Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1325, 19 November 1883, Page 2

[advertisement. ] OPEN COLUMN. » Maori whare. .. — — «. (To the Editor Inangahtja Times.) Sir. — Your contemporary's issue of the 13th inst., contains an article in reply to mine of the 10th iust., wherein Anti-Dar-winian characterises my production as a "•vi uperation in the shape of a letter— from one who has not reached (in his opinion) the state of manhood — " Calls the erec ion of the cottage a "job," meaning, I suppose, the letting of the work, and winds up with the characteristic conclusion, (like a cock crowing on his own dunghill,) that he is determined to again " rui> up " Darwinian, should occasion require ; and further, in his letter he asks me to enlighten him (not him, but "us " are his words), meaning the whole delightful and very respectable staff of his periodical, as to the way in which the contract was let to the secretary of the Committee, after all other tenders were refused as being ioo high. Well, although I am in possession of all the facts of the case, I don't know whe her I shall be doing right in attempting to enlighten \ nti-Darwinian and his peculiar friends, as he has already arrived at the conclusion tha the secretary obtained the contract in an unfair and dishonorable manner, as is very evident from the fact tha the letting of the contract is described as a " jo<>." But as by giving an explanation I shall very likely enlighten some who are favorably disposed, and confer an undoubted benefit on Anti-Darwinian by assisting to clear his mental vision, which has become darkened by the lapse of ages, and contact with meaner and more contemptible individuals than himself. I shall proceed with the task of enlightenment in as few words and in as concise a form as possible. It is not necessary for me at present to enlighten Anti-Darwinian on how the Committee obtained so much money, or the arguments used in obtaining it— lt is sufficient for him to know that the Education Board granted £250 for the building of teacher's cottage, (the foregoing amount being Committee's own estimate to build a suitable cottage for a married couple and family), and authorised them to call for tenders for erection of same, according to plans approved of by the Board, and which the Committee entirely approved of. To save expense in calling tenders the Committee were instructed to put three insertions (only) in each local paper. Tenders were accordingly called for and closed on the Ist August. The^ following tenders were received : — Mr M. Dunn, £278; Edward Long and Co., £350; Thomas Letcher, £37§ 15s ; (I won't be certain to a pound in the last two tenders ; the figures are near enough at all; events to show any ordinary mind the great discrepancy between the estimates of the contractors* 1 arid ' lihafc' . of th'e Committee). The amount 'of these respective tenders wtfs telegraphed' to the Board the following day, as the Board were having their monthly meetiug 1 that day, and also informing th'e jtWrd that the lowest tender ftate accepted by the Committee, subject, of course, to their- approval. A' reply : tome, back,. I believe, ; the following day, yt^j^ August, informing the Committee f thAjt^,the increase nf £28 i would no be sanctioned, and advisiikg* : £k>mmittee to make certain reductions in plan of build - ing, and notifying that particulars of same would be sent by letter, so as to enable contractors to ««rry out the work for original estimate the interval between the closing of 'these tenders and receipt of lettej£ from' titti 'Board the lowest tenderer politely iuforned the Committee that he had made a mistake of £65 in 'his estimate, being the amount of cost of labour in the erection of the buitding, and, consequently, could not proceed with the work under £343. As soon as letters arrived and Committee made themselves acquainted with their contents it was decided that the Secretary should iuterview the lowest tenderer, and ascertain whether he was willing to undertake the work for amount voted, with reductions specified by the secretary of the Board, and in the event of 'his refusal to carry out' fcKe^Work the secretary of Committee U call for frefeh lenders, each tenderer to stitO/the amount of reductions in size of 'material 1 aud any alteration in roof of building h6 was inclined to make (as most W the tenderers objected to the hip roof), 'but at the same time they were informed 'or requested to keep as near the original 'plans as possible. Dunn refused to cany 'but the work with alterations specified by the Board, and consequently, fresh endors were called for the work. The result of this was that two of the former tenderers competed viz., Mr M. Dunn, and E. Long and Co., Dunn's tender was £242 ; gable roofed cottage, 4 rooms, no passage, size of rooms smaller by two ieet, and other alterations which entirely annihilated the original plans and specifications and consequently put him out of the running. Long and Go's, tender was £30 ', alterations were not of so sweeping a nature, but on account of the tender being £50 higher than the amount granted, it could not be accepted. Under these circumstances no tenders were accepted, and the deposi money viz , £10 each, was re' urned to the tenderers. The committee seeing the futility of endeavouring to come to terms with the public i o erect the building, and under the impression that it could be carried out for the money(with very slightalterations)andnot being desirous of losing time in sendingthe plans back again to be altered, instructed the secretary to prepare estimates of the cost of material, and report to a future meeting, which was accordingly done. The Committee at that meeting accepted the offer of the secretary to erect the building for the amount granted, with certain alterations in detail, of which the Education Board were made acquainted with, and which they immediately sanctioned. The secretary thereupon resigned his position on the Committee, but consented at the request of tha chairman to carry on the duties of secretary until their next meeting, when he refused to 3arry on the duties any longer, in consequence of cenain insinuations from one of the Committee with respect to another matter outside, or not connected with the building of the cottage. iNow, I think I have given a plain and unvarnished ac;ount of the transactions of the Committee