WAIMAIRI COUNTY’S ENGINEER RESIGNS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29365, 18 November 1960, Page 16

WAIMAIRI COUNTY’S ENGINEER RESIGNS

Mr D. P. McLellan, engineer to the Waimairi County Council for the last seven years, gave notice of his resignation last evening He will enter private practice with the Christchurch surveying firm of Davie. Lovell-Smith, and Todd in February.

Reading Mr McLellan’s letter of resignation to the council last evening, the chairman (Mr A. R. Blank) described the news as “a bombshell to us all.” “The council is suffering great loss in losing him. We are losing an excellent man,” said Mr Blank. “I am sure that I will be expressing the regret of this council at losing him.”

He moved that Mr McLellan's resignation be accepted with regret. In seconding the motion, Cr. J. I. Colligan paid tribute to Mr McLellan’s work for the council, and was joined by the five other councillors present, before the motion was put and carried. In his letter, Mr McLellan said he regretted leaving a position where he had spent “many pleasant hours in a most satisfactory job,” and in which he had received every consideration by all members of the council. “We have had our ups and downs, but on the whole I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with the council.” he said. Development of County Mr McLellan has been closely concerned with the phenomenal developments which have taken place in his seven years in Waimairi. The county has been described as the most rapidlydeveloping suburban area in New Zealand and on several occasions building permits have shown figures exceeding those for the whole of the city of Christchurch. Overseeing this expansion (there are more than 550 new houses under construction at present) has been among Mr McLellan’s duties. In conjunction with consulting engineers. Mr McLellan’s biggest

job was superintending the installation of Waimairi’s new water system involving 75 miles of reticulation. four pumping stations, and the water tower in Burnside Park. There has also been considerable expansion of road works. He also supervises 362 acres of parks, Jellie Park being the biggest of those developed in his time with the county. The new Waimairi County Council offices were planned and erected under his control. Mr McLellan was born in Westport, was dux of the Westport School and then attended the Westport Technical High School. Seddon Memorial Technical College (Auckland), and the University of Canterbury. He qualified professionally through the Institution of Engineers, of which he is now an associate member. He is also d member of the Royal Society of Health and an executive member of the New Zealand Institution of County Engineers. Since the inception of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority, Mr McLellan has been a member of the technical planning committee. He was also an active member of the Memorial Avenue Committee. Before his appointment to Waimairi, Mr McLellan served with the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board for four years and then as Wairoa borough engineer for two years. Halswell Building Permits Twelve building permits, valued at £23.685. were issued by the Halswell County Council in the last month. All except four permits were for dwellings. The highest value was £3lOO for a dwelling in Santa Rosa avenue. The permits brought the council £129 10s in fees.