THE EARLY DAYS-A CORRECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7057, 19 February 1910, Page 7

THE EARLY DAYS-A CORRECTION

ITo tho Editor "N.Z: Times.") Sir, —I see an article in Thursday's paper on '"' Old Wellington," ivrifcton by Mr Simpson.' "There is one little niistako that I; wish to correct. The writer says that" Mr.Kempton, of Greytown, cut the first pile for tlio Queen's AVharf.' That is not correot. The first pile and the bulk of the timber for the wharf was cut from Mr Barton's bush, Trentham, Upper Hutt, and Mrs Collins's" bush; Miingaroa. The contractor, only applied to the Wairarapa for timber when he could not get a sufficient supply from tho . tipper Hutt to keep his, men at work, and" as he was under a penalty of £5 a day for-every day over'the contract time .ho was obliged to "get timber from tho Waicarapa, although it cost', him considerably more than lie paid at the Upper Hutt. ; As it was, he was, over 100 days over Jus time, and the Provincial Government compelled him to pay every cent of the penalty—£soo. There was great sympathy in Wellington, for the . .contractor, as everyone knew it was not Ins. '. fau.lt, but; the difficulty of good men and timber.— l am, etc., AN OLD IDENTTTI*. February. 18th.