PROGRESSIVE NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10390, 23 April 1902, Page 3

PROGRESSIVE NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor. Sir, — Kindly grant me a small space to ask whoever it may conce.n, Why it should take the U.S;S. Company over three months to bring 15 short logs of timber fr. m New castle, New South Wales? but such, Sir, is a fact. On November 11th, 1901, I had ah occasion to send to Clarence Eiver for 15 pieces of timber 20 feet long, a very bandy length for shipment — nine pieces to bo 15 i 10 ; six pieces 14 x 10. Well, Sir, I was agreeably surprised on January 4th to receive advice from my agent in Nelson that, hot only was the timber on the wharf at Newcastle, but was expected to leave there on the 3rd. So far, the bush froprietor had given a fairly good despatch, as i am aware that there is a great- demand lately for ironbark No timber arrived until tbe 50th, but that would not have been so bad had the 15 arrived but there only arrived eight pieces, but advice received said : expect balance any day. So I started, thinking I was about to astonish the Natives about here how to throw a bridge across quick, as I had already purchased all tha other suitable ironbark that was to be found in the Nelson district (none to be found in the Wellington district), but, alas! it was three months before the last two logs arrived, one of which was tbe wrong size. I'he last seven pieces came in three vessels — that is to say, f-e 15 logs took four steamers, or four trips, about 3£ months, to bring to Nelson after the whole of the timber was lying en the wharf ready. It has affected a good many people, tradesmen, people who use the road, including tbe coach proprietor, and the last, but not the least, the poor unfortunate contra/: 1 or. Tbe work, that should have been completed in five weeks, has. taken five months, many people blaming me. Now, Sir, to show we are not progressing very fa6t in this one kind of business, I ■ could quote many large works I and my j late partner executed in Canterbury, some j nearly 30 years ago, but will only say that one bridge we built across the north j branch of the Ashburton river, was 25 spins of 40 feet each, or 1000 feet long. We began and completed in 14 weeks that bridge, which was all ironbark, excepting the decking. The train is now runninj over it. Well, Sir, this bridge 60 feet" long, Eedwood's Valley, has taken five months to build ; the Ashburton, 1000 feet, took 14 weeks. Now, if such a job came out in Nelson, and taken pro rata, it wouid take about 6J years to build in Nelson what only took 14 weeks 25 years ago in- Canterbury. I cruld mention several longer bridges tint wouW average about the same. Wei 1 , is it reasonable or fair that lindividually should be at all this loss? for, if a per.- on has a contract on, and every day expects the material to arrive to-morrow, he cannot very well undertake anything else, but I can Imagine so much how how it occurred : Some of those brass-buttoned officials ihit the wharf is none too wide for them to walk on, when informed about the timber, would say " Oh, let tbe next boat take it," or else he would turn round and say, " Oh, well, if it is for Nelson, you may put a couple on board, that will do for Nelson a week or two," and so on with the next s earner. I think it is only right the Company should known about this kind of thing ; in fact, if my agent had not kept writing and telegraphing, it might not have arrived by next Christmae. I have inclosed my agent's name to you privately, who can substantiate about the delay, if necessary If this kind of thing is Jikely to'continue, the contractor, to make himself safe, will have to put in a good contingency. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours, &c, C'has. Hill, Contractor.