EVANS FLAT BRIDGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1183, 26 September 1885, Page 3

EVANS FLAT BRIDGE.

{To the Editor.)

Sib, — I see by last week's issue of the "Otago Witness" that the contractors for the bridge at Hopkins' crossing (Evans Flat) have been, through the medium of the Havelock correspondent to that paper, venting their grievancs to the luap«ka County Council. Why they select that paper in preference to the local one I cannot, conceive. The majority of the readers of the " Otago Wit ness" know not'iiflg whatever about the matter, whereat the poople in the locality do know all about the facts of the case. The contractors complain about being badly treated by Ihe County Council not paying them £68 or £70 for extras that they claim to have done in connection with the contract and which the Engineer for the County disallowed. Who ate the Council to be guided by— the contractar,s or the Engineer P How does the case elana 1 ? Mr F'Farlane at the -last meeting of the County Council stated ■tl at the . Works Committee bad looked over the

vouchers in connection with the bridge, and the voucher passed at the last meeting of the County Council wns marked by the «i Engineer as the Jinal payment in connection therewith. They had no fur her evidence before them, and considered the voucher certified to by the Pi-Engineer as conclusive Now, Sir, I ask the rntopnyer' of this County if the County (Jou'icil wouid not bo justiGed in refusing to pay any more moneys on account of the Evans Flat bridge in the face of the Works Commi'iVs report? If the contractors considered they had a fair and just claim for £68 they had their legal remedy. It looks rather queer to me that if their claim would stand the test of a law court they shou'd have been content to take £25 aB full payment of the amount claimed. I would recommend the contractors, when they think it necessary to air their grievance in the " Ot.'igo Witness " or any other paper, to abstain from personalities, as they do their cause no good by such a course. In this instance (I have been informed upon reliable authority) but for the councillor thej selected for special attack they would have got nothing. It was given more as a solatium for having taken a contract at too low a figure to pay them than as a just claim. — I am, &c,, Batepayeb. Tuapeka, 24th September.