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Paragraphs 60-61: Head 64 - Public Works Department: Lands and
42.
Survey
Authority will be sought before the end of 1977-78 for the
creation of the additional posts required by the Principal Government
Land Agent to enable measurement of work to be undertaken adequately.
43. In paragraph 61, the Director of Audit has commented on the
course of events following the collapse of a retaining wall which led
to the waiver of claims amounting to over $366,000. The initial
difficulty was that the retaining wall lay partly on Crown land and
partly on the lots concerned and thus, despite the condition of the
leases providing for the owners to be required to repair the wall
themselves, it was not clear whether the Government had the right
to require the owners to assume full responsibility for the recon-
struction of the wall. In the event, it was decided that the Government
should undertake the work and that the owners should be notified that
the Government reserved the right to recover an appropriate proportion
of the cost. The delay in issuing demand notes was partly attributable
to the difficulty in tracing the original owners following the unavoidable
delay in completing the contract. Nonetheless, even though this was a
complicated case, it is clear that the chances of recovery would have
been very much greater if action had been taken more quickly and this
has been drawn to the attention of the departments concerned.
Paragraphs 64-65: Head 66 - Public Works Department: Water
44.
Supplies, Subhead 999 010 Chargeable water
Proposals for adjusting the levels of water deposits have now
been received from the Director of Water Supplies and are being
considered in the Government Secretariat.
/45. The
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