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Remarks
The Estimate for this Church was framed by Mr Gordon, the late Surveyor General, but the prices for most of the items therein were fixed much too low, however the plan was approved of by Sir John Davis, and the Ordinance No. 2 of 1847 was passed by the Governor in Council, and the sanction of Her Majesty's Government was obtained in due course, for the outlay proposed.
Some time after the departure of Mr Gordon, I received instructions to make preparations for the erection of the Building, and after examining the Estimate in detail, I stated my fears that the Church could not be completed for the sum named, according to the terms set in the Specification; however advertisements were issued for tenders, and ten were received, ranging from £41,250 to £2291.13.4, exclusive of fittings from England; under these circumstances none of the tenders could be accepted, for the lowest together with fittings and Overseer's wages would have exceeded the estimate by £3,000.
I therefore proposed to Sir John Davis that arrangements should be made to commence the work and execute the same by small contracts, it would most probably be built in the cheapest manner, and the Estimate might not be exceeded by any large amount. Sir John approved of this plan, and the first contract, for the foundations, was approved of; on the completion of this service, I proposed to erect the walls and roof, again the tenders for the work were too high, and the present contractor required $19,420, exclusive of certain timber valued at $2,000; the only plan therefore was to curtail some of the work, and Sir John directed me to make a contract, leaving out the Tower above the main roof, this I arranged with the Contractor, who reduced his tender, and consented to execute the Service for