HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD.

RESIGNATION OF : THE* SECRETARYENGINEERr, ": .HIS. POSITION.UNTENABLE. . Mr. William Ferguson,",' : M.A., M. Inst. 0.K., secretary and engineer of the WellingJiarbour Board, lias tendered his, resignation from; tllosb .positions,' ' His reasons' for so ; acting embraced in the"following' letter whiclf'lias 5 ' beoii addressed to" the Chairman and each inbmber' of fllie Harbour' Board:— October 18; 1907.. 'jl'ho.Chairmau anil ...: -..Welli'iigton Harbqur Board. ; ■... Gentlemen, L,\ .! > At the special Board meeting; held, On .Octobor; I.', iliq - • ehariman ruled ttjat ~it; was, hot. permissible)., for .the secroT "<'• tsjty.. to., lay,..lii's..,vieVi;i>:;;l)efprp the " Board. li. without;, the . unanimous .-consent- of ;.the mpmbers!;.presont ;at. thd, meeting—a-con- | sent .which: oil tliat. occasion ,was .withheld, with the reside, that .the .Board camo to ai.decisio.ii ou,.'the. matters before - them. " without-, jioy: opportunity: having. "been : given \to tp.lplacp be-:, fore the mumbers 1 tlioso, points bearing, on the matters-undor discussion which from his. experieiico'he thought :it ::was. desirable•ir that jnembors should 'havo cognisance, of. ,-Wiiolv I*fi^sb.;jqine(l'!'tho-' , scrivc*c of . the :Board J. .('was' requested' tb, '.at r:alL'' timos',.' views' freely,: mid by" the-xour*-esty of-ntbo- various- membors -who"., havo •. from time -to timo formed' tho Board, '- the pMvilogo of 'advisin'g the ■ Boards aiid -of > representing to the "members my personal ~,, yieWo"ojf thb ,v )vhi'bh , ,i under ln(s"bteit "bxtend'ed to' v; .mo, 'and'l vontnro to think that l thesuc- * coss ,which has attended "the - Board's deliberations has-;tq some-.ismalUextent, bco'ii., du.ft,tQ;>thjß kindly \Way iuoVhich ; my,ropre-.. •;'* scntati.qns have been listenc4>fiw.:r'I' am not cqgnisaufc that I> have'-' in any - wayi'abuscd ,v the: > privilege . hitherto - accorded ,'to : ' ino of advising the Board, and-I. am "therefore compelled, .with.'much reluctance, .to conclude that I. have , lost the-confidoiico and respect-of:: a'niajority .-of'.'tlio. present,v; jiibmbors... , l . ... ~v Thayb carefully; considered, the"matter,. and,, whilst not'inj'auy-Mvay to criticiso the decision "of the'chairman,'l-feel that H- the''position" as' I ,now- laid-down'-iby 'him, , and aticppted ! 'by'-the Board,' is'for'-nio'in iinten-' able onoj' and that" my-'facilities'for" doing" good !-t<ork serviio of -thei Bbardmust therefore' bo- materially- reduced'-and .hampered. ■' : ' ■X look--.with, pride;uponithe Iwork. which.-1; jjf.ha-VG-beeii able-todo- forv.the'Boanl, -and, through.'.it,:.for, the public,: good, since-May,. & 1B84;- and rl: Tegrqt. exceedingly; tlia,t:.l ".am, ;■ Compelled•:to sever!my ■ conneotionrlwith vit' ~.,and with the important engineering*' works whioh: it both'.has'.now iri.hands, land 1 those; ;- u ivljich I. trust it will .havo' under i'corisideMi-' tj6n iiivtheiimmediate future;-m Uiidbr my.:prcßont. agreement -with- the'-Board. I.wiiS oilgagod. for.:a! period'.of five...years,.' which period torinmatedrb'n Juno.Bo.dast; -T, andv'thereafter' the; agreemont ' is.! subject ( to- determination on either • side".'byv six notice. , ~ : L ! thorefb^ogiyo the;' Board' six,- mpnths' jjakb.'effpct; from' tlie";eiid'.of the. current month, of Octobor, aiid '.'expiring! ' l' on - the. 30th .day of , April, i908,-'o{. ; iiiy-.in-,tontiba-to the' agreement' in re--1 spect to the offices to which',,l, was.by it appointed,. ..of .•. sepret-ary, i ti'easiirer,' engiii- .. eor, aiid chief executive.offieer/; I-.;slioultl 'i.' ?l»o ljkp Ip-bo. relieveii/qf ithoi position.