GIRLS’ NEW COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 212, 2 June 1921, Page 6

GIRLS’ NEW COLLEGE

NOTHING DONE SINCE GOVERNORS’ DECISION TO PROCEED

POSITION'OF CONTRACTOR

A good deal of time has been wasted since the last week in April when the College Governors decided to stop the excavation work in connection with the preparation of the lite for the Girls’ College on tho College Reserve at tho southern end of Austin Street, 1» ? oilowing that action, factions were developed, some favouring the site already decided upon, and others an alternative site to be named when found. After blast and counter-blast, tho opponents of tho College Reserve site found that they were not able to produce a. site to be compared with the one originally chosen, whereupon tho board reaffirmed its own decision to utilise the College Reserve site, and loss no time in so doing. That was a fortnight ago. Since then a representative of The Dominion has visited the site, and was surprised to find that no work was going on, and, on inquiry, to gather that none had been done since tho governors’ latest decision to push on with tho work with all possible expedition. . The contractor for tho excavation work, Mr. J. O’Donnell, was communicated with on the matter. He stated that it would be remembered that some six weeks ago the Board of College Governors decided to suspend the work, in view of the possibility of another site being found. As nothing was done for some time, Mr. O’Donnell felt that he was free to take on other work, as he could not hold a staff of men together over a period of weeks doing nothing. So other work was secured, and when the governors wished to resume i>f ter the suspension he, having engaged himself to do other work, felt that he was not free to resume the work, and the College Governors Kere informed accordingly. Mr. O’Donnell considers that ho was quite within his rights to act as ue has done, as he considered that the board in suspending the work broke the terms of the contract with him. Mr. O Donnell considers himself absolved from the contract, and assumes that the board will call for fresh tenders for the work.