DRAINAGE BOARD ENGINEERSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 12885, 7 August 1906, Page 6

DRAINAGE BOARD ENGINEERSHIP.

DILLON BELL DECLINES. Sir A. Dillon Bell, M.LC.E., at present Engineer-in-Chief to the Westralian Government, has declined the proffered appointment of engineer to the Dunedin Drainage Board. A cable to that effect has been received from him, and in it he expresses appreciation of the Board’s offer (made on Friday last), but regrets being unable to enterta ; n it. ' The Drainage Board liold their usual meeting to-night, and in all probability the question of the vacant engineership will be discussed. The position is that Mr A. Sliiiger, who was latterly the. first lieutenant of the Board’s late engineer (Mr Anderson), and who has been in charge of the Board’s operations since Mr Anderson’s departure, has accepted a position with the Otago Dock Trust, and, in the ordinary course of events, will begin his duties with that body on the 24th inst. From what can be gathered, the Drainage Board"" are reluctant to lose Mr Slinger’s services, especially at the present juncture. A great deal of important engineering work yet remains to be done in connection with the drainage scheme. Certainly the main intercepting sewer is nearing completion—in fact, the excavation work of the last section to Frederick street is finished —but there remain, besides reticulation, die important matters of the ocean outfall and the drainage of what is known as the Flat—-St. Kilda, South Dunedin, and Caversham. This last is a matter fraught with difficulties, both financial and engineering, and opinions are divided on the Board as to whether it should be tackled straightaway or. not. Most, likely the position will be set out at to-night’s meeting, as the Board will have to consider a number of representations from the St. Kilda Council concerning the present unsatisfactory state of the drainage of that borough.