DIGGER'S LETTER BOX.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 35, 12 November 1920, Page 8

DIGGER'S LETTER BOX.

GAVIN BRIGHTON,

(To the Editor). Dear sir, — The people comprised in the electrification scherne ought to be thankful to you for having been the means of laying before them that review of the proceedings of the Board, which has appeared inx your contemporaries and also the "Digger," as by it, it has, in a great measure, set the minds of a good few at rest. My inquisitivene&s urg^ me to seek more knowledge. Re the agreement between Messrs Hay and Vickerman and the Board, which now being fixed will not prejudice that agreement either way as iboth will have to abide by that .which is writyet it is a twentieth part of the large, yet it is a twentieth part of the whole and as the first two portions of. the work are estimated at £400,000 and £800,000 or for the whole is £1,200,000, their fee will- be £60,000, but. as their tea is not to be taken into account re the 5 per cent., we will have to reduce it by £3,000, so that their actual fee will amount to £57,000 for which Messrs Hay and Vickerman, whom we will call the engineers, are to prepare plaiis, drawings, specifications, estimates of quantities, and cost, and in .connection with the construction, they will at tbeir own cost employ all surveyors, resident and assista-nt civil and electrical en,gineers and draughtsmen, chainmen and others, down to but not including inspectors, and are wholly responsible for the speed, cost and proper construction of the work, supplying the Board with all plans, drawings, specifications and estmates of quantities and costs. It also provided that after the design i3 completed one of the partners gives his whole time to the Board's work. What I would like to know : Is the design

of the work not completed yet? If completed, then all that remains for the engineers to do is for one of them to remain and supervise tlie work being done and then claim their £57,000. This agreement will have nothing to do with the work which Messrs Hay and Vickerman may have entered upon to supply and erect. That would be another contract. While wishing the scheme every success.— I aan, etc.,

Nightcaps, November 10, 1920.