A BIG CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 735, 7 February 1910, Page 5

A BIG CONTRACT.

REPAIRS TO T.S.Si. KAIPARA,

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL TENDER. • Quite - a stir has . bcon» occasioned 'in : '3ocal;iron ; tradecireleflby the announce* ■ « inent ;that:' tho.). tender of Messrs.- Carop- :; vl boll and Hutchinson .(late.- Edgar Seager),' ; ' -ef;;yic&ria Street/ AVeUingtbn f ; hAs ( 'been \ ft(^pt<ri : in. conniption with tho.repair- ■. . ing. of. the s.s. Kaipara, which -.was exdamaged'Jthrougli 'Etriking ' a ; - v. vfihoal jri■ Rar.gitoto Channeij' ih Auckland V. ..:'llarbour, recently. > Inquiries by 'a .JJo--;T'::1^i o |f.'! re Port©r;shoW. that, tho 'repoi't is' • : - slightly-tireinaturo, for tK6 contract has ■Ntj v v.by'v all=:-parties, \b'ufc :b6lieVe'-'that' - th©" work will .bo carried out'by the'firm'in ,: c ..qUe3tion. :'.'lt .'is' .a ■ tribute . to'* the enter*. ot;-Me5srs.'.panipbeirandHiitchin-*°n. thatthey/ werein'a position to-un-dertake such'. a big 'contrnct. for 'it i 3 only two.'yelrs and .a' half sines they be- • '.'. came.associated in business.. :•'•'•• . '. to 'rep'or'ts the work wlirbd.' . : . as, big. as any thing of the. kind 'attempt-' ■:. : ■ ed, befote in. New. Zealand; ■ ile:," the data'.'' age . which has to be remedied is as great ' '" •■■ the'case.in regard to. the Tomoana .-.' aou; the. Ulimaroa., ,'lt i appears that. the local firm were early on the scene, Mr. Hutchinson -leaving-for Auckland, imme'•"rMidiately^ . w .ith, a. »iew .to tendering. If'deemed, expediont.. As thfc work will, require., tQ'J» ,'i;:Vi :': .: ..- w how tho. successful tenderers will bo able to cany it out.ln this .connec'iwas' aniiouncedrr; that-.'-.-Mcssrs. ..iCampbeH and .'. Hutchinson:- were able to soonre the iplates-intended for the-repair of tow Papanui, which was dooked in . Melbonrnei.v.but 'subsequently- ordered out of dock (where she had been for f*smo time at a cost of £100 a day), and • "es in the harbour resting on her tank tops, and is offered'for sale. It is now . i™™! however that-. such- was' not the case,;but that the firm had fio difficult# ui securing an option in Sydney over a ■:.■ sufficient number of -plates. ' Asked as to the extent of the work and the period of the contract, Mr. Campbell ,srated,.that ..he was •. unablo 1 tohiake ftr>y : . statement: On'the subject .until Mr. Hut- , cWson.returned.. In.other quarters, htrwgleaned that the contract , v - • which tho local, firm have: agreed to perform, includes only the replacement .-of • •■.the..damaged plates .which extend oyer^a .- distance and/the; straightening rof the. tanks and .framework. Some Idea \ of . tho • magnitude of- this work may be' ,gat!ged when -it is 'stated that. it fis. es- • . . -tiinated. that - the - ntfr plates which' will /be need&d will weigh 50 tone. u.With a vie* .to'prosecuting■ tho work .'withont delay, .. ift.baroh of men ..have (it is stated)' already • v jwefl sent on to Aiickland where ths ves-' ,N ?r I^?.'l?*? 1 in * Calliope • Dock; Iz tne-job is 'tobe 'completed l within 1 six or Jeigntr- weeks; -> as.-is-;generally - tinderstood, the undertaking, will .'entail' th'o •jmwoyro€«it-of vabout 5120 'of whom' local workmen win constitute a fair ! pro- ' vXn - handling a contract of the kjnd.at a distance it was incumbent that Messrs. Campbell - and 'Hutchinson should receive assistance from an Auckland firm and in thw regard-it, is that • Adams,' Lt<L, '. will work 'in V conj unction ! • with'.them. view fto relieving the sucoesa,ful was .provided (so it is averredj <that.the work could'be tendered for with- or without the amount for dock <axMges,^eto»,vwhich are.'bound to run •«' P*° a • rom alono. s Nothing has wen made known as- to the amount of , tho successful tender; but it'is belibved that-lt^was. Blightly under; :^6ooo. 1 Mr. ... Campbell had-considerable experience of work\pf ! ; the : kind at Home and Mr. I , Hutchinson will, be; remembered as chief ,j engineer "of the Eotoiti just' prior to en- ■ ' 1 tering into business. ~