THE NEW CITY ENGINEER. HE IS COMING FROM ENGLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1898, Page 6

THE NEW CITY ENGINEER. HE IS COMING FROM ENGLAND.

Iv Committee last evening thf City Council considered the applications for the position of City Engineer at a salary of £800 per annum. Out of 98 applicants the choice ultimately fell upon Mr. 11. S. Rounthwaite. now in England, a member of the Association ot Municipal and County Engineers, and for nearly 19 years Borough Engineer and Surveyor for Sunderland. A cable message has been sent to England informing Mr. Rounthuaite of his appointment, but as certain details must be arranged by letter, he cannot leave under two months. It may be that he will have to give three months' notice to terminate his present engagement at Sunderland, and the probability is that it will be abdut four months before he enters upon his duties in Wellington. One of the conditions of the appointment is that the applicant must take up his work as soon as possible after selection. Though only 43 years of age, Mr. Ronnthwaite has — according to his credentials — had a very extensive experience. He was educated as a civil engineer with the late firm of Messrs. Meik & Nesbit, o£ Sunderland, and soon after that was engaged for four years in the barrack branch of the War Office under Colonel Seddon, R.E. Following that he had wide experience in dock, harbour, and river works, as .well as in the construction of railways, gas works, and schemes for water supply. 'He has supervised sewage and' outfall works constructed at a cost of £40,000 ; has carried out paving and road formation' works (including a considerable- area of wood pavement) to the value of more than £200,000 ; has controlled the maintenance of about 170 miles of streets and roads, and a number of bridges, including the Wearmouth bridge, in" addition to numerous public works .during his tenure of office at Sunderland. Recently he inspected the tramway systems in Hamburg, Brussels, aud other cities, and has superintended the laying of a considerable portion of the Sunderland tramway -system, and upon its equipment for electrical traction. Mr. Rountnwaite has also promoted and opposed Parliamentary Bills, taken part in property arbitrations, negotiated land sales and conducted Court cases in regard to breaches of the bylaws. His application is backed up by the highest testimonials from influential and professional men in England.