WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2169, 28 August 1920, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.

Mlf, SEMPLE’S UNDERTAKING

A price has been fixed fur the con-druction of the Orouyoronyo tunnel in connection with ihc-Avaler supply of Wellington. An arranyoment has been made between the Wcllinyton City Council niid Air Robert Semple, on I lie In Hers proposal, by which Mr Semple undertakes to organise a body of co-op-eralive workers to build liie tunnel, and it lias been ayreed that Cue Council shall pay £(i Ids Od per running fool. On this basis the amount received by the party for the whole work will be £70,375, but as the Council will provide explosives and certain other material, and mm-

struct the scillcaicm which will house llic workers. Ihe loi:i 1 cost of tln* work |o ihc civ will he in he vicinity of fhd.dlM!, There is n guarantee llmr liie work will he completed in tlireo yenrs, ;md it will Ik, to the advantage of Hie eo-op-ei'itiive workers to finish it in ns short n (hue ns possible. .Allowing so much for siraighlonl wages, one estimate of the actual prolil to be derived by the party is £'1.1,000, or about £3 per running foot. In view of the absolute urgency of the work, this is regarded in

some (pinners as ;m insurance policy lor celerity, no .strikes and no go-slow. The city engineer ha-; es-

timated that the daily average will he £1 I (is 5d if the work is completed in two nml a-half yenrs, and £1 Ids -Id if the work is completed in three years.

It is staled that the price is a record for tunnelling work in New Zealand. There is a Tear that it will set a new standard that other cooperative workers Avill want to see followed. To that point, the reply has been made (hat no other tunnelling work, unless it be of an exactly similar millin', can be placed in the same category as the Orongorongo contract. The latter is to

satisfy an urgent public need, vitally affecting the health of the whole eitv community.