ISOLATION WARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10966, 8 May 1907, Page 4

ISOLATION WARD.

♦ r WOOD OR BRICK? Tenders for the erection of the isolation ward were received by the Chai'itable Aid Board last evening as follows": — C. Somervell £777 3s, W. Webb and Son £653, or with brick walls, etc., £714, U. W. Atkin £717, F. Stafford £679 10s, Queenin and Bolund £712, Mackvell and Collcy £699, Clayton Bros. £670, Black Bros £657 15s. The estimate cost was £550. Cr Whinray. said the tender for brick walls was worth considering, as with brick the walls could be whitewashed and kept sanitary. The Building Inspector said the difference in the tenders and the estmate j was accounted for by the non-inclusion of hot water baths, gas, gas heaters, high-pressure boiler, etc., in the estimate which was for the bare building only.r— Cr Harding said the cooking was all to be done in the Hospital, or so jthey.- were told, and he did not see the need for a gas. heater. — The Mayor said there might be cases in the ward which would require plenty of hot water. — Cr Whinray said us the difference hi. cost f was small, and the sanitary gain great, they should accept the alternative, brick. There would also be a saving in insurance.— Cr Sheridan favored Cr .Whinray's proposal. His recollection was that Dr DeLisle (Health Officer) objection to brick" was on the score of expense. Ho moved that Webb and Son's tender be accepted, aud that Dr DeLisle bo asked as to whether he favored brick or wood. — Cr Harding did not think they should depart from their original intention. With the way the town was growing the isolation ward would have to be moved xfrom the present intended site, and it would be better to kuild it in wood. The Board were able to judge as to whether it should be brick or wood, and there was rib need to refer jt to Dr DeLisle.— Cr Sheridan : The nearness to the Hospital was an6ther reason why Dr DeLisle was against brick; — Cr Williams agreed with Cr Harding that they should not consider the tender for brick. The' ward was required immediately, and to- accept; the tender for brick would mean delay.— Cr Bright held, that the Council should achad called for. He moved that the tender at £653 be accepted.— Cr Harding seconded.— Cr Whinray moved as an amendment that the tender in brick be accepted. — Cr Somervell seconded, pointing out that the brick building would be better from a sanitai-y point of view.-r-Cr Matthews asked the Mayor's ruling as to whether the amendment was not informal. They had called for tenders for a wooden' building, and it was not fair to the other contractors that a tender in brick should be accepted. — Gr Whinray: What would you do in your own case? — Gr Sheridan agreed with Gr Whinray.-rThe Mayor ruled that the amendment to accept a tender for brick was hot in order. Fresh specifications would have to oe made if, a tender for brick were accepted, and as Cr Matthews pointed, out it was not fair to the other tenderers. As to the question of delay he did hot think that a fortnight or so's delay mattered much..— After {utthef'discussion Cr Whinray moved that no.tender be accepted and fresh tenders for brick be called.— Cr SonierveH did' not think it was fair to Webb and Sons, as the amounts of the tenders were certain of get out.— The amendment wa£" lost, and the motion to accept the tender in wood at £653 was passed!— Cr Wbinray thought it was competent for the Gouncil to make arrangements. with Mr Webb,! if possible, to put up a brick building. He thought the matter should be left : tp the Works Committee.— Cr ; M atthe wfc ' proposed that' the County Chairman, Crs Harding, Lysnar, and Keriway, and the mover be the Committee.— Cr bheridan Eroposed that; Crs Whihray, Somervell, awyer, and Mann be added. There .were too many v County Councillors in the committee proposed, by Cr Matthews.— Cr Matthews : The County Council- provide three-fourths of the money. — After discussion the amendment was lost, Cr Miller pointing out- that it was proposed to leave the matter to a large number of Councillors who would not see each •other and knew little about it. He. thought the question should be left to the-.Build-.-ing Inspectoi' to enquire from Mr Webb as to any variation in the contract and report to the Council.— Cr Sawyer seconded and pointed; out that a fortnight's delay was not serious.^The Chairman ruled that as a tender had been accept; ,ed, notice of motionMvas necessary to rescind the previous resolution to build in wood.— Cr Harding said he was glad the Mayor had taken this stand. The 'matter had been before the' Council for years, and now finality had been reached it aee'med that some were wanting' to cause delay <md were not sincere in their desire for the erection of a ward.-MUr Whinray gave notice of v motion to'rescind the previous resolution in accordance with the Mayor's ruling.— Cr Matthews urged that a notice of motion could not be accepted now a tender had been accepted. The Boai'd. were stultifying themselves.— Cr, Whinray held the Board should not be bohnd by strict rules when there was a prospect of obtaining a beneficial and legitimate compromise Vvith the successful tenderers.— Examination of the plan showed that the site now proposed , was not the one chosen by the Boards but had been selected by Drs. Mason and DeLisle. Instead of being in the present Hospital grounds it had been fixed outside on what was the old end of Roebvick road. The Mayor said as it had been chosen by the doctors it would no doubt have.to be agreed to.