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Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 39, 10 January 1879, Page 2

Better arrangements might bo made, we think, regarding the County tenders. It ia desirable that iv so extensive a County as Mauawatu, there should be, not only full publication given of tenders being required, but also that there should be more copies oi the plans and specifications made than at present. For instance, there are numbers of works required in the Manchester block, and it is simply absurd to expect people to travel to Pulmerston to inspect the plans at the Mauawatu Highways Board office. So, also, in the case of work* required in the Otaki district, the specifications should be on view at Otaki township. At present, as is well known, specifications for County works are deposited at two places only — the County office, Foxton, and the Highways office, Palmerston< The absurdity of this can be easily shown. Tenders are at present called for a "small bridgo, &c," at Otaki, and specifications are to be seen at Foxton. It is utterly improbable anyone but an Otaki contractor would tender for this. Yet in order to do so, he must travel some oO miles on horseback or per coach, to see the specifications, whilst the whole joo may be worth, inside of £20. The same thing occurs aa regards the Upper district, though perhaps not quite to the same extent. The remedy is simple. Let the plans and specifications be deposited at the townships nearest to the works required. For example, plans, &o, for works near Feildiug oould be on view at the Manohester Highways Board offioe, as well as at Falmerstun ; specifications for. works at Otaki could be deposited at that township and Foxton; whilst suitable arrangements oould no doubt be made to have specifications for works £t Sandon on view at one of the stores there. By adopting this oourse, we aro sure a greater number nf tenders would be received^ and we nvght expect increased competition to bring about a corresponding

reduction in prices. We haVe no desire to place Odditioil.il biit'detls upori the brtck of our energetic and hardworking County Engineer. Cloiioal assistance to ranke additional copies, when necessary, could easily bo obtained a£ l'ulmerston, and we are sure the expense would be amply recouped to tho County. As a mafcier of justice to contractors in outlying districts of the County, wg hopo tho Council and also the •Vlanawatn Highways Hoard, Will adopt the Buggeetioil we have made, as oiir remarks apply equally to both bodies, each having plans and specifications depositad at only the two places referred to.