THE HAWK'S CRAG CONTRACT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 497, 29 April 1869, Page 3

THE HAWK'S CRAG CONTRACT.

(To the 'Editor of the Westport Times.) Sib, —As an old practical miner, will you allow me through your paper to express not only my own opinion but likewise the opinion of the majority of those who have tendered for the Government contract of the Hawk's Crag, on the Buller Eoad. After sending in our tenders and having had to travel there to see it, remaining in town for many days, and necessarily incurring expense, waiting the return of the District Engineer from Nelson, we are coolly iuformed that the whole of the tenders are too high and must be submitted to Nelson. This, Sir, allow me to observe, is a very dangerous piece of work, and in the opinion of many of us the advertising for tenders appears to be one of the " Old Identity" blinds to stave off Separation for the time being, by making the public believe that they intend doing a great deal which eventually ends in smoke, as will the other contracts that are now advertised for. Eancy tenders being sent in legitimately for one contract only, and yet they call for seven, the remaining six being left at the option of the Government to complete after the contractor being compelled to send in a schedule list in the most minute form of every little detail at per chain, bridges at per foot. Are the Government frightened of being cheated, or are our officials ignorant of the price of work, and want a schedule list of prices? If they do so, let them come to me or any practical miner. I will, with pleasure, give them it, provided we can spare poor men from spending their last shilling, and the public from being deluded.—l am, yours &c, An Old Mines. P.S.—Who is to pay all the men that have been waiting in town so long ? We should much like to know if the Government are not liable. * THE ENGLISH MAIL. (To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —By the present mail arrangements the English mails for Westport, Charleston, and Brighton, were last month forwarded to Nelson instead of being landed at Hokitika or Greymouth, thereby retarding their delivery at Westport seven or eight days, and most probably the same round-about way of reaching Westport will be continued unless steps are taken by those interested in the early delivery of the mails. I think if the Progress Committee were to write to the PostmasterGeneral, calling his attention to the loss of time in the delivery of the English mails at Westport, caused by their being forwarded to Nelson instead of being landed at Greymouth or Hokitika, some satisfactory change would be effected. The mail agent on the route between Melbourne and New Zealand sorts the New Zealand mails, and it would be no extra trouble to keep the Nelson South-West Goldfields portion of the mails separate from those for Nelson. Trusting you will not fail to keep the above subject before the public until the evil is remedied, —I am, Sir, yours truly. Mail. "Westport, April 28.