-of ' coniniissipiior of "sinking 'fuh(|s.'v -."As,.- tho i' agreement requires that;, the., notice, shall-be.givon.-to. some i;pspon'siblo pfflcer .at. tlin i>liipe of tho. xioord, -I ani handing:,this.'lot-" t e , r ' to the assistant secretary,J.to be placed on"i'bc'o'rd, ? and am sending a copy- to'-'cach' -..v: nioitibcr'bf-tlfo JJoard.-rp-' - MJ-., 'Uiid'er clause' Tof •'tiie 'agrbejnfefit" lf J ''anr -eutitled:.tp.one month's holiday'ip' cStfh'aiid :i-'every •-year during 'it's con'tiiiuaiicev lvhich • "holiday,-was : ;arranged to 'be cumulative ;if iiot ifgb'd in' any ; your. : I -'have not , able to, avail myself to the full -'bxtfent'of' -my leave, land will'be' glttff if'thb; ; Board tpll ' take this point into consideratjpn.-) As 1 1 desiro/in every way to njGoii-t.he wishes and conveniencei .pf.'tlie' Board' a'iid"tp-facilitate . as far as possible'the on,''of;'tha' .- duties of;'.|uy'.present:''offlcd^,by,:|ny'';Siiecessor, or'successors,'-with t'lie least incoiivenien.co,. I' api willing 'tliat- any leave- that. - ..may-be coming-itb "mtf•shallMm"taken:feitlier' - wholly before or wholly''"after, v -' or -partly . before and -pa'rtly : aftor'' ; April't3o(vl9oß.' "'' : As-,. , however,' it' prphablfi' that'ari'angimbnts ■ j .....will;liave v to' bo mado' : by-lric in v eomiectiDn' '.. witli : ; the' 'occupation »by which' ! I' hope '"to'gtiin my' livelihood,' I-' shall be -glad to tlie'Bolird- ■: iir't.liis" : inatte'r 'i\s ! gooi) as:it; may'- , havo"'b'-seh able :to'^eome'.^o 1 a '.decision as'/to - when' it' • caW; i i ! o'|easg' J me/' .• 'rt; ■I- bbljeVe. .it'Hvill he ' found that -all "tho 're-' the Board "are in "pcrfcet : ordor;but''if''at- aiiy-'t-ime" I cali hb to' the Board or its officers in connection'; with •-•/ any,matters of^.which ;I.;have ha(l':porso[)al ..!.knowlqdge,-ri'l shall be : pleased v to. roniler' - any assistance-in iny• power. - ;i ( ' - ' ' > .. \". ' ' (Signed)'* Jv '" WILLIAM FEIIGUSO?^ \ vTHE MAYOR'S; REMARKS. '■... ;ly ' -REORGANISATION WANTED. .jjli'. jrergusoiifslrVcitioi^'J' spid „ Mayov-,.'(the.,Hon.! r l\ !-AV!'.'Hislop)., .who is';by. ; virtpo;of .his ofricp a. niember of- ; the.Harbour -. ißpanl,l, ;in. qoninion; ; with .others,; rejijiot,, j vory.imuch that ..ho has /esigned, and I..(M.'r-: , taijily. cannot-seo- in v/bat has •ooeurred. piii- , cioiit....xtcasori..for a ;: rift. i J ; ivoyJd .be 'Very . plcasod tqiSeo vivondilbrpuglit" about," )j.u( w.hilo ,-.!piig:' i :pxneriene,6 i '.of.'. J natters-I haven't known anything toidqt-rpct ~ from Mr. Ferguson's reputation ill the c'cii- '- d.iict of '-'engineering. .knows vary; - well (thftt'n'o loss- of tho- kind; is., irreparable. 1 ljavp. no doubt at all that- another: bnginebr J can bo -got -who 'will- ke'eprit-lipiport: up. to'the;. i progressive standard .• of. tlie'-past.-'- 1 : vvj, r -j :V As ti tlio general maiiagonieiit''of.'foe 1 pprt,' li'liave; bebn for*:a'j' lolig' ;timelof vlSe .' opinion that it should be separatedifroni (lie 1 engineering department;'' No doubt Mr. I'W- j giison had certain, qualities-which liiado' hihi 1 as |caiihblo''i-:inai!ttger as'a ; n 'eiigincer,i'hut ; ill: ,i fogard- r t'fi, certain lijattors htvjiiff to do- wish; .] Tiia'nagpm'Cnt'i' thero' 'was' :a':idi(ferencb ;of- '■ bpraipii'/'' 7 'aiid i if' Mr.'-' resignation" 1 is 'iiiial;-the : 'timb will: be opportupe'. to J -i"o'- • brgaliiSe . t-hfe'-'goneral' pt rt ;! ina'tters'.' Wp have the harbourmaster's (.9-; i.f partnierit,.' the -wharfinger's.' department,..■•tlioiicoouYitant's ; dep'iirtniopt, • aiuh'the engincur- f irig.