HARBOR WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1822, 31 July 1906, Page 3

HARBOR WORKS.

TERMS OE MR MARCHANT)

RETORT,

At the meeting of tho Harbor Boad t yesterday a letter was received frCj j Mr Marchant, C.E., setting forth wh*, , he proposed to do for the fee of 00 guineas for reporting on an outer harboi j as follows , (1) lam to survey a site tor an outer | harbor which'in my opinion is the best ( for the needs of the district, the survey lines to be marked by iron survey marks so that the harbor when built can be established in the position shown by the Maiis. 'A' complete'set of soundings of the whole area of the proposed harbor is to he taken. , , . (M A plan showing the design and arrangements of the harbor is to bo prepared and submitted to the Board showing the whole of tho works proposed to be

constructed. , C:!) A report and estimates mo to uo furnished with the plan. , , m The Board is to provide all labor, boats and material required for the survey and sounding work at. its own cost ioi my use whilst engaged in the work. (r.) The Board is to pay mo 600 guineas for the work, *250 when I have completed the survey and soundm 0 s .mil obtained all the information necessary on the ground and the ha ance on the lust meeting of the Board following the delivery of my plan, report and estimates. 1’ S • The Board is, at its own cost, to provide means of conveyance by lam or water for my use in the exploration ot , probable sources of supply ot stc <n . other necessary material required fox the

V A quistiou arose as to whether Mr Marchant had undertaken to provide epecificitloMr Lysnar said there wore a lot of things about it they did not understand To. whole thing should bo pu< bdote them at a special meeting without rusJin a into expenditure of this kind, unless they bad some honest movement id view to get Some benefit out of it. That matter of traps a’ong the groyno wanted further consideration. Mr Harding : By whom i Mr Lysnar : By tbo Boaru. Mr Harding; Wo are not engiuoera.

" No,” retorted Mr Lysnar, " but wo have a littlo comtuouscnso to go into it.” Several members starting to epoak at this stage, Captain Tuoltcr asked how many wero to speak at a time, whoronpon tho chairman insisted on order being maintained. Mr Clink said tho conditions of Mr Mavohant’s engagement should be looked into beforo going furthor. Tho cil'or now scorned vory much liko what happonod at first; they got one offer from Napier and quite a different ono when ho came up. Thoy offorod an engagement for ono thing and ho offorod an eugagomont for another, It seemed tho entuo thing over again, and tho speokor strongly objeo'od to it. Tho Chairman : Ho says in his lettor that a report and ostimato aro to bo furnished with tho plan, but no epeoN fioations.

Mr Matthowson : That is implied. Mr Clark: Wo don't waut anything implied. The Chairman said when ho aalcod Mr arohnnt if tho particulars ho uudortcok to supply would onablo thorn to lot tho work by contract ho Baid it would not. Ho (tho chairman) said it did not soom very clear, and proposed tho addition of oorlaiu words. Ho was not under tho impression that ho was to furnish plans for working contn cts. Mr Olatk : I was fully of that im« pression and asked tbo question, and he

said overy detail possiblu ; that there might bo some littlo details, but thoro was nothing prooluded. Mr Ma'.thowson: Turn up tho minute. Tho Chairmin ; 1,6 doos not say specification. Mr Sirvwright: I dou’t think that it meant detailed specifications as tho work goes on.

Mr Matthowsou: I asked if it meant full working plans, and ha said yop, hut that thoro might bo somo small items which ho could not include. Mr Lysnar said they ought to have some mo;o consideration of tho subjeot beforo spending £601) ; they should know what they were to get for it. If it wss only an approximate report thoy should not need to give £6OO. Captain Tucker : Hoar, hear. Mr Lysoar sa’d they would get a report on a fo tsiblo site and approximate cast for mnch ,'css than £6OO. Tho details to bo ovided in addition would amount to a largo sum. Ho felt the thing was going to bo too costly.

Mr Hacdiog : Too harbor or tho report ?

Mr Lysnar : Tho report. Thoy should get Mr Marchant’s idaa of a harbor and tbs approximate eost for what it had oost them for tho groyne report. Ho was get ting anothor £6OO on a job of that soit. Mr Cla.k : He has not got it yet. Mr Lysnar said tho wave traps was a vory paltry work to oharga so much for. Ho would ask tho Board to reflect on that expenditure on wave traps. Mr Hardiog : Wo have decided that. Mr Lysnar : Never mind that ; that does not necessari'y mean it shou'd bo gone on with. Wo oan’O get the piles for two months. Wo have too many of tbess temporary expedients to expmd £BOO oa such a work. Details should bs supplied fer the other work to enable any engineer to draw specifications. Tho Chairman said they would bs supplied with that. They wore told that io the lettor. Mr Lysnar said thoy wanted tho same kind of information as to an outer harbor as they had got regarding tho wa'or wcikr for £lB2. They had net got the means to waste money Ike this. It was only a question of lima when tho wave traps would silt up. He would give noiioo of motion that the whole subj ct be con siderad at a special me: ting. Mr Sieywr ght sail thoy had asked for a report on the harbor, and the question was whether Mr Marchant was to supply specifications or what ho was to do, and what they expected of him, If there was any doubt they ah juld refer the letter back to Mr Marchaut, and aßk him to stato more specifically what he meant. He (the speaker) was satisfied they could not expect him to g ; ve detailed epeo : Uoa-

tions on miouts matters connected with the construction of the work*, beoau'e that must be done from time to time. Mr Harding took it that the river work must be gone on with as they had decided, aud for which tho material was ordered. His view as to the outer work was that Mr Marchaot was to supply information as to the site, plans and specific tiions, and estimates of probable oost, so that if authorised by a vo‘o of the ratepayers they oould proceed with ths work, having

all tbo necessary in r j-mation before them Mr Sic/wright: Taa.'i is what we want. Mr Harding considered that Mr Marchant’s letter was not in accordance with what they had had before the mtetiag. Ho proposed that an agreement be prepared by the Board’s solicitor in terms of the resolution and seat to Mr Marchant for completion. It the onginoer would not uadettake to fulfil that it would leave the Board a free hand, Tbe-o wa3 no uso having auy misunderstanding about it. Ho was gettirig a very big prioe Captain Tucker: A very big price in deed.

