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Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 50, 26 November 1857, Page 4

(To the Editor of the Examiner.)

Sin, —I enclose you copies of a Correspondence between myself and his Honor the Superintendent regarding the Pile Contract. If you deem it of sufficient importance you are at liberty ter publish it for public information.

Believing it will be a matter for public enquiry I refrain at present from making any comments. J I remain, sir, Your obedient servant, , ~ W. C. Daldy. Auckland, Nov. Pird, 1857. Auckland, Nov. 9, 1857. To His Honor the Superintendent. Sir, —Feeling that great injustice is being done to the public, allow me respectfully to direct your attention to the manner in which the Contract taken under the enclosed Specifications is being carried out. The first Specification I copied at the Office of Public Works myself, and the amended one was given me by Mr. Reader Wood. I also enclose the measurement of 57 piles, lying on Smales Point, ex Emily Allison, several of which are prepared for driving. In comparing this with the amended Specification you will perceive that only 4 agree with it. I am not certain of the price paid by the Government, but if what I hear is correct I feel confident that they can be obtained at a much Jess price, and had it been known that such piles would have been accepted, many more persons would have tendered. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, William C. Daldy. No. I— Specification. Specification, setting forth the number, size, place of delivery, &c. of Totara Piles, required by the Provincial Government for the works about to be executed in the extension of the Queen Street Wharf. 430 p. 50 ft. long, averaging 2 ft. 6 in. diam. 000 “35 “ •• “ 2 ft. diameter 190 “32 “ “ “ 2 “ “ 50 “20 “ “ " -18 in. diameter. The Piles to be delivered by the Contractor in Commercial Bay, Auckland, on or before the day of The whole to be sunject to the approval of the Engineer appointed to superintend the construction of the Wharf, and any Piles which he may reject as being bad in quality, deficient either in length or diameter, crooked or otherwise, shall be immediately removed by the Contractor, without any charge being made to the Provincial Government for such rejected Piles or for their removal. The payment will be made by the Provincial Government upon the delivery of the Piles and their approval by the Engineer. The Piles to be straight, solid, and of the diameter above specified. (Copy.) (Signed) Reader Wood. •No. 2— Amended Specification.

* Rotten. -j- Defective. I According to Contract. Superintendent s Offce, Auckland, „ . Ao». 13, 1857. bin, —I nave the honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter dated 9th instant, enclosing copy of the Specifications for the Piles for Queen Street Wharf, together with the measurement of 57 Piles, ex “ Emily Alison,” now lying on Smale’s Point, and drawing attention to the manner in which the Contract taken under the Specifications is being carried out. The Superintending Engineer informs me that the Piles referred to are in accordance with the terms of the Contract for Piles under 50 feet, and average from 12 to 16 inches at the centre, according to length ; that mode of measurement having been substituted by con-

sent for the specified measurement at the butt, as being equivalent, and more likely to secure the delivery of Piles free from the defect of excessive tapering. The Contract prices are as follows:— 20 to 30 feet at 2s per foot. 30 to 35 “ at 2s 3d per foot. 35 feet and over 20 per c. advance. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. Williamson, ... „ Superintendent. W. C. Daldy, Esq.

Auckland, Nov. %&rd, 1857. To his Honor the Superintendent. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the recept of yours dated Nov. 13, and beg to tender you iny thanks for the same. When I addressed you before I was not aware of a private arrangement having been made with the Contractor for Piles which reduces the size and weight at least one third. Myself and others declined tendering under the impression that Contractors would be compelled to carry out their contract in accordance with the advertised terms. For your information I may state that 56 of the Piles, measured by myself, average at butt 15f inches—at centre 13| inches. I believe this to be a full average of all Piles delivered on this Contract. If desirable the Piles used can now be measured. If you refer to the advertised terms of Contract you will see it was in the power of the Engineer to refuse any Piles he thought deficient, from excessive tapering or other defect, and cause them to be removed. I have the honor to be, Sir, You obedient servant, W. C. Daldy.

300 piles 50 feet long, 2 feet at the butt 300 “ 40 “ “ 1 ft. 9 in. at butt 70 “ 35 “ “ 1 « g « 150 “ 32 “ “ 1 “ 9 “ “ ' 100 “ 30 « “ 1 " 6 “ “ 50 “ 20 “ “ l “ Q “ «

Measurement of 57 Piles on Smale's Point. Length. Diam. ut butt. Centre Diam. Length Diam. at butt. Centre 44 17 14 22 broken broken 30 13 11 32 19 15 37 18 16 *36 18 17 40 17 14 40 20 17 28 11 9 44 15 14 29 17 14 41 20 17 30 15 13 20 14 12 38 17 14 38 13 11 30 14 12 27 17 14 J30 18 14 35 18 14 29 14 12 46 18 15 25 15 14 44 18 15 J29 18 14 *40 19 15 30 12 11 J24 18 15 42 15 14 39 16 14 20 14 13 40 16 13 35 15 14 |21 15 15 44 14 12 46 18 15 29 12 9 37 16 15 *37 14 13 38 19 18 *35 18 15 33 14 11 38 16 13 33 14 11 33 13 11 21 13 12 21 17 13 28 11 9 39 14 14 29 14 13 27 17 13 32 17 15 35 14 13 37 15 12 t‘24 19 18 45 15 13 32 15 12