MILFORD SOUND HOSTEL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1929, Page 3

MILFORD SOUND HOSTEL

CONTRACTOR’S TROUBLES AND LOSS. WELLINGTON,. October 2. < The difficulties experienced by the contractor for the erection of a tourist hostel tor the Government at Milford Sound are explained in the petition of John A. Hart, contractor, Greymouth, who is claiming £1684 and other relief on account of losses incurred. His contract price was £14,178, which he now. believes was £4OOO below the estimate. The season was so bad that it was humanly impossible to anticipate the insurpassable difficulties that arose during the progress of the work. On two occasions the workmen went on strike, refusing to say at Milford Sound. . ■i

“ Some of the said workman tried to get away over the Milford track, a trip that nearly cost them their livesj as they missed the track at Quinton and finally turned up the valley to Sutherland Falls,” states petitioner., “It was only a miracle that saved two men being drowned in the Arthur River bn their way back to camp. On another occasion the men refused to qnload the steamer Putiki at Milford with material for the contract and demanded it be taken away.”

Petitioner describes other difficulties which caused the work to extend over eleven months instead of the contract period of five months. The weather was so unfavourable that he only managed to construct the foundations iii five months.