THE INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 26 January 1911, Page 9

THE INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS.

ASNUAI, MEETING. 'By TelecrapU—l'ress Association.) bunedln',. January. 2.5. The nniuinl meeting of tho Ne\v Zealand Institute of Surveyors••' was' held to-day. Present: Messrs. H. Hailtlcii, J. W. Davj.s find C. W. Adams (Wellington), Mr. L. I'YWebb (Christchureh),.'Mr. T. S. Miller. (Invercargill), Messrs; J. Blair, Mason, St. Bogg, N.. Fatersoii, j! E. Vaile, E. S. Allan, C. 0. Jl'Kellar, H. W. Eoid, and F. J/ ■Williams (Diuiediii), -(tail Mr. C. D. Morpeth (Wellington), secretary.' Mr. Mason was elected to the- chair, in tlio unavoidable absence of Mr. .Fulton, president (unexpectedly detained at Blenheim by legal business). • .... The annual report stated that the membership decreased by thirteen during the year, ono by death, eight by resignations, and four written off lor. non-payment oi. subscriptions; Twelve new. members Lad. been, or were, to be, elected, making tho total membership 230,.:'0r one less".'than last year. Kegret .wasijexpresscd at the , death .of Mr. A. P. Mason, treasurer -of tho institute, and.ono of •tho; most enthuvsiastio members. The bal-ince-'slieet 'showed' *a credit balanco'of .£231 ss. 2d.. J Xhe,out-. standing subscriptions were., larger than, they should be, .despite the vigorous attempts to collect, them.. The adoption of the .report'was moved by tho' chairman, , and seconded by Mr. Allan. . • .

, Mr. Hadden said that a matter of considerable importance to the profession and to local authorities was the establishment of a qualification for engineers, m *■.««■ Zealand at-present anyone could call- himself aif'engineer. The Roads and Bridges Department' had" recently - been absorbed by tho'Publie' Works-Department, and-' the spending of mo'ney-.nbw.lell upon the-.local authorities, many of whom possessed only foremen "and 1 riot -engineers. ,: A deputation from 'CEristchur'ch ' had waited '' Holmes (Chief Erigiiieorpf ; P.iiblic : Woflcs)J and he "express3(l a desire,'in accord-'\vith : the views'of'the deputation, "'rimrreforrecl to numerous applications for loans received. Regarding these, it was often necessary for the Government Engineer, not only to. report but to draw up complete drawings, watch the work, and certify to the payments. This entailed unwelcomo work on the Department, and work ontsido its province, and he' suggested that a board, should be set up and examinations held on the lines , of the surveyors' examination. Certificates would be granted to such men as could satisfy the board, but after its establishment a .qualifying examination would have to.ba passed. Tho Public Works. Department could then accept '. drawings passed by th'ese> engineers and make progress payments. Two or more grades, could be.established, one to .cover roadworks,.smaller' bridges; and such work, as/caiiio; e.sf e'ehtially within thc\proyince. of survey--ors. The other grade---could—include larger works, covering also mining and electrical engineering. A 'committee was being set up to comprise engineers and surveyors, in both private and Government practice to draw.up recommendations and a syllabus,-and report:.with, a view to legislation at an early date. The speaker also,referred to a.difficulty which had arisen over the surveying of .Native land in the North'lsland. By" legislation passed recently tho Goveruiiumt could instruct surveyors to survey blocks , of Native land,.but payment for this work could only be received if a judge of the Native Land Court would certify to the necessity of such work. This, was not always done, and the resulUof tho measuro had been to make payment to s'ur-. veyors more difficult, than .before, and hinder the_ opening .up..of Kative.lands: . This -matter had .jteen placed- IMoro :thc board, and tho-. prospects wero.thnt remedial measures would.', shortly -bo.-.■taken; ,, ; Tho report was adopted". ■•■' :"'■: .-•.- ; A vote, of thanks to -Mr. Fulton.- (the president) for his services during the. past year was passed, as was. also,a motion of; condolence with the widow and family of the late Mr. Mason. Tho election of officers resulted as i'oljHows:—President, Mr.' Thos. Humphries (late "Surveyor-General, Wellington); yicopjesident, .Mr. H. G. Wylde (Palmerstou jKortji); .hou. treasurer, Mr. G. C. Smith (Chief ■ Draughtsman, Wellington) j members of the council, Messrs. Jas. A. Fulton, Wellington, and F. I, Ledger, Nelson (to fill an extraordinary vacancy created by appointment of Mr. .Wylde); auditors, Messrs. J. S. Welch and S. Wheeler (Wellington); new members, Messrs. J. B. Cuthbert. E. A. Marcha'nt, G. H. Davis, J. H. Porteous, G. 8.. Ureagh, ..£. J.' , .. HaUe, C. AV. Eeardon, 0. N. Campbell, and T. S. Bridge. .' : ..... "'.■..'. On. the. .'motion' of Mr. Davis it. was decided that it "be "an instruotidri . to. the ! council.to take steps .to have the'survey rcgulalions amended as fo "the":.ono-link-per mile error" allowed for town survey? by limiting its application to surveys in the main streets of tho principal cities, or to lands worth from £20 per foot, upwards; that in the opinion of the meeting the application of the one link error ■to towns is of little value, and in rough and windy positions is unreasonable, and it was not intended'that tho regulations should bo too stringently enforced, and tho chief surveyor should' exercise his discretion more liberally. A letter was received from Mr. Bridge referring to the delay taking place in clieckiiur plans in the ■ land transfer office. The opinion generally expressed , was that every courtesy was shown by , the officials,' but that" in one or twoplaces the staffs were not sufficient to cope with the work. :-..•• ■ '