BOROUGH ENGINEER AND GAS MANAGER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 59, 10 March 1906, Page 3

BOROUGH ENGINEER AND GAS MANAGER.

THE VACANT POSITIONS

LOOKING AHEAD

The question of calling for applications for a successor to the late Mr Muir in the positions of Borough Enfineer, Inspector of Works, and Gas lanager came up for discussion at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. Cr. Carr said he had thought over tho matter a good deal. His idea was to put the present temporary man in full charge of the gasworks, he having, as he believed, had some experience in that direction, and getting a good foreman of works. . The Borough "did not nee da permanent Engineer, and a local one could be engaged on occasion. Cr. Ching concurred. He understood that the present temporary officer at the gas works was well up to the business. The present foreman of works,, who was an old servant, was quite capable of doing the work required. He was in touch with the asphalting work, being at present engaged upon street crossings. The Borough would not need a permanent engineer. If they had to appoint separate officials >the cose would be considerably greater than it had been in the past. Cr. Wiffen said he was surprised and astonished at the attitude taken up by Crs. Carr and Ching. What sort of a place were they living in P Were they living in the year of our Lord 1906, or two , thousand years before Christ? Look at their streets. There wasn't a yard of them better than could be found in any village. Who was going to show them how to beautify their rivers and make Seymour Square attractive? He wished Blenheim to become a place where visitors would he delighted to remain for a few days—not, as now, come in one day and, if they could, clear out again on the same. Then look at the gasworks. They had only the other day sent Homo an order for £500 worth of new retorts; and who was going to put them up? Were they going to trust a young man, whom they hardly knew, and who had probably got all his knowledge of gas from the late Mr Muir? They wanted an engineer who could lead them, and show them what they should do. It must not be lorjxotten that they lived within 50 miles of Che capital of New Zealand. Instead of going ahead, Councillors seemed to want to go back. Why did they not travel, and see what was being'done in other places? He moved that advertisements be inserted in the papers of the four centres inviting applicants for the positions of Borough Engineer and Manager of the Gasworks. , Cr. Mogndge seconded. He agreed that they required a man who could come here and teach them, instead ot them having to teach him. I hey should have a man .in the gasworks who had hall a thorough experience. {The present ritan in charge might be all rfghfc, but .they did not know enough about him."*.. . • Cr Birch said tho views expressed hv Crs. Carr and Ching on the .one hand and Crs. Wiffen and Mogndge on tho other were very wide y apart<Cr. Wiffen: 1 hope so)-Cr. .Wiffen had made too much ot the-position ot Gasworks Manager., and Cr. .Ching too little of the Engineer's office. It did not require a philosopher to know how to make gas—any intelligent laborer could do it. As to the other position, he thought Blenheim was becoming a place of such importance that they required something more than a foreman of works. He thought, however, that tho positions should certainly be separated. Cr. Pike said he did not know anything about gas. Probably Cr. Wiffen did. (Laughter.) If the present man in charge was qualified, let him apply for tho "position with the others- It did not necessarily follow that a man who made gas should be able to build a gasworks, no more than an engine- ' driver should be an engineer. ne thought, referring to the roads, they should liaye an engineer; and it .would

be an advantage to secure a person who could hold both positions. Cr. Patchett thought the two position should be separate. A working manager wovjld be sufficient at the gasworks; but the expense of an engineer would be very great. It way all very well to talk about big works, but where were they to get the money to spend for such a man? The Mayor said he agreed, in part, with all the speakers, who had no doubt weighed the matter well. He pointed out that the Borough by-laws provided that positions muts be advertised for application, and the salaries fixed in advance. He did not agree with Crs. Carr and Ching when they spoke of doing without an engineer, as there were no large works in view. i They had a bridge to build, for one thine, and they had to finish the reclamation works for another. They had also in view very shortly the extension of the water mains as far as Arthur Street, and the Gas Committee intended running the gas mains out in-Hawkshaw and other streets. There was also the asphalting work for the season to carry out. He also mentioned that the late Engineer had had charge of the regulation of traffic, the inspection of bridges, etc. They should, too, as Cr. Wiffen had said, look ahead. Suppose they followed Cr. Carr's advice, and employed an engineer as occasion required; there would be £50 here and £50 there, until this method would be more expensive than the other. Works requiring a qualified engineer were always coming up. He advised that time be taken to consider the matter, and that the Town Clerk write to boroughs of similar size and ask how their several departments are officered and paid. Cr. Ching explained that he had not come to the meeting prepared to deal with the permanent appointment of officials. He had spoken with the idea that they were only proposing to make temporary appointments. Cr. Wiffen withdrew his motion, and accepted one suggested by the Mayor, to the effect that "the Town Clerk write for information to other boroughs, and upon receipt of same, call a special meeting' of the whole Council, to be held in Committee."