To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 50, 21 October 1863, Page 6

To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail.

Sir,-—A correspondent signing himself " Manuka," in your last issue, attributes to the committee improper motives in having accepted at a recent board meeting the offer of Mr Bees to supply the hospital with firewood at the rate of £3 per cord. "Manuka" also complains that the price given is excessive, and a waste of the public money. For the information of "Manuka" and the subscribers generally, I beg to state that the committee have never been able to get a regular supply of firewood. Two tenders have been accepted, and both the tenderers have successively withdrawn from their contracts. The consequence has been that firewood has had to be purchased in Queenstown on more than one occasion, a boat hired to freight it down, and this wood has stood the hospital in nearly £5 per cord. '• Manuka" will doubtless learn with surprise that instead of the charge of £3 per cord being excessive, it is both cheap and a positive saving, the committee paying before £2 10s a cord delivered on the beach at Frankton. The cartage on the same has cost on the average £1 per cord, making in all a total cost, delivered at the hospital, of £3 10s. The funds of the institution will thus be benefitted by this " unfair " contract to the extent of £l2 10s. Mr. Bees did not look for any profit, and ia not likely to make any, either. As " Manuka " has chosen to lecture the committee on acts of gracefulness, I need not hint to him that unfounded statements and aspersions are not in the best taste with such remarks. I am, Sir, yours &c, Henry Marshall Croft, Hon. Sec. pro tern., Queenstown, Oct. 18. Wakatip Hospital.