tins at least) is taken on a new lay — the per cent, system on the expenditure ; now, I have no doubt but the Superintendent in introducing this system instead of a salary, intended by it to save the public money ; the system it is to be feared, will do nothing of the kind as I shall endeavour to show. Employing a person on a public work at a per centage, on his oxon plans, is not the very best « ay to get the work economically constructed, for I eannofcthink that a man will think much to save the public money, when the more he thought to save the less he himself received. Saving to the Government is profitless, penniless work to him. He will therefore, in all probability, follow the old track laid out for him, in putting in two piles where one only is required : in fact he is not paid for saving, but, on the contrary, is expressly paid for money spent. The plan of the wharf, as it is now proposed, is unneccssaiily expensive, to the tune of about £3000. And, what is a greater objection, still very difficult to repair ; which, in wooden erections more particularly, ought to be simple, easy and economical. Would it not be better that a premium be offered for the best plan, specification, and estimate of any public work of magnitude— this in particular. This would secure the best possible plan out of lots that will no doubt offer, for in this country almost every person really thinks he knows more about carpentery than any person in the trade. Let there be free trade in plans as well as in land. In conclusion, it is necessary to observe that I by no means wish to detract from the ability the new Engineer possesses, but on the contrary believe that he is as clever and as good 'as the country and climate will allow. Yours, &c. CARrENTEK. March 30. 1857. [Neither the Harbour Engineer rTor the Board of Works ever approved of the present plau of extending the Queen -st. wharf. The Superintendent has all the credit of it, as refeience to the minutes of the Harbour Committee will show. Ed.]