New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4998, 31 March 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1877.

There is a very strong under-current of talk at jJrefcent in connection with the ad■'ministration of our municipal affairs, and we have received more than one letter on the subject. It - is quite possible that everything complained of may be susceptible of a plain and satisfactory explanation ; but on the other hand it cannot bo denied that there are several matters in which it would be very satisfactory to have such an explanation. For ourselves, in pointing out matters which seem to need clearing up, we desire to disavow any desire to impute intentional wrongdoing, but all wo know that it does not need intention to produce injustice or injury to the public. Thus, whilst the

highest satisfaction is expressed in many directions at the manner in which the works necessary for an extended water supply to the city are being carried out, it is useless to'disgdise the fact that many allege that injustice has been done toe-those who tendered for those works 1 and who were not successful. For instance, it is said that the original specifications required that the gravel to be-used-in the contract should not be obtained from the locality in which the works are situated. At all events it is stated that the Engineer to the Corporation informed intending contractors that the gravel must not be taken from the place mentioned. Now the merest tyro knows that in works involving such heavy concrete buildings as those under notice the question of procuring gravel is very important, and tenders would doubtless —and the successful one, we will admit, did—take into consideration when tendering the fact that they would have to procure gravel from Kaiwarra or Ngahauranga. But since the work was commenced the contractor has been permitted to tako the gravel necessary for the work from the spot which was at first forbidden. This, it is e\ident, is rather hard on those who tendered in the full belief that the item of gravel would necessarily be more costly to them than it turns out it need have been, and, as we have said, practically causes a great injustice to have been done. There are, wo may say, other circumstances in connection with this water works contract, which have been mentioned, and which apparently would be the better of explanation, but for the present it will do to notice that to which we have given publicity. Then, again, there is the admitted fiasco concerning the specifications for the extension of the Queen’s wharf. In the first instance, as advertised, piles of ironbark 65ft. in length, by a square of in the least 18in., were required for this. It was pointed out, we believe, that it would be impossible to procure ironbark piles of such a size whole throughout, it being alleged that the ironbark, when it grows to a size sufficient to be formed into such a pile, invariably develops what is known as “a pipe” through it. This may or may not be the case. Under any circumstances the advertisement calling for tenders for the work was withdrawn, and a new one, extending the -time in order that the specifications might be altered, was inserted. To many gentlemen who came to Wellington to tender, and who were prepared to tender in accordance with the original specifications, this was manifestly unfair ; but the most singular thing is that about simultaneously with the withdrawal of the first advertisement the City Engineer, who it is to be presumed was responsible for any mistake that occurred, and who it may be presumed would be in a hurry to get ready amended specifications, found time and got leave to attend the Dunedin races, though what information in regard to timber he could get there, except upon the subject of hurdles, we are at a loss to know. We do not intend in the present article to say more, but there is much more that could be said, and will be said, in regard to municipal doings that in the interests of the ratepayers requires explanation, Such explanation we intend to take care shall be forthcoming.