THE CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD AND ITS CONTRACTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1980, 17 March 1885, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD AND ITS CONTRACTS.

A cohhimpondent, " writes concerning our comment on * the subject of local bodies, engineer*, and contractors, which appears in Thuibday's issue. Ho considers that the blame m the case of the Cambridge Town Board, and the Ilamiltonand the Victoria Road contracts was put on the wrong shoulder*. Ho saya the board was not at all at fault in accepting the tender* of Brocklesby, and of Hyatt and Caruach.au. "In respect of the Victoria-street contract.*," he guys " the engineer, Mr Uwynneth, gave an estimate of the work, and though an you rightly hay the members of the board doubted th.it the work could be done for thp money, the engineer, nevertheless, was confident that Kyan and Carnachan's tender was the most reasonable — that the work could be done for the money— and accordingly recommended thaf it be accepted. Of course the board pays the engineer for his opinion on such matters, and if it does not accept his recommendation, why are engineers employed ? If he tells the board that n, certain tender, the cheapest by perhaps £50, is nearebt the mark, is it likely that the board in the face of the opinion of their professed advisor, will refuse to accept buch .i tender ? Your remarks are quito to the jioint about boards accepting tWu absurdly low tenders, which mean a l«^s to all concerned — the ratepayers mvt c\ceptod. But place the blame on tlm right hhoulders,. The- portion of the road upon which the money has becu s>i>cnt, is, T believe worse than it w.u> before it was touched. The board will hn\e to spend another £50 lirfore it can be made a. passable job." The letter also refers to Mr (Jwymieth's account, according to which he is charging about IX per cent, on tho two bridge contracts just finished. Tim customary charge, he says, is five petcent. This was the figure of Mr (.Jwynneth's tender about two years ago, wliei* the board called for tenders for the office, and that of Mr (Jwenneth's was accepted. On re-engaging Mr Cwynneth, tho I ward did not deem it necessary to mako a fresh auangeiuent, behoving that the fi\o i»er cent rule would be adhered to.

Philanthropist to tramp—* Why dun'byou work?' 'It would be folly,' ' How so ?' ' Well, you Bee, wheu I work I become thirsty, and then I spend more mony on be<>r tliau I earn.' Fogg and Mist were china dealers iv Warwick street. The firm afterwards became Fogg and Son. on which it was naturally remarked that the ' bud had driven away tlio mist.' l''m ls> Young Again. — ■" My mother was afflicted .t long tiinc with neuralgia and a dull, heavy, inactive condition of the whole system, headache, nervous prostration, and was almost liolplrsi. No pbjMcians or medicines did her ail} Rood. Ibrre months ago she began to use Dr Soulo's Hop Bitters, with such good effect that she seems ana focls young again, although orcr seventy years old."— A LADY in R, 1., U'bAi JLookup