TO THE EDITOR OF THE MMAKTT HBBALD. Bm,— l notice m your advertising columns that Mr Marchant architect, is advertising for amended tenders for proposed additions to the hospital. Now as a ratepayer I woulti like to ask the board why they did not apply to Mr Robert* for the plans he prepared some time ago and for which he was paid by the late commissioners. The board would then have eared the expenses of an architect's fees, and have h»d a plan m keeping with the present buildings, while the deoign of Mr Merchant will look as much out of keeping as the present oldrst part is with the new part. Mr Marchant may be a very able engineer, but be has much to learn yet as an architect. His plans may be intelligible to him but for contractors they are too vague and unsatisfac tory. The present building has to be removed and alterations effected, yet he does not supply a. single section showing how and where these lire to be effected ; hence con tractors hare to grope m the dark the best they can through confused and topsy turry specification* and half finished plane, and this is one of the reasons why the tenders were so high and for this the ratepayers have to pay. Through contractors not being able to see what they bare to do, they are bound to protect themselves, the more so when they read that to protect himself against any mistake the architect stipulates that should he during the progress of the work, find it necessary to make any additions or alterations the contractors shall execute same under his instructions without any extra charge. Of course the ratepayer has to pay for such arbitrary conditions. Again let any one look at the plant. An apprentice boy would see at once that several parts, (the roof for instance) will not stand as designed. Why again, may I ask, should the architect reserve to himself the right to buy timber and materials wherever he thinks proper ? How is a contractor to form an estimate on such conditions unless he allows the highest possible price for everything P For all such conditions again I say the ratepayer has to pay. 