RE ROCHE'S BRIDGE CONTRACT.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 3

RE ROCHES BRIDGE CONTRACT.

(TO THE EDITOR.) Sir, — On reading the proceedings ot the Piako County Council at their lasf meeting, as published in your issue of the 18th inst ; I find that when my letter to the Council complaining of the unwarrantable inconvenience and delay caused by the contractor of Roches Gully Bridge was read, the engineer being present, a reference to him was maJe, and ho is reported to have stated:

'• tlio bridge had now been finished some weeks, tlio con (factor hnd, been delayed through' npt .being* able to get his timber up! the river by Mr Roches boat. Mr Pavitt admitted the Shaftesbury people hud cause for complaining and had been considerably inconvenienced, but under thtt circumstances it could not be helped." ISfow Sir, the engineer ha? in the interests of the contractor taken upon himself lo come before -the Board and make this statement, making it appear that the delay was caused by the boat or its ownei, throwing 1 all blame on them, and of course influencing the Jecision of the Council by such explanation from their officer, whose duty it is to see that the interests of tho Board and ratepayers are protected. I have now simply to say thut the statement to the Board is entirely untrue and altogether without foundation. My son's boat went &t once on arrival of timber in the river, and found it on the bank near Paeroa ; all mixed up ; and had to wait there until the contractor sorted the timber for the different bridges ho had to put up, and for the landings if had to be deposited at ; so that instead of the contractor suffering; any delay by the boat, it was quite the other way. May I ask what is the use of inserting the fines in specifications if they are not to be imposed, when necessary ? It is certainly unfair to other contractors who liavo tendered for the same work with the intention of fulfilling it, and it is also disregarding the interests of tho ratepayers, whose money is being spent : Such appears to me to be the case in the present instance, and it is quite time for the latter to look into the matter, as concerns themselves. — I am Sir, Yours faithfully, Edw. F. Roche. Ohineroa, Shaftesbury, June t 1 st, 1867.