THE ROAD SURVEYS OF THE PROVINCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 984, 16 April 1862, Page 3

THE ROAD SURVEYS OF THE PROVINCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttellon Times.

Sir, —In your summary for England, dated April sth, there is a paragraph relating to the appointment of a road surveyor which directly and broadly robs me of a professional reputation of twenty years standing. I believe the appointment of Road Surveyor, to which you allude, to be a very good and a very necessary one, but I had nattered myself that it was made because the assistant surveyors had not time, in consequence of the rapid sales of land, to keep the roads ahead of the section surveys. Now, sir, I have laid out the roads in the northern part of the province for twelve years, and I never heard that the Provincial Engineer, or any other good authority, had found particular fault with them. I have, moreover, myself laid out no less than four lines of railway, and a ships canal in the north of Ireland, for which I made most of the estimates of earth work, and the working drawings ; and I can truly say that I have made road surveying, (as being the only interesting part of my profession), my especial study for nearly twenty years. It is therefore rather unsatisfactory, not to say galling, to find you stating that the appointment of road surveyor was made in consequence of the "many gross blunders perpetrated, as might be axpected from entrusting work of this kind to gentlemen Avho, however competent in their own profession, have not only no claim to a knowledge of road making, but arc not in any way responsible for their mistakes." Although I am glad to hear that I am not to be held responsible for any mistakes I may have made, your statement, it seems to me, would argue that, under the circumstances, I ought either to give up my appointment or the Government ought to take. it from me, as being utterly wanting in common sense. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN C. BOYS. Eangiora, April Bth, 1862.

[We are sorry that Mr. Boys should feel his reputation injured by the remarks in the summary of the 'Lyttelton Times,' especially as we-see no sufficient cause for such a feeling. Mr. Boys himself admits that in consequence of the rapid sales of land, the assistant surveyors had not time to keep ho road, ahead of the section surveys, and that a total want of system in these necessary ■works was the consequence. We abstained from making invidious personal remarks on the blunders committed in this department, but every one acquainted with" the land office is aware that serious blunders have been committed. We willingly allow that Mr. Boys has done his road surveys as well, or better, than could be expected of any one engaged in the multifarious duties of a Government land surveyor, where it has been the custom to push the section surveys ahead of those for the roads,— Ed.L.T.] '' ' :