" BIG-TREE-DODGING."

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 150, 21 September 1881, Page 4

" BIG-TREE-DODGING."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE STAR.

Sir, — In your issue of the 14th instant, I noticed a local, in which a most unfair and unjust aspersion is cast upon "those who had charge when these (Manaia-Skeet) roads were cleared," to the effect that they permitted big trees to be " dodged" by the road parties engaged thereon, presumably (according to the tenor of the local) in wanton variance with the specifications of the Government. As this was not the case, and as the local tends to damage the reputation not only of the gentleman to whom was entrusted the duty of passing the work (who, being a Government officer, is excluded from making any refutation in your columns), but also of the contractors engaged on the roads above mentioned, I would bring before your notice the following facts relating to the Manaia road iv particular. When tenders were first called (about a year ago) for clearing that road through the bush, it was stipulated in the specifications that the road should be felled two chains wide, the roadway cleared 16 feet wide in the centre, and that all trees in the centre should be stumped six inches below the surface of the ground, &c. "When the tenders came to be ojjened, it was found that they ranged at prices far too high to permit of their acceptance by the Government, who had only a limited amount of money to spare for this work. The consequence was, that the specifications were modified, and fresh tenders were called for, but even these proved too high for acceptance by the Government. Eventually the Government still further modified the specifications, and fixed a certain price (255. per chain) for the work. At this price, and under these modified specifications the work was undertaken by several contractors ; and one of the clauses (under the heading "Roadway") in the modified specifications distinctly stated that the contractors would be allowed to go round all pines and ratas. Thus, it will be seen that if the blame attached to "big-tree-dodging" is to be attributed to any one, it must be put on the shoulders of the Government department, who issued the modified specifications to suit the public purse, and certainly not on " those who had charge when these roads were cleared." — lam, &c, One of the Cootractors.

Otakeho, Sept. 15.

[Our correspondent admits that the Government had charge, and we hold that no one would attribute " the management or system " adopted, to the contractors. Had the big trees been left standing, no serious complaint would have been made, as they could still have been grubbed out at a reasonable cost. There was no aspersion cast upon the contractors ; fault was found with the system and management, for which the Government alone appears to have been responsible. — Ed. Star.]