COUNTY CONTRACTS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3981, 1 October 1881, Page 3

COUNTY CONTRACTS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

Sib, —I saw in your paper the other day an account how various are tlie manipulations of Borough and County contracts, and I wish to add to the testimony of that writer by exposing the jobbery in connection with the various contracts lately taken, as I consider it is only just and fair to the other contractors, and I hope if I am wrong that I shall be put right, and if I should bo otherwise the Contractors will back up my statements. First, I allude to the Mission bridge, Parawai. From enquiries I find that the piles were to be driven 12 to 15 feet. Such, T believe, has not been done : mere holes have been sunk and the piles inserted loosely, and then rammed—not ev/}B. a sole piece, and this work carried on a\ night. Good protection for the next flood ! The other work I allude to is a culvert up the Waiotabi Creek. It was specified that tlie frames wore to be tenoned and mortised, and the interior of the tunnel double lined. Has this been done? Tbe frames have been set up loosely and checked mining fashion, and slabs used instead, thus making a material reduction and difference in cost. Now, sir, I ask you, as an exponent of public opinion and right, is this fair to the bona fide contractor who tenders upon the representations of the specifications and drawings, that such mismanagement is allowed to exist ? I could mention plenty of other cases in connection with road contracts. Is the County Engineer aware of this ? He must needs be, as the numerous satellites called inspectors no doubt make daily reports of progress; therefore there must be a misrepresentation somewhere. Is there no Councillor plucky enough to take the matter in hand, and eradicate the evil, and render justice to the well meaning trader and contractor? If any Councillor is courageous enough, he will earn the encomiums of the public and the sturdy support of County and Borough contractors at the approaching elections. Hoping you will oblige by insertion of this,-—I am, &c, Right is Might.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Siß,—-In reply to " Parent." I beg, to assure him that I am not aware of my being in any way mixed up with any duel, triangular or otherwise. If medical squabbles exist, I at least am not a party to them, as I am engaged in minding my own business. Again, secondly, my supply of calf lymph is limited, and was not taken on the Thames, but was obtained from Auckland. Any one really anxious about this matter has only to apply to myself personally, and I will satisfy his mind, -With "rumour" I have nothing to do. "Parent" is perfectly right as to my purchasing a calf, from which I hoped to secure a large supply, but not. succeeding according to my wishes, I disposed of the calf, as lie says. The calf lymph lam using I could not get here at all. Thirdly and lastly : "Parent" insinuates in a sneering way that my professional opinion is of little or no value, from want of experience. I take the liberty, with his kind permission, of showing him that I am not so inexperienced as he would wish to imply. In the first place, then, let me say that after five years of study and hospital and out-door practice, I obtained my degrees, by examination, and that I am the only University graduate in Medicine and Surgery on the Thames, except Dr Eilgour. That .-as House Surgeon and House Physician in the Koyal Infirmary, Glasgow, one of the largest hospitals in Great Britain (and which is practically the centre for the West half of Scotland), I enjoyed privileges of gaining experience that fall to the lot of few comparatively, the practice of this hospital being enormous.

Similarly in the Western Infirmary it was my privilege to be Acting House Physician under Professor Sir William T. Gairdner, Physician to the Queen for Scotland; that I have studied in McKenzie's Eye Infirmary, McCall Anderson's Skin Diseases Hospital, Maternity Hospital, and in hospitals in Edinburgh, London, and that I have seen the practice of hospitals elsewhere. That I have acted as locum tenens in the practice of the late Dr Little, Annan, Scotland, and have held appointments in charge of several small hospitals. That I possess also a degree in arts, and finally, that I did not come to the Thames for experience. C,H. Htjxtabie, Bachelor of Medicine, Master in Surgery.