THE ARNOLD AND AHAURA ROAD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1400, 25 January 1873, Page 2

THE ARNOLD AND AHAURA ROAD.

[to the editor.] Sib — Seeing in your weekly issue of the 3 Oth inst., that it i 3 the intention of the Government to call for tenders for the construction of the above road, I hope that they will in doing so a^owmore time between calling for tenders and the closing of the same than they usunUy dp, in order to give intending contrf vtovs living at a disLan<M suuicient time to go over the work, to form a coi/ect estimate of it. I understand that the contractor fdricTearing the telegraph line over the same Hue of road got more money for the work "than another contractor tendei'ed to do it for, although he offered the required security,and was just as able to carry the work out as the one who got it. Now, sir, if we are to have a repetition of this, it will only be a farce and waste of time aad money to tender at all. It must be remembered, that it to^ts both time and money to form a correct estimate of works of this kind ; and it is very unfair and annoying for a person, after he has spent five or ten pounds in teadering for works, to know that another person has got the work and has got a few shillings a chain more for doing it. 1 don't mean to say that a ridiculously low tender should be accepted — but when there is only a slighdifference, the preference should be given to the lowest tender, if the required security is forthcomirg. It does not follow that because. one contractor has been.successful in finishing works for which be had a good price, . but what there are others equally as able to do so, and who deserve equally as much consideration at the hands of the Government. I have lived in this district: since, its. firsts settlement, and, during that time, I have witnessed a great deal of favoritism in letting publio work, and I would like to see an end of it, and every contractor get an equal chance to compete for public works, and that is my only object in addressing the above few lines to you. By inserting the above in your journal, you will obiige Yours, &c., A CONTBAOTOR. Ahaura, Jan. 17. *