Harris to settle a dispute over the Parsonage at Dockyard.

"We're trying to come to an equitable position, having regard to what he has done there and having regard to the fact that it's taxpayers' property,'' Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons told The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Gibbons did not want to disclose details on Government's position. "It is between the Government and Dr. Harris at this point,'' he said.

Dr. Harris, who lives at the Parsonage and was off the Island yesterday, claims to have spent $500,000 in cash and $250,000 in labour renovating the historic building over the last 13 years.

Lawyer Mr. Trevor Moniz MP, who is a Maritime Museum trustee and has acted for Dr. Harris in the past, said in 1982 the Parsonage was "full of chickens'' and Government was planning to tear it down.

The National Trust stopped the planned demolition but did not have the money to renovate, Mr. Moniz said.

Dr. Harris proposed that the building, erected for the Dockyard parson in 1827, be turned over to the museum, which would lease the building to someone to renovate.

Dr. Harris put forward his own proposal and began renovating the property, which was later turned over to the West End Development Corporation, Mr. Moniz said.

Government has refused to enter into a lease with Dr. Harris, he said. Nor would it enter a lease with Wedco allowing Wedco to sublet to Dr. Harris.

Mr. Moniz said Government has offered Dr. Harris "a vague formula'' that would let him stay in the building for about ten years as compensation for the work he has done.

But Dr. Harris should recoup some benefit, not be paid like "a day labourer'', Mr. Moniz said.

It was true that Dr. Harris had obtained some benefit from living in the house rent-free, but for much of that time, the house was "a complete and utter wreck''.

"The museum is concerned that he be given a good enough deal that he be encouraged to complete the work.'' Mr. Moniz said Government appeared to be treating Dr. Harris unfairly. "All sorts of other buildings out there have been sold off willy nilly,'' he said.