Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1903. THE HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 7 May 1903, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1903. THE HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT WORKS.

CHANGED POLICY OF THE BOARD. THE action taken by the Nelson Harbour Board, by a majority of two, reversing the policy of employing tfajy instead of contract labour | in the work of cutting the channel iin the Boulder Bank in connection with the Harbour improvement scheme will come as a surprise t© the public. But matters have been tending towards this end for some time past, and it is perhaps better that the Board should face the situation thus early than that it should have to face difficulties of administration when the work was well on i!s way. The whole issue resolves itself into one of administration and responsibility. It has been impossible to define exactly where lay authority ceases aak where expert authority must be unquestioned. It is felt by the majority of the Board that the only solution is to place operations in the hands of a contractor, who shall be under the immediate supervision , a

1 of the Engineeri who in his turn shall be professionally responsible between the contractor and the Board instead as now virtually between the Boaru, its executive officer (the Chairman), and himself. ■ * ■ • • * Persistent advice, both from outside sources and from members of the Board claiming to have long experience in carrying out wbrks of ' the nature of the ih.tended hftrbftur improvements has. been given to the Board to avoid day labour if possible and to get the cutting of the channel done by contract. The obvious difficulty in the way has been the purchase of an expensive plant, the fear lest outside labour may take away the money which should be sjent among local residents, and the assumption that if a contractor can do the work and make a profit the Board might sajve the profit by carrying on its own operations. But since the resolution ttt cut the channel by day labour has been in force difficulties have crowded on : ti"ie Board ; from one cause and another little progress has bSeri made, and beyond doubt the Chairman and thtise wh'6 vote with him yesterday have felt more and more convinced during, recent months that the growing complications and cbnhision of lay a.nd professional L-tues uvte more than they as laymen whj had matters other than the affairs of the Board to attend to could unravel. That there has been a measure of shirking Of. responsibility solemnly undertaken it is impossible to deny. The public also have the right to accuse the Board of having made a confession of weakness But, if no other course than a reversal of the policy of day labour was open to it, then it was better to make the reversal at once, before the actual work was oh its way, than to hang up operatians later on. ♦ • * * The position now is that, pending the completion of the dredge by the 31st of this montb, the Engineer will be asked to prepare at once specifications for the work of cutting the channel in the Boulder Bauk, dredging, etc., arid tenders will be called in time for early acceptance. Whether t'.e contract price will be within the estimate so made or not of course cann'dt fee foretold; But an^ contractor will have ihe URe of a firsfc-ciasg and very complete plant, and the tenders b.ised on this circumstance will necessarily be relatively low. The contractor will also bo probably required to make a very substantial deposit, and this, with a retention of about 25 per cent of progress payments, should givt3 a guarantee that the plant will be handed oack to tko Board, in fail 1 condition, allowing For ordinary wear and tear. Much of the plant— all, in fact, with the exception of the dredge — will be disposed of when dor.c With, and there ?s rGafiorHlMo ground for the assumption that tho cranes, etc., will realise a f;iu price, especially as it has b.en found impossible to secure similar plant cither in this or the adjoining colonies antt order? have had tob; placed in England. » * fr • Whether the aciion of the majority of the Board in abandoning the policy of dly labour and getting the work of construction carried out by contract is wise remfiins to be Bern, Tho Chairrann has maie a frank confession that be has changed his views, ai>d trut he is responsible for the matter bv'ing brought up again for the rescission of the resolution of December last. Another member who 7t ted for day labour, Mr Talbot, has altered his mi.'id for what he do^lares to be good and Bufficiout reason, and the new member of the Board, Mr Field, has been guided in his vote by the course of events siuco his election. The other members, constituting tho new majority, have merely adhered <o their former convictions, an! the tj7 inori t\ of four, whether righOy or v;rongiy, are also consistent in the affirmation of their convictions or in fulfilling their pledges. All that is now hoped for is that there shall be as little delay as possible, and '.hat one of the conditions of the contract ehal! be the employment of local labour as far as procurable. It was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Soard that the supply of local labour was not large, that tho number of men likely to be employed in the work of construct ion would not be excessivo, nnd that the Board did not b< lieve in night and day shifts. But it is trusted that, though no obstruction may be offered by the minnri;y to the acceptance of ; a tender and the Board may still act unanimously though on new lines, one of tho populations of the contract will be the employment of suitable local labour by the contractor as far as procurable. This is due, not only to such local labour as might be available in Nolson, b also to the scores of applicants for employment whose letters have been filed for reference from time to time, and to those who have answered advertisements inserted by the Board. « • • Finally, thor». csin bj no denying that the Board must fi-ol humiliated afc the action the majority havo forced themselves to take ; but beyond this there i 3no reason to fear delay or suspension. Now that tho Engineer's relation with the Hoard havo been ruore clearly define! and his reasonablo request to bo represented at tho Board meetings has been complied with there should be few further hitches and the work of construction should proceed a? soon as the contract 13 accepted. Of course there is always the contingency that tenders may greatly exceed tho Engineer's estimates. But, as ifc is fair to assume that the Engineer knows his business and that his estimates are based on well ascertained data, it v idle to raise a bogey or to imagine a position that may never arise. .At a meeting of milk suppliers last evening it was decided to return to the former rule of delivering milk twice daily, commencing from Monday next. Colonel Bell, who is to lecture at the School of Music to-morrow evening cm " Our Noble Selves," was given a "welcome to the city yesterday afteroon in the Council Chamber. The Mayor (Mr H. Baigent) wasg unavoidably absent. Those prasent included Messrs 11. AY. Robinson, S.M., C. Y. Fell, Patterson, Henderson (City 'Surveyor),* and the Town Clerk (Mr H. V. Gully)'. Referring to the lecturer the " Sydney News " said .— " At timss the brilliant flashes ' of oratory would have arousud any public assemblage to the most extravagant pitch of enthusiasm. The audience was carried away by the force of the argument thrust home with a touoh of that infinite humour ■characteristic of the lecturer's nationality." The report of the Nelson College Governors for 1902 is published as an advertisement on the -itii' page of this issue. It contains a great deal of interesting information, and. on perusal the public will congratulate the Institution on the steady pfogress it has mado and maintained. It is understood that the Grand requiem mass for the repose of the soul of the late Dean iUuhoncy v. ill !>.-> hold !>y Archbishop Rodwood in Nelson next.; •Wednesday. ■

