the detailed estimate, were transmitted to England
in Report and estimate for 1848.
The Contracts and working drawings for the Aberdeen Road were all completed early in this year. I subdivided the work into 17 Contracts, (to suit the convenience of the generality of contractors who tender for such works at a distance from Victoria), and thus the whole work progressed very actively and I hoped to see at least all the earth-work quite finished before the hot weather, but as it proceeded, many of the Contractors found they had miscalculated, (that is to say, never did calculate the cost of the work, if they could), some absconded, others I had great difficulty with to get them on with their work, and some I had to finish by days' labour and charge the amount upon the respective Contracts.
The system is advantageous in some respects, as the competition is so great that prices are lowered; most of the men, however, do not know the amount of their tender, the results therefore is quite a chance; if they fail, they generally abscond leaving the labourers unpaid, and it has frequently happened that I could not induce other men to go upon the work until all payments due upon it had been made; with Masons this is particularly the case in consequence of the Trade Union, which delayed the completion of 3 contracts for Bridges, the fault no doubt, originated with the Contractors who could not pay the men.
The sureties in these cases, when applied to, were compelled to complete the work and pay the balance due, and leave me to finish the work and pay the remaining, if there should happen to be any. The completion of the Aberdeen Road was the only new work out of the Station which required our attention during