THE LATE HOSPITAL CONTRACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2791, 3 June 1890, Page 2

THE LATE HOSPITAL CONTRACT.

e- — TO TIIH KDITOH. Silt,—As I was employed to make out the specification for the fever ward verandah and washouse extension, I naturally tendered accordingly, but imagine my surprise on applying to the Secretary of the Hospital Board, to see it (the specification) to be informed that it had been destroyod, (although when making it out I requested that it might be preserved) and that a copy had been made from it, which copy was the one produced to the Board at their last meeting. Mr \V. Johnston, in his letter of tho 17th inst., states that kauri would only make ,_8 of a difference betweu his tender and mine. That I allow to be true, but then he forgets that I should have employed competent workmen to do the painting, plumbing, and concrete work—not jacks of all trades. I only do the timber work myself and employ tradesmen to do the other parts, consequently I have uever had any complaint about my work. In this contract the wages of competent men would have mado a considerable holo in a ten pound note. As to the timber being wet, the weather was that hot at the time that there was plenty of time to have dried it, as I put up a house at tho same time with similar timber. In answer to Mr .Johnson's charges the blocks being only eight inches in the ground, if he had looked lie would have found these weru only under the verandah, and were sunk before the earth cutting had been made, but are on hard snlid bollom. 1. have put up two verandahs at the hospital ; they have been up twenty mouths, and are now in as good condition as when passed by the architect. One of them is alongside the job referred to, and they can be inspected by any competent person. As one of the members of the Board is an engineer why was he not asked to at least inspect the work and also look at the specification instead of these things being left to a farmer and ratepayers' money coiisequenty squandered. As to the concrete I must say .1 have always found Wilson's lime to bo good if it was Riven a chance, that is to say using the requisite quantity it is nearly as good as portland cement, only does not set so quickly. Thomah Evans.