According to Contract.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 95

According to Contract.

Those who have built houses for themselves and, in the never-varying experience of all, over-run the contractor's estimate may find some consolation in the fact that there was one man- who had his ] house built exactly as he ordered it, and ' didn't alter a line of his original plan or ! over-run the contract price. Thi6 was a peppery old sea-capUwn, who drew out the plans, being somewhat of a draughtsman, of his modest, two-etorey, green-blinded mansion, iind 1 summoned his carpenter and demanded what he would charge *o build a bouse for him after than plan. "But, captain," said the knight of the foreplane, " there are no " " Don't ' but ' me !" exploded the captain. " I want the house according to my plan." "Certainly," said Shavings; " i>*-*t you will let me put in " "Not one thing." "But, sir " "Now hark you!" roared the captain; I pay you to build the house exao'J/ as I have drawn the plan. I won't have anything put in." ■ "Very well," said Shavings, rather nettled, and a price was fixed For a dwelling exactly according to plan, to be finished in six months' time, and the captain sailed away. Returning home, he was waited on by the builder, and the new mansion visited. Its exterior was quite correc', — pretty blinds, neat door, with trellis and all complete, and so were first floor, ontry, and rooms. The captain was profuse in his commendations. "And now," said he, "we will go up stairs." " All right," said Sbfavings. " Come outside to the ladder." " Outside? Why, what d'ye mean by that? I want to go upstairs." "Can't do it.,6ir." "Why?" " There are no stairs." | "No stairs!" exclaimed the astonished mariner; "no stairs!" j " No," replied the imperturbable builder ; " you refused to have a single thing put in ! not down in the plan, and that contained ! no stairs." I The captain was fairly caught, for in his drawing he had utterly forgotten this important portion of his dwelling, and his hot temper had prevented the civpenfer. from pointing it out to him. Since then, it ig said. \h& captain gets into it pa*o\on wbla anyoitt «U*4i itt him.