EXTENSION OF THE QUEEN'S WHARF.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4990, 21 March 1877, Page 2

EXTENSION OF THE QUEEN'S WHARF.

. .. ... ~' ". » TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sik, —I am inclined to write a few lines about the work which has been lately advertised by the City Council ;of Wellington in your and other papers, viz., the extensions to the Queen's wharf. The few remarks that I intend to make might do good to contractors and the public iu a.futureTease. ■• •• . .-. , Myself and other contractors came|»;fcawe to look at the advertised.plans', tions, with the intention of tendering for the work; but on seeing the wide way.that»the specifications and conditions were made out, we were inclined, to have nothing to do with it.

However,. after going to some trouble and expense ascertaining prices of the various materials required for the work, and getting the quantities made out, we have the pleasure of seeing, by your, paper of Friday, that the City Council have determined to let the matter remain another fortnight, to consider whether it will not be better to revise the ; plans,'Jtc. I do not wish to say for a moment that the plans could not be improved, but it is a great injustice to a contractor to : allow him to go to the expense of getting copies'of the plans, &c, and then alter them, by which he : is not given a chance of regaining his money, and therefore disgust him from tendering again for any works advertised by the same department, and therefore leaving the work to be. priced by a clique of local men, who_can arrange at the last moment their prices, &c. It would be much better if in future the City Council would arrange among themselves (if they do not care to leave it to their engineer) what they intend to do, and what material they intend to use, before advertising their work.. If they did this it would,be much more creditable to themselves, and give satisfaction to contractors. If they intend altering their present plans of the Queen's wharf, I would beg to make a few suggestions'which will make a considerable difference in the cost, and yet I think be equally lasting. _ Ist., 1 .would suggest turned hardwood trenails in place of iron bolts and nuts to secure the planking to the joist. This method has been well tested in Tasmania, and given great satisfaction. 2nd. That* totara b<s used for all the_piles with the exception of the outside row, and all the upper., work, with the exceptiou of the planks, mooring piles, and fenders. Totara piles covered with Muntz metal will last equally as well, and will cost just half the price of ironbark. As regards the joists it would be necessary to use larger timber, in totara than in ironbark.

With respect to the widening of the main wharf, would it not be better to keep the addition of ten feet on either side the height of a cart floor above the main wharf, so that goods could-be easily transferred from the wharf into the carts without lifting ? These few remarks if you think worth space in your paper 'please publishr—l am, &c, Contbactob.