-^ill'bf-.whicli"'could' be ebiordinnted in tio , bflicb'' 'bf ,, :.socr^tary,'' who ?'cun,-"I - believe,:'bb •' sclfccted' s froin- the'i present'' staff-ioof: tie «, Hoard." v' 1 ' 4 - 1 | ' " pan you .inform,-me, M /askpd:thc;ro])qfl'j r, • !',as ,to ; why;.other, newspapers jyerq not . in- '. formed •of-. iln. Ferguson's, .'resignation -on I'VidayPV.'-t;."' , ..; , [ .As.;ifo ,thnt-,'':- returnpdi.'tho.:Maypr,,-!,il fillderstand the other members; of . tlio; Bqar l , jsclopt dno,. sp'roperly > reganuxt' tnq'docullle.it ;. is ia confidential 0110. ;1 think it- was a, diurfnet brb'acb . of. conljdqnca., for. any; memb >r 1 jf tlio Beard to divulge the contents: of tlie otteft:: From, the -fact that' Mr.rßeiuichamiiJs f ncj\vs..wcre:s'ought and'given to your.,conte.!.ir, loiiary, I assume that tlio .'information '.was .? pvenvrby ;him; -■ Ii» .that,of.,-course,:.l . may, ." ioiwr'ong,i,but.,in any case.l; think Mr. Beau-. ? shijmptostromely..blampablo in. opening a-dig- .§ ussion. on the: matter tlirough tho newspapers 2 listend of waitiii<; to consult : with' his follow-'. iie'mbers.'of 'tho. Board, especially.-in. l -view of :•! lis,' recont'-atliack 011 sonic, of tliein. It would -J; layo'.'bcoh very' jnuch niorc loyal of.ihim to l lard'refrained from' airing-itho affair iir ;. mblic; aiid-no d'oiiht sonvo of the " 3oard will havo something to; say about his J ittempt .to belittle his brotlier-membei's when ■ hov. meet." . .. . - .Mr!' James M'Lellaii, a member of. tho •" ?oaid, wiis also waited 011 'by a member of : I'iik DdMikjoNtStaff,-.hut lie ; declined.to dis- " :uss; the inattbr at all for piiblication... „ ° " i" V- - j I THE CHAIRMAN'S -YIEW! 1 :The Chairman (Hon. T.- K. Macdonald) g rl-ote as follows to Mr. Ferguson" Dear ii iir. Ferguson,—When I reached tho office it

tliis (Friday) afternoon at half-past five, I ,: '■ was amazed to find your letter of resignation. t ' I was very vexed at your having coine to this v•; decision. lam sure.you aro wrong in think- •" ing that tho. receiit discussions by the Board imply any want of confidence in you; differences of opinion are bound to tako place in ail corporate bodies, but these may exist, as ' in. your caso, with tho most absolute con- ' ■ fidorico ahd regard. During my term of office as, chairman, now nearly two years, my rela- fictions with you liavo .been 'so cordial and \ pleasant-that your resignation is, a groat Bur- ; ."• priso. Tho value of your services to tho Port ' 1 of. Wellington during tho past quarter of a 1 '- 1 century, and the high sense of public duty r which has. animated you throughout, aro V esteemed not "only in the city, but throughout the Dominion." ' T THE POINT CONCERNED. - , ' Mr., R. : Fletcher, a ,member-of the Board,. ! states t-hat' the point of procedure concerned, :■ which Mr. Ferguson lias regarded as sufficient reason'for .'tendering his resignation, was a,. _' very . simple-oiie indeed;"-He (Mr. Fletcher) 'Had moved4liat every member of the Board ' f : be furnished with a copy of the order paper four days' before a meeting of the Board, just as is done in tho case of other bodies. After . giving "his rbasons for , it, tho other mepibers ;of- tho Board spoko to it, and ho .was, about,to reply wliep'a member of tho ■ Board asked that' the secretary should"'bo allowed to give. his opinion. Mr. Fletcher objected to this'on tbo ground that it was : .purely ;a;rpiitine'.. matter . for the Board to s deoido, and : was 1 hot a matter that should bo ; : .V discussed or debated by a salaried officer ofthe*B'oard." He followed'this up' by asking , 'tlio 'Cha'ihhah'XMr'. ' .T:;'iCi .Macdonald) for a . ~ ' ruling on' tho matter, apd lie ruled that an ' -officer had'hdt thp right,to take part in' lie was asked, by tho .Board an;'opinion.. It was' a' matfef|" 'said Mr. Fletcher, .".Where no expert knowledge was required; .merely asking for a little time to deliberate ... ' o'li .niatters,:.that,, were coming up for con'sideratjon. .'