According to a report read at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last evening, there were 49 names on the Hospital list 'during last month. Of this number 19 patients were received during April, 11 recovered, 2 relieved, 2 unrelieved, and 1 died. There were 33 patients in the Hospital at the Ist of May. T/he players will represent the AH)ious in their three matches against the Nelson Club on Saturday : — Seniors : Watson,. Stewart, Nesbitt, Heyward, Sloan, Whiting, Butcher, Kinzett, McKegney, Nesbitt, Chapman, Liddie, Jones, Williams, Wilson ; emergencies, Tibbie and Pike. Juniors : Ruff, Milroy, Gunderson, . Bradley, Strawbridge, Newton, Stanbridge, Bothwell, Brown, Young, Johnson, Pike, Williams, Jackson, Hogg, ; emergencies, McNiven and Dayman. Third-Class : Simmons, Hargreaves, Louisson, Johansen, Pike, Taylor, Barnett, Newton, Stewart, Treweek, Bun&Ci-j Woodward, Nelson, Henry, ' Maloiiiey ; emergencies, Glover, Es\court, Tidd, James* On Monday next ihsiend of /luesday as previously advertised. Messrs W. Rout & Sona will hold a clearing sale df, furnishings, implements etc. on the Champion road on account of Mrs Eyles ; at an early date tho firm conduct a clearing sale at Belgrove on account of Mr Arthur Shirtcliffe. Messrs Bisley Bros & Co. will, on Saturday, sell 50 acres of land in tho estate of the late Mr Felix Green at Spring Grove. The auctioneer state that it is some of the best land in the district, and convenient to the Railway Station, school and butter factory. The firm will also sel[ grass seeds, tapioca, and sago. An ingenious timekeeping arrangenipnfe (tho " Westminster Budget " states), exists to-day, which was designed by that famous Duke of Brldgewatcr who laced South Lancashire with canals, and died a hundred years ago. The Duke was a great stickler for punctuality, and he was annoyed that the workmen on his estate at Worsley did not return to work after dinner as promptly as they left off when the clock struck twelve. When he remonstrated He was told that while the workmen always heard the clock strike . Twelve, they often failed to hear .the single stroke of one. The Duke* of Bridgewater quickly found a remedy for this difficulty. He had a clock made that Avould strike thirteen times an hour after noon, and that clock proclaims onn o'clock with a baker's dosjeii of sonrtrovis strokes to this day. The " thirteen clock " is one Dfthe curiosities of Worsley Hall. Gone! Vanished! Absolutely cured! The old man's cough is gone ; for years he was troubled with Asthma ; now he is quite cured; Bock's Balsam cured liini; It h.ia cured others ; lias cured thousands! Bock's Balsam cures Drrldiitis ill all its stagey oUI standing coughs, ordinary colds. Heals cuts, cracked hands, etc. Bock's Balsam is free from narcotics. Relieves everybody. Thousands testify to it. Many, a blighted life made happy by it. Is, rtt.W. C: Au.ee!!, Chemist, Nelson; Granville Bros, Brightwater ; E. Hooper Wakefield ; A. J. Palmer, Foshill. — Advt. The advent of Willi&inson's "Sherlock HdlijieS" Company ia lobketi forward to with great interest, and will be a treat to playgoers. Mrs Mumbles objected to Jim going to see "Shylock's Holmes" as he had just got married, but Jim says, "What yejr givin' us ?. pidh't I furnish at Ldck's, anil didn't Polly buy her Atlas Sewing Machine at Lock's ? Lor' bless yer, we've saved enough money to buy front seat tickets for the next twelve months, and a little nest egg besides." There is no doubt whatever that Lock's is far and away the cheapest plate tb buy furlliture and furnishings. Mr Lock has completely furnished out ovet 1000 happy homes, [or Cash or on his Easy Payment System. Lock has the largest stock, best quality goods, most up-to-date styles, and lowest prices. Large direct shipments of carpets, blankets, rugs, s* "etings, damasks, crockery, curt& \, etc., just to hand. The Atlas Se» ing Machines and Miner Ranges are the best in the market.— Advt. bid England's Naivy rules the sea No matter where her ships may be, Her flag will fly in every clime, Foremost till the end of time, Her hardy sailor loves to roam ' Upon the wave he calls his home, j While from ihe cold he is secure, Taking— WOODS' GREAT PEPPERMINT CURE.