THE ENGINEER TO THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11548, 2 April 1903, Page 3

THE ENGINEER TO THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Once again I crave your permission to reply to "Ratepayer's" letter in your paper of to-day, and I may nay that 1 do not intend to cross swords with him further, an it is quite evident he is actuated more by animus than a desire, to place things fairly and reasonably. Firstly, as to Mr Bell's "occasional visits to Lyttelton," I append a statement from Mr C. Hood-Williams, eecretary to tlie Lyttelton Harbour Board, which shows that Mr Bell was engineer (not consulting engineer) to that- Board, a very different position, and that, during the period under notice he carried' out works amounting to £150,000 in cost; in fact, a larger amount than that expended by the Drainage Board in the sunn, time. Ah regards the completiem of the erection of machinery and btiileling.s (nothing was said in my letter about the tank), also the iron pipe-laying and reticulation contracts, I also append a letter from Mr Andrew Anderson, Mr Cuthbert'fi immediate predecessor, bearing out my statement, and lastly I shall bo happy to show you official records to the same effect which cannot bo disputed. It may bo noticed that "Ratepayer" has not attempted to justify his other former misstatement-..—Yours, etc., ROBT. PITCAI'mLY, Chairman Christchurch Drainage Board. April Ist, 1903. [Conies.] "Re Drainage Board Engineer.—Having been asked to verify the statement made by the Chairman of the Drainage Board in regard to Mr Napier Bella duties as Lyttelton Harbour Board engineer, absorbing a considerable portion of his time during the period dating from, the year 1879 to 1882, whilst he held the dual position of engineer to tlie Drainages Board and Lyttelton Harbour Board respectively, I have much pleasure in (stating that Mr Napier Bell acted as Harbour Board engineer during tlie above mentioned period, and the works carried out under his sutw_rvi«ion included the construction of tho graving dock, tho extension of a number of the wharves, jetties, breastworks, reclamations and sheets, their coet aggregating to over £150,000, and that a very large portion of hie time was taken up in connection with those works.—(Signed.) C. Hood-Williams. Chrititchurch, Ist April, 1903." "Robert Pitcaithly, Esq., Chairman Christchurch District Drainage- Board, Christchurch. Dear Sir, —I beg to say in answer to your inquiry that your statements in your recent letter to the Christchurch "Press," with regard to Mr Cutlibert's service- with the Board, aie absolutely correct in every particular.—Yours faithfully. (Signed.) " A. Anderson, late Assistant Engineer, District Drainage Board." [In reference to another statement by "Ratepayer," wo have been shown official records, which prove Mr Cuthbert to have been in cliargc of the pumping station, with machinery and pipelaying contracts. —Ed. "The Press."]