CONTRACTORS' GRIEVANCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 13

CONTRACTORS' GRIEVANCES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — Allow me through the medium of your columns to expose a most pernicious system which ia being generally adopted by lload Boards and other public bodies — a system very expensive to contractors. Tenders are frequently called for by those bodies, for the sole purpose of finding out the probable cost of any works they may contemplate having done ; this object being attained, they are quite careless as to the probable cost to the contractors. The con venient answer, " that sufficient funds are not available," or " that tje amount of the tenders exceed their enginee. '3 estimate," is very soothing to a contractor's fpelings after having spent a pound or two in vieiting the locality, &c, &c. This !*tyle of doing business might easily be obviatfld if the "boards" or "public bodies" would, in the first place, see that they had sufficient funds before calling tenders, and in the second, put their engineering works into the hands of persons who, by their experience, are entitled to call themselves engineers. With a good-natured desire to assist the rising generation, Boad Boards often select as their engineer mere lad*, who (having served the prepciibod three years enabling them to pass as land sur veyors}, have the assurance to dub themselves " Engineer" also. _ This is a mistake, as either the Boards or their contractors (often the latter) have to pay for the follies committed by the embyro engineer. Again, it is rather hard on contractors to make out estimates for any public body — their tenders bejug very often made use of as sueh — and some lucky youth to pocket the fees. As it would be invidious to mention names and localities, I would just recommend a few of our Road Boards and other public bodies to " try on the cap" — 'tis bound to fit. By inserting this you may be doing a good turn to those following tho occupation Of a OONTBACTOB

ARRIVALS.

„ . August 22nd. Nonpareil, baique, 399 tons, Finlayson, from .Newcastle. J Mills, agent. Wanganui, schooner, 78 tons, Blaney, from Greymouth. X «amsiy, a^ent. Helen Denny, barque, 728 tons, Ruth, from London. N M and A Co, agents. Passengers: Second cabin — Messrs Krause, tiherwin. Pyke, M'Dougall. Stetrage -Mr and Mra Washf r, Mr and Mrs Slater and child, Messrs Collinson, Keys, F.suer, Voster, Roes, Ardenor, Duncan, Scott, Grey, KirkJy, Hardsty, Rigg. Augusb 23rd, Star of the South, s.s., 179 tons, Fraser. from the Bluff. H Houghton and Co, agents. Passengers —Two steerage. Beautiful Star, s.s., 148 tons, Jones, from Timaru Onion Company, agents. Taiaro*, 8,5., 228 tons, Pietersen, from Nelson, via the Coast. J Mills, agent. Passengers— Mesdames Kennedy, Parkinson, Messrs Mantell, Preston. August 24thAuffust 24 —Beautiful Star, s.s., 146 tons, Jc^nes, from Oamaru. Union Company, agents. Palmerston, ketch, 26 tons, Brebner.from Half-moon B»v, Stewart's Island. H Guthrie, agent. Wanaka, s.s , 278 tons, M'Gillivray, from Auckland, via East Coast. Union Company, agents. Paßsengere — Mesdames Tudhopa, Black, Mcl lor s, Miss Roberts, Me.srs Black. Masterton, Maxwell, Montelth, Crowley, Oars, iTGrtgor, Mellow. St. Kilda, b.b., 179 tons, Piowerday, from Wanganui. X Ramsay, agent. Elibank Castle, schooner, 61 tons, schooner, Graham, from Hokitlka. Wakatipu, s.s., 1168 tons, Wheeler, from Sydney, via WeUlnßton and Lyttolton. Union Company, agents. Passengers— Mr and Mra Kirke, Hon J Mc&ndrew. Messra Blackie, Ross, Thompsorj, Macandrew, Armstrorjg, Shipton, H Selwyn Smith, Gaurd, and 2,3 in the steerage. Camrsie Glen, barque, 49) tons, T Smith, from Calcutta. Master, agent. August 25 1 h, Blair jDrummond, ship, 1450 tons, Guthrie, from London. New Zealand Shipping Company, agent*. Passsngeru: Saloon— Mr and Mrs Bowlsr and child, Mrs Henton and child, Messrs A ldom, C H Hardy, H and W Palethorpe, E Turner, P. Fowler, Hay (2), W Rit'<ol, Mastera Outten (2). Second c tbin and steerage —Mrs M'Gregor, Mr and Mra Watson, Mr and Mra Campbell and family (G>, Mr and Mrs Greenwood, Mr and Mra Knglish acd family (3), Messrs Hill,, Levi, Worrall, Winsloe, George, Lon>r, Schwels, Browniie, C-ark, Watson, Harris, Hylin, Chipp, Crocker, Brothers. ' Crest of the Wave, schooner, 54 tons, M'Lean, from Pelorus Sound. X Kamsav, agent. Good Templar, ketch, 42 tons, Bradbhaw, from Kakanui. H Guthrie, agent. _ , ' , August 26tb. Grace, ketch, 16 tons, Brady, from Waikouaiti. Master, agent. August 27th. Arawatu, s.s., 623 tons, Sinclair, from Nelson, via intermediate ports. Union Company, agents. Pas^cngers—Mes«s Sutherland, Davie, Rose, Dr Russoll, 6 steerage, and 30 passengers for forward ports. Albion, s.s., 610 tons. O'arraro, from Melbourne, via Hobart Town and the Bluff. Union Company, cents'. Passengers: From Melbourne— Mr and Mrs W H Lingard, Mrs Owen, Mis*cs OweD (2), Woolridge, Melroae, Loopold, Bel), Hillior, Messrs Van Ghele, G LeoP' Id, Holland, H Leopold, Lawrance, Craiir, V/arner Cihill, Hayes, Owen, Brady, Huxtable, Hethorincton, Eagerty, lnnei, Chesnev, Trestrail. FrJm Hobart Town— Messrs Cook, Kilkenny. From tha Bluff— Mr and Mrs Bennett, 4ir Hay, and 12 steerage for all ports ; 83 passengers for forward ports. DEPABTTTRES. August 22nd. Catlin, ketch, 45 tons, Matheson, for Catiin'a River. H Guthr.'e. agent. City of Cathmtre, ship, 890 tons, Grieve, for Portland, Oregon. New Zsalaud Shipping Compury, agents. Maori, s.s., 118 tons, Bernech, for Oamarn. J Mills, agent William and Jane, schooner, 70 tons, Wares, for Stewart Island. H Guthrie, agent. August 23rd. Penguin, s.a., 442 tons, Ma'colm, for Auckland, via the Kast Coast. J Mills, agent. Passengers : For Lyttelton— Mrs Buchanan, Messrs Chong, Seaver For Akaroa— Mra Nugent. Messrs Walsh Jones Proctor. For Wellington— Mr Moffitt. For Napier -Mr Hercus. For Auckland-Mrs Hogg and 2 children, Misses Hogg (2), Mr and Mra Wa-her, Messrs Brodriek, Hogg ; 15 hteerage for all ports. Wanganui, s.s., 179 tons. Bayldon, for the West Coa«t, via Oamaru. H Houghton and Co, ngents. Valparaiso, barque, 730 tons, Mills, for Newcastle. Cargills, Gibbs, and Co, agents. August 24th. August 23.— Prospector, barque, 215 tons, Sampson, for Kaipara H Guthrie, agent. Ausrust 24 —Janet Ramsay, schooner, 41 tons, Peterson, for Catlin's River. H Guthrie, nirent Huon Belle, ketch, 42 tons, Brewer, for Catlin's River. H Guthrie, agent. August 25th. Thomas Stephen*, ship, 1507 tons, s ickards, for Guam. N Z Shipping Co, agents. Beautiful Star, b.s., 146 tons, Jones, for Oamaru and Tirxmru. union Company, agents Thurso, barque, 490 tons, Raddon, for Newcastle. W and'G- Turnbull and Co, agents. v „ August 26th. Star of tho South, b.s., 179 tons, Fraser, tor Bluff. H Houghton and Co, agents. St. Kilda, s.s., 179 tons, Flowerday, for Wanganui, via intermedinte ports. X Ramsay, agent. August 27th. Albion, 5.8., GiO tons, Garrard, for the Worth. Union Company, agents. Passswgers : For Lyttslton— Vlr and Mra Jackson. For Wellington— Mr Trih<*y. For Taranaki— Mr Mailer. Arawata, s.s.. 623 tons, Sinclair, for Melbourne, viatheßJuff. Union Company, agants. Passengers Mm Hamilton, Messrs Spavin, Ourrio, Hamaiyn, Outbbortson, Bellamy, Fi.idlay, Paul, Sydney, M'M»hon, Tin Kin, Ah Kan, Ah Chow, Ah Kin, Skea! Constable Knox, and prisoner.

