Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - To dredge the River Ely - 1860's

And there the matter seems to have rested, so far as Mr. Hardie is concerned, for nearly six months whilst Mr. Mitchell busies himself in the construction of his new powerful dredging machine. Mr. Hardie wrote to the Board on the 19th February 1861 with an update on progress.

Meeting held February 20th 1861.

Read - a letter dated Feby. 19. from Mr. Hardie on the subject of his Contract.

Ordered - That Mr. Hardie be informed that if he can arrange with Mr. Mitchell to complete the contract in a manner satisfactory to the Company and within a period to be named by their Engineer, there will be no objection to his doing so. - view letter dated 27th February 1861.

On the 17 March 1862 Mr. Hardie with Mr. Mitchell, waited on the Board about his contract and said he intended to proceed with it.

The Secretary gave him notice, verbally, in the presence of Mr. Dobson not to proceed without the instruction of the Board to do so.

On the 14th April Mr. Hardie again waited on the Board and handed in a letter dated April 14 having previously addressed one to Mr. Nixon under date of April 12.

The Board did not see him but passed the following resolution:-

"Mr. Hardie waited upon the Board and handed them a Letter dated 14th April on the subject of his contract for river excavation. The matter was referred to Mr. Dobson.

Mr. Dobson wishes Mr. Matthews to prepare a Letter to Mr. Hardie, declining any further transactions with him."

The Original Specification and Tender Document is an important document to review at this stage since it details the work to be undertaken and the terms and conditions which were imposed by the Penarth Harbour, Dock and Railway Company upon Mr. Hardie in the first case and now, following the termination of the contract with him by the Board, Mr. Mitchell.