NELSON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 86, 12 April 1902, Page 2

NELSON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

THE PLANS FOR THE DREDGE. TENDERS TO BE CALLED. At the monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board yesterday Mr Reynolds, C.E., was in attendance, and tbe^Board Considered (in Committee) the plans for the dredge and barges necessary in connection wit i harbour improvement works. The Chairman briefly described the plans, and said the dredge had been specially designed by Mr Reynolds for Nelbou harbour improvement and reclamation purposes. Mr Reynolds bad prepared a large number of plans for dredges, and had considerable experience in the matter. Mr Reynolds, he said, had asked two of thi best accredited engineering firms in Dunedin to submit estimates for the wor)f of building the dredge, and his recommendation was that if the Boar H, if it opened the offers or tenders, found that they were within the estimate the dredge should be ordered forth with, thus saving six or eight months of time, and securing the services of the reoognjsed premier dredge-builders of the polony. The tenders had not been opened, either by Mr Reynolds ot himself, hence no ono but tl© firms in question yet knew the exact amount of their offer, but it was understood that the amount was within Mrßeynolds* estimate or thereabouts. He (Mr Graham) advocated acceptance of these tenders without further delay, aa inquiry had beenmadeand.it had been I found lhat the local Anchor Foundry could not undertake the work. As to the barges, etc, it was thought that local firms should have tbe opportunity of tendering. The Anchor foundry manager bad said that the manufacture of the dredge would be altogether too heavy a job for Nelson (in fact for tbe colony), as steel castings, ec, would have to be made, but" the bargee .ould be locilly manufactured. Mr Beyriolds sajd tho estimated cost of the dredge was £13,-00, which was somewhat in excess of bis original eatimate, bat the eight barge, wonld co3t at Ihe outside only £M) each (£3200), which was under bis original estimate, and . o the account practically balanced. The ccs> of tho tug would be abjut .£IOOO as j the Board would not need to buy a new one. He had asked for prices for the dredge from two Dunedin firms, who wero the recognised premier dredge-buildera hi the colony, and he would recommend that the Board deal with these tenders at once. A T i* Ch »i fma «» saidlhafc though the dredge could not re built in fcelson it ■ could be put together here, affording employment to a number of workmen fo? four or five months. . j ]£r McKensle took exception to .*.« Engineer of the Boar* oftaEoffL to ity of the Board, and he move d that «" < the Engineer's reports to .?heVjj&£ I ' As the report. of Mr Reynolds in ones- ' 1 top too already ia writing, theiX, .

aftr a somewhat lengthy and sometimes ' heatet discussion, on (he quest ion of ac- j cepting a contract without first calling fortendets, carried the motion unani- I mously. j Mr McKenzie also contended tbat the B ard should call for tenders throughout bhe colony from persons' willing to build l.he dredgo. He was supported by Messrs Trask, Talb . t-, Franklyn. and Best. The Chairman, and Messrs Finney, Webster, and llanby urged that haste waa imperatieo, that tho Engineer's recommendation should bo adopted, *< on. him was thrown tho whole re ponsibility, and tbat a* tho construct ton could not be undertakenat Nelson, tiui j would be saved if the work of building Ihe dredge were given at once to some firm of recognised ability and as urcd respectability such as t-...i 0 could have offered. It was exP. lftll >™ diirisg the lengthy discussion I that toi lowed that tho offers or tenders j were sealid, and that they had not jet been opened, or shown to any member of the Board, neither the Chairman nor any | meiubor" knowing definitely the amount lof the off. is. lt was propi sed to open tt c ' communications only if the board agreed | to d«al with the/iffers there and then. Ultimately ou the amendment of Mr Trask, seconded by Mr Talbot, it was resoved Ly 5 to 4, that tondeis, to be in by 3 th of April, be called at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Du.edin, and Greymouth for building a dredge according to Mr Reynolds* plans, the voting being -__ye 3 (.>, : Messrs McKenzie, Best, Franklyn, Talbot, and Trask. Noes (4) : Tha Chairman, Messrs Finney, Webster, and Hanby. The ori/inal motion, moved by Mr Finney, and seconded by Mr Hanby. that the prices in Ihe offers under disc us;, ion be ascerl ained, and one or other of the ofl'eis accepted 2>rovidel tbey are within the Engineer's estimate, was lost on a situ Ur division. I llimately on the Board resuming, it was resolpod th-t the plans and specificashould be available for inspection by into ding tenderers at tho Harbour Board Office, Nelson It was resolved to defer till next month consideration of tenders forthe barges (which can be built in Nelson) ; but tenders fur the dredge will be advertised forthwith. The Board tbon con_ideio_ ordinary business.