The New Dredge.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 20 December 1901, Page 3

The New Dredge.

ONLY A YEAR BEHIND CONTRACT TIME. Tbe building of tbe Ark does not seem to have been such a slow process when compared to the building of tbe new' dredge the contract for which was let nearly two years ago by the Gisborne Harbor Board. At the meeting of the Board yesterday afternoon the subject was again reported on by the Engineer, and tbe Chairman joined in an expression of regret at the slow progress that was being mado. “ They are surely making a fool of us over tbe matter,” said Mr Clark in reference to tbe delay. “ I am sorry to say that they are,” said the Chairman. Mr Clark : Have wo no contract with them '!

“ We have,” replied the Chairman, “ but it is not worth while going into it until we get the dredge.” “But I think it is,” said Mr Clark. Tbe Chairman said that the contract was there, and they would go into it if they liked. In reply to Captain Tucker the Chairman said that notice, on Captain Tucker’s motion had already been given to the contractors.

Captain Tucker said they should be left under no misapprehension as to tbe intention of the Board to press the penalty. Their practice, it seemed, was to rush men on to tiie work directly the Chairman or Engineer went down, and then to allow things to become dormant again when the Board’s representatives had gone. There was no alternative but to treat tho firm harshly. On looking up tho records it was shown that in duly a notice had been sent to tho contractors intimating that the Board would enforce tbe penalty for tbe time tbe work was overdue.

The Engineer said that the firm had undertaken more work than they could get through, and other contracts wore in the same state.

In reply to Mr Hepburn it was stated that the contract was to have been completed on the 10th of last January. Captain Tucker said that £5 a day from that period would amount to a pretty large sum. The Engineer said that there wore live months during which they could not get material, a clause to that effect being required before they would undertake tho contract, tho iron market at Homo being in a very disturbed state.

Captain Tucker said they would probably try to cover the whole by that clause. The Engineer : But I do not think they will succeed.

The Chairman said that a good deal would rest with the Engineer, as to whether he said they were detained through being unablo to get material. Mr Sievwright agreed with the; Chairman that it would ho better to leave] tho matter stand until the dredge arrlvecf!" Intimation had already been given Board’s feeling in the matter. *„ •' The Chairman said that Messrs Anderson could not say that the Board had not kept looking them up in regard to tho matter. When he hud expected to find about 30 men at work on the dredge, instead of that there were only eight at work on it.

In reply to Mr Clark the Engineer said that in no way had he said anything that would give tho firm leavo to vary the contract.

The Chairman said that not a word had been said that would permit of an infringement of the contract.

During tho discussion it was mentioned that the firm would not even reply to a telegram that had been sent. After the meeting tho following message was reroceived : —“ Everything on board with exception of fire engine pump, which is expected in If days. As soon as this arrives will complete all connections and have a trial run of machinery.”