Auckland, * ugust 22nd. The Mew Zealand Shipping 1 (Jou pa-iy's barque Loch Pee clesredfor London with a cargo valued at £26,808. Auckland, Aucrust 26fch. Arrived: City if Sydney, with ?cveu tsiloon passengers for Auckland, and 11 grceraae. She brings 50 saloon pissii'treru and 39 in tlvi steorage for Sydney and l?.u0 tons of ocrgo for all ports. Ar 'hbishop K ( ei"3 li»8 not arrived. Kir Arthur Gordon landed at S'moa, and was received by H.M.S Cormorant. Dr Cox, American Commissioner for the Sydney Kxhibition, is a pa«en?er. Bluff August 26th. Tho Union Company's s.s Albion arrived nt 3 p.m. She left Melbourne at 1.20 p m. on the 20th, and arrived at Uoburt Town at 9 a m on the ?2nd ; left at 3.30 pm. Sho exp j rioni:ed light norlberiy winds and fine weather dmitg the pitaace. Siie btinjj^ 40 saloon and 38 fctwnfje passengers for all port J . She sails at 9 p.m for Dunedin. Pasfengerj—lVr Uunoriin: Saloon— Mr and Mm Lingard, Mrs Owen, Misses Owen (2), Wnnlridirp, Melrose, Laopeld, Bell, Hellier, Messrs Van Ghele, Leopold (2), Holland, Lxwraure, Craig, Warner, Cahill, Bayss, Owen, Bandy, Huxtablo, Hethenrgton, Eagerty, Innea, Chisney, 'Ires .ill, rook, Kilkenny, 22 in the atee'ago, 97 tons of cargo, and 9 iiorsis. For Lyttelton — Mibs Breen, Messrs Anderson, fituubs, inwood, 4in tho steerage, and 69 tons of cwgi. F'-r Wellington— Mrs and Mas er Kollick.Mrs Mouldiugand child, Alessrs BV\wkner and Jackson. For Nelßun — Mrs Stroud For Wauganui — Miss Admodt. For Auckland— Mr Dicks,n,"l7 in the steerage, and 142 tons of caruo.