PORT CHALMERS GRAVING DOCK.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2618, 8 July 1871, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS GRAVING DOCK.

The Dock Trust met to-day at the Secretary’s office at noon. Present -Messrs E. JB. Martin (in the chair), Pradshaw, his Worship the Mayor, Bathgate, Hill, Eattray, M'Lcan, Eoife. and Tayler. The se retary (Mr J. S. Webb), and the engineer (Mr Macgregor), were also present. The minutes of the last meeting, and the letter of the secretary to the contractors, enclosing a copy of the resolution passed at the last meeting, were read. The following reply of the contractors was laid before the Board i—- “ Otago Graving Dock, “ Port Chalmers, July 5, 1870. “ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Otago Dock Trust, dated June 30, containing a copy of a resolution passed by the

trustees, and 1 requesting me to reply to the inquiry contained in that resolution as early as convenient. I will afford Mr Blackett, or any other practical engineer whom the Board may send, every facility and assistance to make an examination of the works. I cannot, however, submit to the decision of any one engineer, however competent he may be, called in in the manner referred to in the resolution of June 30th. As far as I am concerned, I maintain that the contract lias been carried out according to plans and specifications except where these have bsen varied by the engineer, who has clearly pointed out that that is the exact spot where the leak occurred. This departure from the plans and specifications, together with the unfinished state of the pier-heads, is in my opinion the sole cause of the leak. “ (Signed) Thomas Connor.”

After some discussion, the following resolution was proposed by Mr Bathgate, and seconded by Mr M'Lean :

“ 1 In contractor having failed to give up the work complete in terms of the contract, that the necessary notices be given to enable the Board to take possession of the work, and complete the same at the cost of the contractors or their sureties. Further, that the engineer be authorised' to obtain the opinions of Mr Blackett and other engineers as to the cause of the leak and on the execution of the works generally, and to report tliei opinions to the Board,”

The resolution was passed. The Engineer reported that he had made arrangements with the inspector, Mr Wales, as directed by the Board. The Board adjourned.