The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-14 00:00:00

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WAS, therefore, advanced, that if a contractor failed in
his contract, the bond would not hold good in law.
Legal opinion had been taken on the subject, and it
had affirmed that the bond was good.
Mr. W. DONALDSON thought that counsel's opinion
ought to be taken on the subject. lie did not think
the bond was binding upon the contractor.
Mr. SMITH did not think that any six lion. Cotn-
missioners signing the bond in behalf of the Court
would be personally responsible, but he doubted,
after past experience, if any would do so.
Mr. BALDWIN would not hesitate for a moment to
sign it himself. Ile had no doubt that the Court
would support them.
This ►luestion was, however, deferred, and the
Court proceeded with the consideration of the forms
for tender. _

A number of items were then sanctioned.
On the question that " 12 feet 3-inch yellow second
deals" be allowed to stand part of the form,
Mr. LESLIE said that this was a most important
item, and seeing an Hon. Commissioner (Mr. White)
in his place, he would draw his and the Court's atten-
tion to it. When he had told that Court that an
enormous quantity of money hail been overpaid for
deal, what was the statement ? Why, that the mar-
ket price was paid. They found that there were two
memorandums about the prices of wood at the bot-
tom of the old contract. Let them look at these
closely. The statement given was that they had sent
to one of the Commissioners for the prices of wood,
and the prices he had stated were given to the con-
tractors.

Mr. WurrE —I was asked for the market price, and
I gave it. I never saw the article here, and Ido not
know that it was required.

Mr. LESLIE did not attribute any part of this trans-
action to Mr. White, but he must say that a more
abominable fraud was never perpetrated upon the
public or upon any Commission. Of two contractors,
Mr. Bennett put in his tender for deal at 6d. a foot,
and Bird at something higher ; and by the note bene
already alluded to, they were enabled to get the one
271. a load, and the other 25/., for this article.

The CHAIRMAN—The Courtwas certainly indebted
to Mr. Leslie for the trouble he had taken in examin-
ing into the accounts. The state of thins he had de-
scribed was certainly wrong, but the question now was,
how did he mean to correct their recurrence for the
future ?

Mr. LESLIE meant to put an end to them in this
way. Let them contract for the worst wood in the
market, and they would be sure to get it.—(Laughter.)
He had heard Mr. White say that Lower-ford white
spruce deal could be had for 141. a load, and they
were paying for an article not so fitted for their works
24/. They had paid their contractor above 3,0001. for
timber, and of that sum it was clear that the public
had been cheated of 3001. He had found out how it
was so arranged, and he was glad that he had found
it out, for in the first instance he certainly thought
the surveyors were in fault, but he could now say how
it had occurred. It had been arranged between two
gentlemen—Commissioners they had been of that
Caurt—he could name them, too, and the manoeuvre
had been going on for thirty years.—(Hear, hear.)
Could they now wonder at his not signing thecheque,
or cautioning other Commissioners against signing it ?
The CIIAIRMAN said it was a very wrong thing,
and what the officers of the Court should have
looked to.
An LION. COMMISSIONER said that the thanks of
the Court were certainly due to Mr. Leslie for his
exertions.

The remaining items were then agreed to, with
some trifling► alterations ; but, before the Court
broke up,
Mr. LESLIE said he should wish to call their at-
tention to another circumstance, which might have
escaped their attention, but had not escaped his.
He found that the contractor, in express contraven-
tion of his contract, was charging and receiving Is. 6d.
for carting away the rubbish.
The CHAIRMAN—Why, my finger is now upon the
contract, where it says that he is to cart away all the
superfluous earth and rubbish at a given price, which
is already allowed. How is it, ➢ir. Doull, that the
contractor has been paid this sum ?
Mr. DouLL—I thought it was according to the
terms of the contract.
Mr. LESLIE—Mr. Bennett charged it, and Mr.
Douai) paid it.—(Laughter.)
The CuAIRMAN—The contractor must pay back
such moneys. Perhaps a notice to such effect will be
entered by Mr. Leslie, and it will be transmitted to
the contractor through the clerk.
Mr. LESLIE moved a resolution to the above effect,
and Mr. liertzlett was instructed to communicate
with Mr. Bennett accordingly.
The offers of contract were then ordered to be ad-
vertised in the newspapers, and the Court adjourned.