The Examiner. Thursday, December 3, 1857. "PUBLIC GOOD." HARBOR JOB.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 51, 3 December 1857, Page 2

The Examiner. Thursday, December 3, 1857. "PUBLIC GOOD." HARBOR JOB.

To expect that this Province can, under actual circumstances, be honestly governed, would be unreasonable. Even the taxpaying people at home, though proverbially impatient of taxation and shocked if not thought least gullible because most wise of all earth’s people, do sometimes find themselves swindled in handsomest manner. Nay, some envious detractors from British fame have declared that John Bull is the best gulled gentleman now politically existent. Brother Jonathan takes a malicious - lookingpleasure in laughing at fat old John, whom it is plain he thinks little better than a fool. But let what will be said in disparagement of John Bull by brother Jonathan, who would have us believe the mission of England is to show all other nations how to be sivindled, we contend that the people of Auckland are less sensitive with regard to the way in which their money goes than the people of England. They have impeached many a minister for state crimes less odious than those “ blushingly” committed by the Superintendent of this Province. One of them is neither more nor less than the crime of coTiniving at wholesale fraud. We say this with confidence, and are well prepared to support the “ very shocking” statement by evidence, clear, decisive, and overwhelm’ng. Not long since the unsparingly epithetical Dr. Featherstone told Wellingtonians tnat certain people put forward to oppose him were utterly untrustworthy, notorious gamblers, plunderers of widows and orphans. We do not quote Dr. Featherstone for the purpose either of approving or disapproving what he said about Wellington Provincial Councillors; but to show that in these times men’s souls are stirred. Also to bespeak, if possible, a patient, modest, sensible reception foy our opinion of the people calling themselves here in Auckland a Provincial Government, which opinion is that every man of them should be brought to trial either as principal or accessory m the business of cheating many for special benefit of few. In our last impression we gave the correspohdence between Captain Daldy and Superintendent Williamson touching certain Piles used in that notorious swindle commonly described as Harbor Improvement Job. The correspondence reveals

many startling facts. One is— Tfiat many of the Piles do not contain more than one half the quantity of Umber which Piles according to Specification would contain. But though the Piles used are by one--ha]f, or thereabouts, less than they ought to be, the Province is charged— according to Specification. Upon many of the Piles freight as well as original cost is only one half; yet full price we have to pay—• according to Specification. The Contractor has only one half the weight to lift or size to drive; but we have not heard that'he will be content to receive one half the whole amount he was to receive— according to Specification. Engineer Reader Wood, that splendid architect (of his own fortunes), being “for cheapness” paid in proportion to sum expended upon this fine Public Work, “ makes things pleasant”’ by pocketing for Piles half the proper size as much as he would for Piles— according to Specification. Charles, Somethingeise Harris, another of our patriotic Provincial Senators, was patriotic enough to sneeze out satisfaction when these Piles weredelivered ; just as he sneezed out — “ Thankee gentlemen,” when elected Provincial Council member.

Had the Specification been vaguely worded, it would be possible to suppose these officials erred in ignorance. But no document can be plainer. Total number of Piles, according to> Specification No. 1, called Amended Specification, is 970 —namely : — 300 at not less than 50 feet long. 300 40 ditto 70 35 ditto. 150 32 ditto. 100 30 ditto. 50 20 ditto.

