Page 65 - Bulletin 7 2003

62

Mr. Harry Scowen, who feared that, should Collie withdraw from the contract
and the drain-laying go to tender again, all contractors would be aware of the

problems and would tender exorbitant prices. The Council did not accept
Bennett’s explanation. Whether they called Scowen in to verify Bennett’s

explanation is unknown. (Harry Scowen was having his own problems with the

liquidation of his hotel looming), but a letter from the Municipal Clerk to Harry
Scowen is worth recording.

H. Scowen Esq Muizenberg
Re alleged overpayments to the Contractor

Dear Sir,
I am desired by my Council to call your attention to the following abstract from
Mr. Bennett’s report, viz;-

Within a few weeks after the commencement of the works the Contractor on
finding the difficult nature of the ground through which he had to go (on account
of boulders and rock) frequently complained to me that he was losing money
rapidly and that if the nature of the ground continued the same, unless he had
some relief he would be ruined and have to throw up the whole undertaking. On
or about the 20th Nov. the Mayor (Mr. Scowen) called at my Office when this
matter was brought forward and discussed in every way; the Mayor saying that it
would never do to allow the Contractor to stop, and that if he did stop the
Contract would have to be advertised and probably the lowest amount of tender
would be more than double the Contractor’s tender, as now the new Contractor
would see the nature of the ground. The Mayor having this in view and rather
than stop the works instructed me to prepare the Certificates for payment in
future in accordance with higher rates per Schedule on page 18 in the Bill of
Quantities. This has accordingly been done from this time on and the amounts
resulting are perfectly correct.

Will you kindly confirm if this statement is correct.

Yours faithfully,
Municipal Clerk (sgd) A. Barnes.

Whether Scowen confirmed this statement or not is unrecorded, but the Council

held Bennett responsible. Mr. William Olive, who originally was asked to design

the scheme and who disliked Bennett, be it jealousy or whatever, was employed