HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1199, 4 March 1880, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Hamilton Borough CounoU wan held yesterday; presenters. Beale, Vialou, Peat, Davis, Price and dimming. On the motion of Cr. Beale, seconded by Cr. Price, Cr. Vialou occupied the chair. The clerk explained that an extraordinary meeting had been called to consider the question of the protection works to the bridge piers. On the Bth December he had written to the Company asking a price for atone delivered at the, and the reply lls per cubic yard, with the provision that the Clerk of Work's salary would be paid by the Company from the end of Febrnary, if me contract vr«s not' completed by tbat date. On the3lst December the clerk wrote accepting these terms. Mr Hunt and the engineer then went into the matter together, and the latter stated verbally, that about 600 cubic yards would be required. Mr Butterworths report now showed 616 j cubic yards of stone had been supplied by the Company, and deposited round the piers, but that more was still required The meeting of the Council at which it was proposed to have entered into arrangements for the further supply of stone having lapsed, the Mayor instructed him (the Clerk), to telegraph to Captain Lindsay not to send any more stone, the quantity estimated having been supplied. Subsequently Mr Breakall, the Engineer ordered two more barge load of •tones, notice of the arrival of which was sent by Mr Scherff. These two barge loads were again counter-ordered. The following report from the Engineer, Mr Breakall, brings the matter up to date —

RE STONE PROTECTION WORKS. The Town Clerk, Hamilton. T Sir, —'Hearing from you yesterday that there was to be a meeting of the Horough Council today, and being unavoidably compelled to be aw.iy, I thought I had better give you the follow - ing particulars >/• the quantity ot stone now delivered. The quantity is 616 cubic yardi, and the Waikato Steam Navigation Company ha\ c about 6o yards more on the barges here and at Ngaruaw.ihia. There has not as yet been sufficient stone delivered to complete the work according to the plan which tho Council adopted, but I think that if the stone on the barges now were deposited, it would be well to delay the depositing more stone till later on in the season. The Council would then be in a position to place the stone where required, and the stone already deposited will have settled to its natural slope. A fortnight ago in answer to a question asked me by Mr Srherff I told him T considered that about 200 cubic yards more than they had then sent would be required to complete the work. I hope to be home this evening, and if the Council require more information, I s-hall be happy to supply it. —l am, &c. W. C. Breakell. The Chairman thought it was net desirable to get into any litigation. It was really only a question of 70 tons. It was true the price was more than the stone might have been got for, and this showed the folly of letting work of over £20 in value to any one person without tenders being called for. At the time the arrangement was made with the Company he had protested against such a step being taken; and now they found that the stone could have been procured cheaper. This was one instance of how business had been done by the Council. Cr. Beale agreed with the Chairman's remarks. He had seen Captain Lindsay, who was anxious to have the barge unloaded, and if the order was given at once no further charge than the agreed prico of the stone would be made. The Clerk of Works was then called in, and arranged as to which part of the vorks the balance of stone now coming up should be applied. In reply to Cr. Beale, the Clerk of Works said there was no immediate danger to the bridge if a further quantity of stones were not supplied. The works would require watching, and filling up from time to time as the stone settled. Cr. Beale then moved, " That the quantity of stone now on the barges, namely, about 60 yards, be received, on the understanding that no demurrage for detention of barges be charged by the Waikato Steam Navigation Company against this Council, and the contract for the present so terminated." Seconded by Cr. Peat, and carried unanimously. Cr. Davis wanted to know how they would stand with regard to the Government share of stone supplied. It was explained that the Government was plpdged to expend £250 on the extras, which would more than cover the half of the whole protective works, whaling, and stones. This concluded the business.