.That is. a|l have to say on th»• poilit.". .... \V. . Personally,:..in. every, phase of . his connection.- with Mr.-Ferguson-;',_]« (Mr. Fletcher) ' • liad always tr >at<!(l liim with tlio respect duo to.an, plficor . f tho Board and a gentleman,'. — ' but .ho had, .cs-a member ef tho Board, corn V"'";. :;tajn rights as a representative of-tho people, ' and. thqso rig'.its lie would maintain as ioug-;;' >•>,' as. lie-was a lnombor.'of; the Board. He re- - ~sented-.; t ho.- remarks, made by Mr. Beau-' • *'••* :cliamp-.,y.as -..to ': the . personnel .of ' tba 'V Board in tho past and its personnel' at ''' V.» piesent, and no quite'agreed with Mr. Hjslop m tho opinion that the manner jn which Mr.,. •Ferguson' had itendorcd.his. resignation was.,', ; not'what it should have beon. He. should . have,,communicated his intention to'..the'iiy i.ohairinan,,..who/ill duo. coiirso, would have -, called''a,'.meeting, for." its', consideration, tie (Mr v Pletcher). s did not, care to say anything - present•.jwn^ture.: ' . * ■ Mr.' William Ferguson was born in London • in• 1862.-, Educated by .private tuition and ■■ ■". : ' at. Burtou-on-Ti'ent Grammar- School, the' ,TJnivopity,',of Dublin and the; Royal College, v of: Science,'.; Dublin, lie- served an articled! appronticeship of. fivp years; with'. Messrs.;: '. '/.', , Courtenay and Stephens, engineers, of Dub*. ' ; . lin.,' In 1873 lie : entered Trinity College, ' h Dublin, graduating B.A. in 1877 :as Vfirst respondent/He took.his degree as bache-V, ' f . lor'of fingiiioering in 1879, with special, ad- • : ,j' tlitioiial certificates in "chemistry .and: feeCK-,..... Jogy, . practical' engineering, meonanical and 'experimental physics.. Mr. Ferguson's M.A. ' diploma was conferred in' 1881, and hejwas olcctcd'an associate member of tho Instituto 'of Civil Engineers ,in 1880; boing transferred '} t'p the'grade of moinbor.in 1893. Aft-or com-. - _ pleting . his.. terms "at the.' University, , Mr; ,-'.7.'.' Ferguson ,wa's employed by two, engineering. " firnisMn,Dublin for soma,years,. and in, 1878 ; becam.e.. chief ..draughtsman to the Hydraulio Ensi'iccring-Compiiny, of .Chester) Tho fol- . .lo'iying yna'r:hp.bcoanic assistant.to tjio.Pro- , •.fessQ'r(..of. iSngineierinß. in,.Trinity.-Collogo, an ;. oifibipiodffld until,lßß3. lattor.-'year ;^v: he cajiftM-Ncw ZbaJniid; malviilg the vpyag() u ,,,.. ; i ( f the,steamer TakHpiina... In Slay of tho fol- -■ 16wjng year ,hp was appointed secretary, engiiice.r, iiiul treasurer of the Wellington Har]\our Board, a position ho has held- until tho • • . present-dato. Besidps i tlie duties attached .; ■ ■' to his' position, Mr, Fergnson, in 1890,. jointly ,i with Mr, E. : M. Inst. C.E., devised ; a sohomo. -for -.tho - sewerage ,• of • Wellington, and throb years later, .in , conjunotion with Mr,.. 11. P. Higginson,'. SI. Inst. C.E.,'; ho > :'. carried rut: the sohems- as consulting on- j ■ gineer. , . • ' . Mr. Ferguson ,is a. brother of Dr. Harry, : Ijindo Ferguson,' of' -Dunedin. Ho married 1 in IS9O ■ the, third daughter of tho lato Wil- . liam Sefton Moorhouse, Mr., and Mrs. Fer- - ■ gusqu,. ffere- jiassengej's by the Wairarapa ~/... w'hen she was wrecked on the Great Barrier ' " in 1894. ;