As before remarked, many of the Con-tractor-furnished Piles do not contain more than one half the full quantity of timber. Captain Daldy, who, rule in hand, satisfied himself with regard to dimensions of 57 Piles, noiv, or formerly lying on Smales’ Point, says that only 4 of the 57 were according to Specification. In the Captain’s second letter he states for the “ information” of his Honor that 56 of the Piles “ average at butt 15f inches, at centre 12| inches.” Moreover he believes such average “to be a full average of all Piles delivered., on this Contract.” Eloquent people assure us that words are not things. In the gross case before us ■words are things — mightily important things too. Contractor Cochrane, or whoever else contracted to furnish and drive these Piles, will find words toughest as well as ugliest of all the things he has to contend with. According to Specification he is bound, or should be bound, to fulfil his Contract ; and that document not only sets forth “the number, size, place of delivery, &c., of Totara Piles,” but expressly states in very substantial-looking words that “ the Engineer appointed to superintend the construction of the Wharf” will have imposed upon him the duty of “rejecting any Piles which may be bad in quality, deficient either in length or diameter, crooked or otherwise unfit,” and shall see all such “immediately removed by the Contractor, without any charge being made to the Provincial Government for such rejected Piles, or for theirremoval." It seems however, that “ one mode of measurement” has “ been substituted for another by consent.” Yes, an arrangement which reduces the size and Piles at least one third, has been “ arranged” by consent. The Contractor for this Job is allowed to supply Piles at a rate that will enable him to reduce his expences about one third — by consent. Until now we were under a dreamy sort of impression that Specifications were not to be trifled with ; that the Contractor for a Public Work was bound by Specification; that no private arrangement could vitiate or set aside a public contract. But nothing clearer than that we did dream ; for John Williamson is the man who shows us how — by consent Mr. Contractor Cochrane is to receive onethird more for his Piles than he is entitled to receive, and how a whole people are to suffer that one individual may ’profitWhat injustice grosser than the injustice towards those who would have, tendered in this case had they known that Piles one third less costly than those Specificationed would have done very well — by consent. Captain Daldy in his second letter says:—

“ Myself and others declined tendering under the impression that Contractors would be compelled to carry out their contract in accordance with the advertized terms." Like ourselves it seems, that this altogether undreamy-minded, matter of fact Captain was under “ strong delusion” and “ believed a lie for he believed that no Government was foolish, or impudent, or wicked enough to advertize a Contract in one set of terms aud, when some Jobloving partizan got the Contract, privately substitute another set ©f. terms-— by consent.

Justice demands that the whole of the Piles used, or to be used, should be measured by comp'-tetit p tsoiis who are not like Reader Wood paid per centage upon the whole amount expended on this infamous Job “ for cheapness,” or like Charles, Somebody Harris who, with characteristic good nature, shuts his soft eyes upon disagreable facts. ' Officials never plead guilty to an accusation however well sustained. If you convince them it is “ against their will” and leaves them of “ the same opinion still”; at least[so far as outward manifestations are concerned. Make a just charge against them; they will either not notice it at all, or furnish such a rigmarole of reasons why nothing could have been better than their own “management” that lookers-on are bewildered. Their official replies are models of obscurity. Their training fits them for that peculiar kind of literary composition whose merit consists in hovering about, without touching or elucidating, the matter in hand. ■ Reader Wood’s Memorandum given in another column, is a fair specimen of the style official ■ which from style parlant, style sententious, and every other kind of style, is distinguishable as style deceptive. Captain Daldy’s charge against the Pro • vincial Government resolves itself into the simple fact that according to Specification each Pile used in the Harbor Job should be of one given diameter. Many of the Piles are not of that diameter, but of diameter considerably less. Being less in diameter than they should be according to Specification there clearly has been a departure from the terms and meaning of the contract. Reader Wood, unable"to grapple with the charge, pays no sort of attention to it, but concocts Memorandum in which he attempts to dust our eyes with calculations regarding the “ mean average diameter” of the Piles. But as it is the diameter of each Pile and not the mean diameter of all the Piles, we have to consider, his Memorandum, like love-lorn Juliet on her balcony, “ speaks but says nothing”-—-to the purpose. What ttie public had a right to expect were Piles according to Specification ; and Piles according to Specification the public have not got. On that ground the Provincial Government is impeached. Reader Wood first shakes his head at it; then Memorandumizes upon it in style so admirably official that what he has written lias no relation whatever to the charge Captain Daldy did make but triumphs antly answers some charge that he did not make. All who have in any way been parties to this gigantic Job should be indicted and brought to trial in a regular manner — as other criminals are. Is the State nobody ? Or is it somebody that every body may cheat with impunity ? Certain people who Contract to do Public Works seem to think so. Nor can we feel surprised that they should treat the State or Public as nobody, while it makes no sign against those who attack it in principle, prerogative, or purse. We commenced with respectful allusion to John Bull. We conclude with a hint that if Auckland citizens consent to be jobbed by these Ha b r-Job “ managers,” they may live m history as John Calf.