DUNEDIN HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4207, 21 August 1876, Page 2

DUNEDIN HARBOR BOARD.

To iht Editor.

Sir, —Would you allow me space to point cut the absurdity of a few of the members of the Harbor Board in seeking to obstruct the engineer in carrying on the works in a proper manner? Shortly after the contract was signed for the new dredge, I saw by your report that the engineer advised the appointment of the engineer ef the present dredge as inspector of the new dredge, at a salary of L 4 per month, the duties to be in addition to his permanent one. Now,' Sir, those obstructionists thought the appointment of an inspector unnecessary, and the work goes on. The engineer again asks for power to appoint an inspector, and again they tell him that his staff is too large already; and to mend matters they at last consent to an inspector to be appointed from the present staff. Now £ would point out' that a private individual in putting up ever bo small a wooden building would have some one to see that it was put up according to contract; then how much more necessary in the construction of a vessel costing L 20,000 of public money. I believe the contractors to be thoroughly honest and upright men; yet at the price they have got they cannot afford to keep a foreman walking about to see that every rivet and bolt is properly put in its place; and I have no doubt the Board will find out to their ccst when it is too late their penny wise and pound foolish policy. There are many other matters of a like nature to this which I could point out, but I will take another opportunity, as I have already taken up too much of your Bpace.— I am, &c, t. Aquarius. Dunedin, August 21.