THE The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRY-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1180, 15 September 1882, Page 2

THE The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRY-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882.

Considerable attention has been lately directed to the manner in which County Council contracts are carried out, and some exception has been taken to the very . wide latitude allowed to those fortunate beings who obtain contracts. A correspondent, in another column, writing on this subject, .suggests, that it is*pqt always, wise to ""accept the lowesl^eMer, as in maty cases persons tender for works at far less than they can legitimately complete them for. This always has been and always will be the case, but we dissent altogether from the suggestion that public bodies should only accept such tenders for work as came up to the estimate of their engineer. Were this admitted, a very wide door, indeed, would be opened to corruption and favoritism, and justification could be pleaded on the ground that the lowest tenderer could not carry out the undertaking for the amount stated. A very much more simple antl infinitely more efficacious check on " plunging" contractors is to let them distinctly understand before signing any contract that the very letter of the specifications, would be insisted on, and that after the time allowed for completion had expired, thu penalties provided for overtime would be mercilessly exacted. The same information ought also to be conveyed to the contractor's sureties — for we sunposo that like other public bodies the Tnangahua Council demands sureties — and so neither one nor other could complain, for they would go in with ! their eyes open, and must be prepared for the consequences of failure. There mky be at times exceptional circumstances that justify relaxation of conditions, but these are rare. Tenderers who put in at fair prices, at prices for which they can do the work properly, need no indulgence in, its execution, and derive a fair profit at its conclusion but are kept out of the field by the low tenders sent in. It is not as though 'these tenders were really a saving, for what with loss of time and claims for extras "of ' one'khKV'or'oHier put in, the ultimate cost comes up to that of the higher tender* whilst the work is not done half as well as would otherwise have been the case. In other places tenderers are confined to the letter of thsrr' bond, and very properly too, for the loose system has become fashion in this part of would cause such confusion and rlos'a in bfyier places as to raise a public outcry forthwith. In many capes contractors have been almost ruined by their acceptance of contracts at lower prices than would give a fair profit, but they met with neither sympathy nor pity, for the fault was their own. If a fow here were to burn their fingers through the same cause find not so readily .'obtn in relief, the contract system v.'ould be speedily what it ought to bo, and the lo.psons 'hereby incuL-nted would bu greatly to tho -advantage of the public. Instead of works boiiig dawdled over for mouths, they would be completed out of band, in roasnrr.b:* and fair time, and a main thoroughfare would not be Uo'kal, "is hn.s l.yen ih« cars, within a mile of the town.

An accident happened • to a minor named Frank Wills, working in the

Golden Fleece claim on Wednesday morning, through a piece of stone falling and very nearly severing one of his lingers from the hand. He was promptly attended by Dr Collins, and is likely to save the mutilated finger, and so be none the worse for the mishap. Had the blow fallen on the head death must have been instantaneous. With reference to Mr Buchan's goldsaving process, we nrny say that he will be happy to explain it to all who may think fit to call on him. Mr Buchan has presented 200 specimens of ew Zealand minerals, principally obtained in Otago, to the citizens of Reefton. In our advertising columns, local breeders in the district will sec that the services of the thoroughbred horse, "Sir Stafford," are available at a moderate fee. Sir Stafford is by Treason out of Stella, tind can boast of as good a pedigree as any horse at the stud. Further particulars respecting the horse can be found in another part oi the paper %

„ Mails for the Australian Colonies and United Kingdom per tlotomahana close at the Bluff at noon on to-day (Friday), 15th instant.

The adjourned quarterly meeting of the Boatman's Licoii9i»^6w«Bs^lt!*al^aa. keli on Tuesday last, a full quorum being present. The first application was by Mrs O'Grady for a publican's license for Specimen Hillf little Boatman ' 3 Creek. It turned out however that there was no liouso or building of any kir.d v^liatever, rtnly a sjte pegged off, there were -not even plans of the structure, and^ho Gazette notice of the intention to apply for such a license had been advertised. Under these circumstances the Committee could not help refusing the license. Reuben Waite, of the Junction , applied for an accommodation license which was granted on condition of necessaiy provision for the accommodation of travellers being supplied. Sergeant Neville as Inspector, opposed the license on several grounds, but the Committee decided on granting it. The receipt of the police report was the only other business and it contained nothing of importance. The 1 ommittee then adjourned.

Mr Warden Revell sat yesterday, when a host of mining applications were made, and variously dealt with. None of them were of the least public importance, though occupying a long time. A very lengthy list of leading applications were adjourned for survey, and the following were recommended :— .7. Kilgour, Royal Standard ; D. Matheson, Bliie Bonnet ; R. Koulston, Bonnie Dundee ; J. Kilgour, Koyal Standard Extended ; T. Lee, Jersey ;G. Perotti, Fortune ; P. Alexander, Adonis ; D. Matheson, Iona; W. Hindmavsh, Bruce ; A. King, BannockI burn ; J. Grieve, Australasian. The seti tlement of a disputed partnershi^^age^ ! Mi Hugh v. M 'Williams, concluded tlio j business, after which, .the ■•{Court adi jof?r»fcd/ . ' \"' ; \ ' %! * t ; :< ■ jto tif^l^iuniy TO* 1 airman v on Monday lastj j he lias convened a public meeting for to- ■ morrow evening at Llie Oddfellows' &«1I; ! to consider railway matters generally, but especially with reference to the main trunk line diversion by way of Marlborough. The Railway Committee will, no doubt, meet this evening, and prepare resolutions, as well as provide proposers and seconders, so that there may be no hitch in the proceedings. The movement is an all-important one, and we hope that the attendance at the meeting will be as large as the subject justifies.

Messrs M'Lean and Co., contractors for the erection of the Inangahuo, Junction bridge have arrived, and will commence operations immediately. They propose sub-lotting the sawing by contract, and as there ia about 300,000 feet of timber in the bridge, thero is a good opening for sawyers. Messrs M'Lean and C(\, have just completed a contract for a large bridge over the W;iip a river, province of Auckland, North Island.

The United -Italy Quartz Mining Company's battery, at Lyell, commenced crushin£^*yesterday. The mill be kept constantly gointr, and as there are about 100 hundred tons of stone in the paddock, and a*reejf six feet thick showing good payable stone, the lucky shareholders expect handsome returns from their mine.