Timaru Harbour Extension.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 100, 24 January 1901, Page 3

Timaru Harbour Extension.

THE- CONTRACT TERMINATED

At the meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board on Tuesday, a long discussion took' place on the Eastern Extension contract, the result of which was that the Board decided to determine the contract with tho present contractors, Messrs Black and Stumbles.

Messrs Black and Stumbles wrote acknowledging receipt of the Board's letter of January Bih, stating that they d«ired to remove an impression that -kad got abroad regarding fiojrie timber. The timber to which reference hud been made was not wanted at present. They had always been able to place on the works all timber which had arrived, and was wanted for work in progress. To get earlj delivery of the timber which was required in the contract had been their aim, and every stick had been paid for that could be used. They enclosed a letter as evidence that they had sound financial backing for their engagements. The last package of crane ex Waiwera arrived on the Jsth fust. No fittwrs plan had been furnished to them and Mr- Panwas fitting the crane under this disability. The s.s. Wanaka bad landed timber to complete th« c#B*tery ; bridge, and piles for the permanent sea staging. With regard to the ■ opening Out of the Eastern quarry, they beggtd to offer themselves for examination as to what took place between themselves and the Kesident Engineer. The manager of the Bank of New I Zealand wrote under date January Qlst, stating in general terms that Messrs Black and Stumbles had arranged with two well-known substantial local men for credit to meet their estimated requirements in connection with the contract.

Mr Lyall s.«id ho had always thought that the progress made was a matter of finance v, it-h the contractors, and now that they had &rrauged this, he would favor granting them an extension of time. During the last two weeks they had certainly.,...,. done a considerable amount of work.

The motion was then put to the vote and declared carried by six to five, tho Chairman and Messrs Fraser, Young, Goodwin, Skinner and Mauchesier voting for, and Messrs Thew, Macintosh, Lynil, Frjftgle and Turnbull against. Mr Young said he wished it to bo d : Btmctly understood that he would be opposed to any motion emanating from the Board that would inflict loss to the contractors. -■••

The Cha-'rraan said he was sure that was the feeling of every member of tho Board. (Hoar, hear.) The following motion was then proposed by Mr Fraser and seconded by Mr Young: " That "the eastern extension rubble mole ■ contract, having been absolutely determined, tbt3 Board resolves that the monies which have bejm rirefldy paid to the contractors nnAor the contract, shall be deemed Co bt the full value of the work executed, and shall be taken and accepted by the contractors in full payment and satisfaction of all claims and demands under the contract, and that the deposit and percentage and retention monies, and also all materials, implements and. plant being in or upon the works or near thereto, for the purpose of being used or employed j in or about the same, shall be and remain the absolute property of the Board, and no further payment shall be made by the Board in respect thereof or otherwise. Also, that the Chairman be authorised to take the necessary -steps to enter upon the works, and authorise such persons as he may consider neaessary to do so on behalf of the Board, and have the works proceeded wiih by day labour pending the further decision of the Board. The Board, while exercising' its legal powers under the contract, and without prejudice thereto, reserves •; the right to hereafter extend to the contractors such consideration on equitable grounds as may, in the opinion of the Board, be found to be just auel reasonable.

The motion was earned, Messrs Pringle end Lyall dissenting.

It was then resolved that tho Board should carry on the work under the supervision of tfleir Engineer, in conjunction with the Standing Committee.

The Chairman and Engineer interviewed the contractors immediately afterwards with a view to entering into possession of the plant.