THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 5089, 7 August 1907, Page 2

THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

CAPTAIN TURNER APPOINTED

At the meeting t>f the Tauranga County Council yesterday applications for the position of county engineer were received from the following gentlemen :— Messrs C. Clayton, Tc luke ; . j . \\. Thomson, Greymouth : J. U. .Arthur, Utiku, Rangilikci ; V. A. Tresider, Dunedin ; T.Koberts, Wcllingtcn ;P. L. Cochranc, Waikuinetc ; E. J. iA>rd, J3unedin ;A. C. Turner, Whakatanc , H. F. Newman, Hokitika; F.T/ Perkins, Christchuroh ; K. H. Gainsford, East Oxford, Ofmterbury ; H. Uichardson, Wellington.

Lr. Stewart said he thought it was inadvisable to make the appointment of a permanent engineer at present ; Firstly, because toe Council Was committed to Mr Ward for m. large nuinb^P of contracts ; secondly, because the Council's funds would not permit such an expenditure; and, thiroly, ix the Council's position warranted an appointment later one could then toe made. He moved— That ho appointment of engineer toe mad* at present.

The motion was seconded toy , the chairman, who said that the works in Mr Ward's bands should be first completed, because -it' must be evident there will always be "uncompleted works" whenever the appointment is-wado and he (the chairman) had no reec<ra to think the works at present in t\an<V are more now than will be the case later on. -His object in deferring the appointment was tho "financial question." When

speaking to the motion some time back when the engineer Kjuestion was considered, be gave his views that, unless the Council was in a position financially to carry out suggestions that would be made for works by tho engineer, such an appointment would be only adding to its dilnculties. To enable the Council to profit by- an engineer some important points must be first settled, viz : The rateiKtyers must be preimred to pay a rate <>l at least li<l on the new valuation ; the ratepayers must agree to vote for a £6000 loan for metalIng ; the Colonial Treasurer must grant this loan. None of these points have been satisfactorily gonfeinta so for. He did not wish to convey the impression that he was against a •progressive policy." On tne contrary, he firmly believed that -&\l local iM/ms should take full of

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'The Loan to Local lVauies iict, J aivj, as a matter 01 met, some j ears ago ho brought before t;vc ratepayers v proposal, to borrow and rate for metal and paying: oil the o.ei draft, it is in consequence 01 the manner in which this proposal was received by the ratepayers that he wished., to sec this point sctUou fcet'ore the 'Council committed itseu to an engineer. Most, of the councillors there today were -doubtless under the impression that in uig.ii^ this c|uestion they were ilomg so ioithe lust time, and believed that they would be supported : by the ratepayers/ iHev sirtcerqJy trusted they were li^'ht. This is, however, the point ho would like to see fully agrevd upon, as from conversations he had . had with various settlers he would not like to accept this view as correct. They must, bear in mind that farmers have had unprecedented losses this year and <xn extra Id rate to pay lor flood damages, and are, therefore, perhaps not in a very strong financial pqsHion -themselves. With rco'did W a loan from Government they should remember all, or nearly ail, the so-cailed economical local iXKlies are now aiiye to the fact! that they are committing suicide' by: not taking advantage 01 the Act, and applications must be pouring in irorn all sides upon the Colonial Treasurer, besides which the date for receiving applications for the present financial year is past, it would be fresh in their memory regarding the great difficulties and delays in obtaining the bridges loan of JL3OOO, Ail this means delay. . Will they have this delay at £18 a month or go on as at present ? With regaid to work, they can do out of revenue; he was i'uily aware that by the new valuations the income will be doubled, but would draw attention to the following facts : Under ordinary circumstances income has never balanced expenditure ; this Council is in debt; tc the Bank, land funJ, interest account and loan account, and their first duty should be to arrange for the payment of these balances ; until the application for a £ for £ subfcicly on th<j bridges loan is granted there is a large liability hangings over the Council on this account. He, therefore, urgjd that even with an increased income the Council is not in a position to d<Tiuore than keep roads in repair, and that it is too Jato to take advantage of the coining spring and summer for inaugurating nv;w works as no monvy i£ available for the purpose. Although Referring this apiKMntment does not Jook well it would be far worse if later en the Council was compelled to dismiss its road men in order to find money to .pay- the engineer's salary, • lhc Council adjourned "at 6 p.m. ami resumed again at 7.30 o'clock when all the councillors, except Cr. Howell, were again present! Cr. Tanner said that ne w tho Council had gonj so far in inviting applications for the position of engineer, he dia not see why the mat* icr should be put off. He said the valuation had' been doubled, and ' be failed to see /how they, were gcing to get good roads without an engineer. The motion was then put and lost. The Council proceeded to consider the credentials oi the various applicants. ./■ Kesolyed-That all applicant* except those certificated be struck out. This reduced the number to five' Messrs Clayton, Treslder, Roberts' tochrane and Turner.

ingi facts

These five were their ballotc«l for the result being: Cochrane/ 3 vote«-

carried unanimously. Lra ' Uord ttlul

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