HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 109, 17 May 1901, Page 4

HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon, Present : Messrs Siovwright (in the chair), Macfarlano, Hepburn, Tucker, and Whinray. The Engineer reported “ Sir, —I have the honor to report on the condition of Messrs Anderson’s contract, the building and delivering of a dredger for your Board. Agreeably with your instructions, I proceeded to Christchurch on the 7th ult., to inspect and report on the works, and also to endeavor to procure a more rapid execution of the same, and the completion of the job at an early date. The dredger is being built in the yard adjoining the workships of Messrs Anderson at Lyttelton. When I inspected the works on the lgth ult. the framing of the vessel was about completed, and the plating about half done. The boilers were pot <juite completed, but before I left, a start to complete them was about to be 125&V50 that they would be ready to put on board inillEcliately the vessel was launched. The engines, condensers, pumps, etc., were all completed and ready to be shipped. The steam winches were partly made, and their completion was being proceeded with when I left. The 10-ton crane, with its grabs an 3 all other appurtenances, also propellers and other parts which were to be imported, are all ready for shipment. Some twenty to twenty-five men were at work on the hull when I made my last inspection, and the plating was getting close to completion—that is, the shaping A good deal of riveting had still to be done. The force-pump, which the Messrs Anderson proposed to supply, was not, in my opinion, the most suitable for the work proposed to be done, and there would be sufficient steam to drive a much larger and more-efficient machine. A misunderstanding between the contractor and myself arose with regard to this pump. Before a final settlement could be arrived at, several detailed estimates of the cost of the dredger and its appurtenances were made, and in one of . those estimates the pump was put down at £3O ; but this was not the final estimate on which the contract price was agreed to. On that, the amount allowed was £l5O only, whereas I understand that the £BOO item was retained;-™ the final estimate, and, therefore, could not accept the pump which the contractors proposed to supply. As this matter is now cleared up, I would strongly recommend the Board to pay the £2OO extra and procure the more serviceable machine.”

After discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr 'Macfarlane, seconded by Captain Tucker, “ That Messrs Anderson be instructed to procure a Worthington pump, 16 x 19 x 12, in place of the smaller one specified, and that the dredger be prepared to receive such larger pump, without prejudicing tho contract time of delivery of dredge, such pump, if necessary, to be fixed thereto at Gisborne.” It was resolved to call for tenders for carting metal for the approach to the new wharf,