TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 5

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir,—As promised, I will now endeavour to give some further particulars about the Dunedin method of tramway construction It had been the intention of the Dunedin City Council to do the work on the contract system, and drawings and specifications for contract had been prepared, when it occurred to my friend, Mr Oakden, that both time and money might be saved if, instead of letting contracts, the Corporation were to carry out the work of tramway cuuversion themselves, through the employment <>{ a constructive engineer as the direct servant of the Corporation. Accordingly Mr Oakden wrote to th<? Mayor , , but the idea being somewhat startling, did not at liret commtnd itself tit the Council, who contented themselves with receiving the letter without even discussing it. It was then taken up by the Press, and the Council pave it serious consideration, and elided 'by adopting the proposal. Mr Oakikn pointed out that the contract system would involve "serums delay, extending into yeais. before Dunetl-n would experience rise convenience and comfort of tlfctric tramways." And he went on to show that in America; where he had seen a g°iHi deal of tramway management, the cour>e~*iie proposed was often adopted with the greatest success, "similar work, but of greater magnitude," having, to his know-' iedue. been "completed from commencement of operations in four months and live days."

•*• Why. tlien." he argued. " not take a hint from the Yank, and do the work ourselves." Mr therefore suggested that Messrs Noyes Bros., who. .is the Australasian !epie>ent:itiv!'s of the great West-ii.irhcHis-t 1 IVjipany of England and America. H.i'd been engaged ti». design tiis Dunetlin ixheme, and }-.ad prepared plans ar.d speciti cations, should be employed us servants in tlie Councii. to cany «nt the work in tin expeditious and economical manner. Mr Oakden urged that the followiug advantaees woukl aecme from this propo^J: — «lv"f«n— T-w. rait in Viarvrl im.

mediately, and sections could be made revenue-earning before a contractor could turn a frocl; (2) the engineers, being i>e> viiiits Of the Corporation, would bo boun* in honour to obtain the best possible prices, and cut at that; (31 by paying a lump sum instead of commission there would tie no advantage to the engineers to increase tho vtrsl. of the work: (4) since the Council would be virtually doing its own work, no supervising •engineer and .staff would be necessary; (5) the diffeience between th<» "engineer's remuneration" and "contractor's profit" should be many thousands of pounds; (6) the saving in tiny should represent at least one year's revenue: {!) the apparent difficulty of deciding wbat was lequimi before the contract was let pointed to the probability of many alterations becoming expedient a.ft-er the contract w.tn signed if let by tender; whereas, by the Corporation carrying out the work, alterations, additions, or deductions, could be made with impunity, also any section of the work expedited or retarded as found desirable. These reasons vire so weighty that they convinced the Council, and Messrs Xoyes liros.<were engaged as Mr Oakden suggested. It curious!v happens that since the riist letter in which I referred to this matter, yon have reported an interview with a member of this firm, who was, as you stated, passing through Christchurch, on his return from an extensive American and European business tour, he having, whilst at Home, made the necessary arrangements for carrying out the work of the Dunedin tramway system.

I am not personally acquainted with Messrs Noyes Bros., and do not know whether their services would be available for us, though I have heard that they nii&rht be so. It is clear, however, that what, is being done iv Dunedin might equally be done here, whether this firm or some other were employed.—Yours, etc., S. S. BLACKBURNE. p.S.—Since writing the above, 1 have heard from Mr Oakden, who says:—'There is every prospect of Dunedin being satisfied and I see no cause to regret the stand I took in the initiation."