Correspondence.

North Otago Times, 24 May 1909, Page 3

Correspondence.

THE DEEDGIrJG PROBLEM. To Hie Editor.

Sir,—Youi report of tho Harbor Board meeting held on thq 18th inst, slated, that "no tenders had beeu i-ut iu for dredging the harbor." 1 understand, that attar tho members had dispensed, a gentleman arrived at the Board's ollico with a tender, and that the majority of the members oi tho Board wcro hurriedly called together, with the result that tLis gemlouiau is to bq allowed to give a tender on the 25th inst., without any competition, although, ho will'have.] ithq mdvapitaga of Mr Blair Mason's proposals and estimates to help ihim. Unless the fonder of the 18th inst was, based upon the advertised specification of the Board, his second or amended tonder should not be opened; and if the Board again decido ilo let the dredging; by contract, 'they ought to call for fell tenders on a specification prepared by !lr Blair Mason. In Mr, Blair Mason's report to tho Harbor Board on Juno 28th, 1904, the followim; statement appears: '!By working three shifts on tlio dredge, the cost per yard would be reduced considerably (about ono-fouv{lv\ and tlv> time of completing the basin in much greater raiao." If the. above computation can k worked o\\l\ on tho present pvonosel dredging scheme a saving of about £llOO will have been effected, and the work completed, say, in about two years. Tj tlio gold dredges can be worked wi'th advantage- for 21 hours per day,, I do not see anything; to hinder H.l\c dredging of our enclosed harbor,- \%. iiifl carried on with economy, and ndvanlago during the 21 boras-; and in addition, there would be. 'him interference with and by the shipping og the port'.—T nm, etc., S. CjttAWSETAW. May 22nd, 1909.