unaccountable pitch by a crotchety and unequal bit-by-bit drainage. There seems good reason to believe that 6d in the pound for a limited number of years will be abundant for that purpose , and we would confidently ask whether the schemes of Mr. Picknell would not at once lay a tax upon us of that amount, and that, too, without effecting any permanent improvements. The present time of depression will not be perpetual, nor will the general drainage affect our pockets at all this year. But in order to commence the actual construction on the 1st of next February, not an hour must be lost; seven hundred square feet of drawings are not to be done by magic, nor will a contractor be prepared in the course of a few days”
Mr. Braithwaite’s Charges. Mr. Braithwaite was highly eulogised at a previous meeting, but now that his “bill of costs” came in, there was less a profusion of compliments than complaints. The Finance Committee having recommended the payment of £126 to Mr. Braithwaite on account (his total claim being £226 at the rate of 7 guineas a day for 31 days), Coun. Williams said when it was first stated that Mr. Braithwaite might want 10 guineas a day, he (Mr. W.) expressed his fears that the expense would be very great and was laughed at, and was told that five or six days would be enough time. Now they found the bill was £250, and that was not all. If at that expense they could be assured that the plans had been thoroughly gone through, and if they found that the drainage preliminaries had been carried out thoroughly and effectually, then it might be considered a source of satisfaction, but the case was not so; for, if his memory did not deceive him, there was a resolution in the books that before the plans were put into force, everything was to go back to Mr. Braithwaite for his inspection. And if this second inspection occupied as much time as the first, there was no knowing where the expense would end? They had borrowed £1500 of their Treasurer, and had now voted bills to the extent of £2,000, and that money must be raised from the ratepayers. Coun. Ginner could not understand what Mr. Braithwaite could take 31 days about. This engineers last report was then read. It was of considerable length, and like the previous report, full of commendations of the general accuracy of Mr. Gant’s plans; yet, as a matter of caution, reserving to himself the right of not only testing the levels, but also of offering suggestions upon details. The levels (continued the report) had been effected with the assistance of a thoroughly competent engineer, and no variation was found. Such a result was unprecedented, and thus it was shewn that he (Mr. Braithwaite) was not mistaken in his previous impression as to the “evident care and attention given to the whole of the details by Mr. Gant.” In reply to the question was it necessary to send the specification to Mr. Braithwaite, the Surveyor said it rested with themselves, he did not like to answer yes or no. Ald. Clements remarked that if it went, as shown by the minutes it should do, they did not know if it might not cost another £50 or £100, and they could not afford to -