Mr Harding: I consider we ought to have all the inform‘.tion for that amount of money. Mr Siovwrigbt: That is a very good suggestion.

Captain Tucker said that when Mr Marchant mentioned what his terms would be soma members said they considered it very satisfactory ; bus he had sa’d opedy he considered it very unsatisfactory, and that he was glad Mr Marohant was there to hear him say so. Ho repeated now what be said then, that Mr Marchant’s offor dated 28!h May, from Napier, was a fait and reasonable one—to come nod report as required for £2OO, including an outside plan, and the chairman said survey work was not included ; so be gavß them everything exoeptiDg survey work, He (Captain Tucker) aßked how the other offer came to be made, and said that if the offer was fair and bona, fide tho fee of £2OO was ufferly incon* sieteDt. Mr Sievwrighi: £OOO.

Captain Tucker: No; £2OO. That was the cff--r, to give us something substantial for £2OO. Isiii that £2OO for a week’s work was uttirly inoonsisiont; that if one was right tbo other was utterly w oig. We agreed, I think very foo’ishly, to give him £2OO, aod there ia no use talking over spilt milk. Mr Harding : Aod be has got T. Captain Tucker said ho would net havo referred lo that if he could avoid it, but be must in order to illustrate his meaning. Here they had an offer to do everything for £2OO.

Mr Lysnar : As well as an outer , harbor. < Captain Tucker : Yes; that is an outer harbor, — 11 including ’an outside plan and estimate.” Me Lysnar : He meant to report cn the Ivor and outside harbor ; otherwise wby at in that it was ‘ included ” ? Captain Tucker : Tho survey work is e-luded. In answer to my remarks he sq that this would be a three months' j - and th t Ih re would bo a great dc-al oi-ork (o bo done. Tbo Board having ' ag £ d to the £6OO, I do not think they oar-ow rtcede from that position, haviDg : con to tho resolution in his presence ;

but | t the very largo sum we are paying the ait we can do is to see that we gtt the f]ost ioformat’or. I trust that the Boar, w jl| not give away in the slightest degre that everything that can be got shoulc l3 obtained. He would second Mr Hardit’a proposal, suggesting the additional 7o: d 3 that th 3 solicitor be icstiuciotjbot tho agreement be prepared so that ,y should reoeivo the fudest informstii.from Mr Marchant. Mr Hqtbovsou said that ho would

support I, molior. Mr O'a suggested that it bo left to the Tucker, aod Mr Harding to pert, (ha agreement before sending it on. Mr Halt. wao n said ho had ask-d it Mr Marcba. cou i3 n ot gj vo aQ a pp?oxi mate repor but members objected to that, and \ n t e d a full rfpoit. Ho thought if t,y got full working details for £6OO it wiq U it o reasooafcle. Ho believed that Miq arc b an t meant that, but they should ha, ( ba dcubt chared up. Captain Tuc r sa j<j it was now 600 guineas, which aeeretavy said was the oiiginal propo’a Mr MatthawsCggid tbty could not exp:o« a man of Mrs arc haEt's reputaiion to wotk for three m, t bg and provide full details for £2OO. Captain that all details, I such as boats, soun 0 g S) bad to bo paid 1 for oxira,

] Mr Slovwright : Ho ia charging us 600 guinous for tho uso of his brains. Mr Clark said thoy had boon a littlo oarriod away by tho oxoitoinont at last meeting owing to tbo deputation. Mr Marohaut had eoon that, and takon tho opportunity to aek a good sum. His broatk had boon noarly takon away when ho hoard tho prioe, Thoy bad stipulated for a full working plan, and should boo thoy got that, It would bo absurd to pay that monoy moroly for a kind of survey. Mr Lysnar objeotod to tho agroomont being submitted to any oommittoo. It was a mattor that should be brought beforo tbo Board at an adjourned mootirg It was ogrcod to bring tho mattor on at an aijournod mooting at 2 p.tn. noxt Monday. Mr Lysnar then gave nctioo for that

meeting as follows: “That at tho adjourned mooting of this Board tho prudonjo of.engaging Mr Marohaot to report on an ontsirlo harbor on tho torms suggested bo reconsidered in all part'oulars, as well as tbo prudeneo of oarrying out tho resolution to ooostruot wave traps as a temporary oxpediont regarding tho range in the rivor, and, if nroossary, roseind both resolutions passod by tho Beard.” Captain Tuckor said that wou'd havo to bo attacked whoa it oarno on Mr Hardiog said Mr Lysnar was proposing a motion which oould not be oar

riod. Thoy had agroed entirely about the rivor. Mr Lysnar : Ho waDts to put fresh terms. Mr HardiDg : Not in regard to tho river. Later on Mr Lysnar asked what had

bcoomo of his motion in regard to Mr Reynolds' report, and it waß explained that though it had boon overridden in regard to outting down tho groyno, it had out yet boon disposed of, and at Mr Lysnar’s request a ininuto was made that tho motion should come on at tho adjourned meeting. On the aooouot for tho groyno report coming up for payment Mr Lysoar protested against payment of tbo full amount before the work was startod. Tho aooount was passed, Mr Lysoar reoording his vote against it.