EXTRAORDINARY DISPUTE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2202, 17 March 1881, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY DISPUTE.

f “ Otago Daily Times,” March 16th.] In mentioning yesterday that a difference had arisen between Messrs Pritchard and Co., the reclamation contractors, and the Public Works Department, we stated that it had been “patched up,” and work resumed. The patch proved but a temporary affair, however ; for although work was being proceeded with on Monday, yet things were simmering towards a disturbance. The " delicate question ” which has arisen between Mr Pritchard and the Government is in reference to those sandhills over which the St. Eilda municipal mind was so greatly exercised a little time sgo. It appears that after all the St. Eilda people worked their point to some extent, for the Government agreed not to remove sand except from the seaward side of the hills. Operations were therefore ordered to end at the place from which the sand was at first being taken. The new arrangement made a difference to the contractors, but they claim, we understand, that this was got over by the head of the Public Works Department here agreeing to give them an extra rate for haulage. The Government, however, refuse to acknowledge this ; or at any rate, as we hear it, some difficulty ensued about this extra rate, and so Mr Pritchard determined to take no more of the seaward sand, but to go back to the original spot to lift his reclamation material. Thereupon the Government engineer and Mr Pritchard came to loggerhead*. The latter said he would j the former said he wouldn’t. The locomotives which Mr Pritchard’s firm use for hauling in the trucks belong to the Government, whose engineer has to approve of the engine drivers employed. Mr Law, the supervising engineer for the contract, ordered the drivers not to drive over the line leading to the original sandhill which Mr Pritchard declared ho should take the sand from. Mr Pritchard ordered them to the contrary effect, but they would not obey him, so be discharged them and got others. This appears to have been the exact position of the belligerent* on Monday morning. Mr Low then began the attack by demanding the dismissal of the new engine-driver*. Mr Pritchard would not dismiss them. Mr Low made a skilful advancing move, and attempted to get possession of the engines himself. He tried to board one of them ; but Mr Pritchard had the advantage of a commanding position, and repelled the attack by compelling Mr Low to jump back to terra Jlrtna. A Government official named Hunter for a moment gave Mr Low the hope of victory by cleverly dislodging Mr Pritchard from his vantage ground—a coup which he effected by pulling his legs from under him, and so bringing him on a level with Mr Low. But Mr Pritchard off the engine was as effective as Mr Pritchard on the engine, for with a long handled shovel be soon bad the field to himself. The Government engineers, though foiled, were not beaten, and they laid their heads together—that is, Mr Low took Messrs O’Connor and Usher into hi* confidence. The result of this council of war was a delightful stratagem, which bad everything in its favor. In the dead of night these three were to go to Mr Pritchard’s engine shed, taking a railway locomotive with them, and knowing that the shed was not built to stand siege, they were to have no difficulty in getting the contractors’ locomotives out, and so defying Mr Pritchard to go on any further with his sand removing. But “the best-laid plans,” &3. Whether there was an enemy in the camp, or whether Mr Pritchard is naturally too acute for even three Government engineers, is a query that yesterday was all that was left the latter to trouble their minds over, for they did not get the locomotives. Mr Pritchard took up the “ road,” he ramovd rails leading into his engine shed, and when Messrs Low, O’Oonnor and Usher with their locomotive under full steam, and several railway officials, and even, it is said, several policemen, cautiously neared the spot, they were amazed to find that by a very simple expedient their march was stopped. They reconnoitred, but their discoveries were not reassuring. They fennd the shed under efficient guard, in the shape of an individual inside with an iron bar, with which he declared he intended to break heads should anyone enter. Presently, too, Mr Pritchard appeared as if by magic on the scene, and he was armed for the fray with a blunderbuss, or horse pistol, or other weapon suited to the occasion. He at once discovered his intention to be " war,” by firing a shot, snapping a cap, or something of that sort. Then a parley ensued ; and, os the Government engineers showed no disposition to die for their country, we are happy to be able to record that no bloodshed took place. As may be supposed, the parley was conducted by Mr Pritchard with some foroibleness ; but those who know the engineer* will be aware that they were mild and subdued in behaviour. Proceedings lasted till sometime beyond midnight, when the engineers left the field ‘‘foiled again.” Mr Pritchard continued his work yesterday, but the Public Works Department, we understand, threaten a Supreme Court injunction to stop h : m.