What’s the Game?

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 256, 5 February 1889, Page 2

What’s the Game?

f Under this Leading “An Outside Contractor” ■ writesSjr,—4s a matter of cqurse I always 1. taka great interest in tha proceedings of our ' loosl bodies, and with many other ratepayers ’ I have been much exercised aa to ths mean- ! iug of the recant elections to the Harbor 1 Board, but by your report of the first meet. 1 ing I think I have gained an insight behind tha scenes. Tbe question that seamed to 1 engage all the attention of the Board was that of the arrangement entered into with Mr McLeod for the supply of stone from tha island. With a quickness of perception that must be surprising to the unjuifiatgd 1 tha new members of the Board had no sooner taken their seats than they discovered that it was necessary tenders should be called for the supply of stone. Well might Mr Chambers say “let sleeping dogs lie,” for honest dogs qn't like being kicked. Mr McLeod, I understand, has ficen put to much expanse and trouble over this work, qnd is now able to make and give a fair day’s wages,' end pay his creditors twenty shillings in the pound. He has given tbe most satisfaction of any contractor that has yet been in that line, and in reality has done the work much cheaper,

when all the trouble that was previously occasioned has been considered. But I do not wish to make any cla(m for considers io i on his behalf; that is his business, What I do abject to xnfl sjigmatiss as the most contemptibte meanness’ is tfis attempt made by aotpa (I flo nqt refer to members) to dep pa McLeod of an opportunity tq make a fair day's wage out of a job that no one rise has succeeded in. It is pretty plain to those who have any knowledge of these matters what influence is at work in reference to this affair. Who is the man in the background that is waiting to be allowed the privilege of pulling tlie nuts out of the fire ? It is all an open secret,'and a groat deal mors may be heard on ihe subject; One doeknot neeq to have muefi experience in these matters to khow that nearly everything depends upon the Engineer or supervisor, The specifications for work of this description can be made out in such a way that it will make a difference of hundreds of pounds to the favored individual. The only chance one would have who is not within the hallowed circle would be to allow for taking advantage of doubtful points, Ind fie prepared to contest them when the time comes. ' I say Chama to tbocs contractors who ere allowing tbemarixes be made a party to the ejbema, though I hardly think they can be aware of ihe coun that is in) team