HARBOUR ENGINEERING WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11953, 30 April 1902, Page 6

HARBOUR ENGINEERING WORKS.

At a meeting of die Auckland Harbour Board yesterday Mr. J. T. Julian moved, " That the time has arrived when the Board should take steps to procure the services of a secretary and engineer combined." He said it must bo clear to everyone that the Board should do something in this matter. Had the Board had a competent engineer they need not have employed Mr. Metcalfe for Calliope Deck. He said the Board had been employing a great engineer temporarily at great cost and had got no satisfaction. The Board really wanted the guidance of a practical engineer. They had been muddling for years on the question of Boating stages, on which they ought to have had the, guidance of a practical engineer. In view 'of the progress of shipping the Board should keep itself up to date. He was convinced that the Board wan wasting more money annually than would pay a handsome salary to an engineer. As to the combining of the offices he was satisfied that if they got a competent engineer he would have brains enough to be secretary. Mr. Witheford seconded. ■• Mr. Napier said Mr. Julian had given reasons for the Board getting an engineer, but he did not put forward one argument for combining the two offices. This was simply an attempt by a side wind to get rid of the present secretary. Mr. Julian: And time, too. Mr. Napier said he was glad Mr. Julian admitted that.

Mr. Julian: Yes, and the general publics admit it.

Mr. Napier said it, would have been far more manly if Mr. Julian had moved that Mr. Brigham get three months' notice. He maintained that the combination of the two offices in Wellington hud not been a success and that it was not desirable to combine the two offices. The cost of the Wellington office in salaries was £+892, against £33!:6 paid for the same work in Auckland. There was a great deal of administrative work in the office of the Board, and ho did not think they would get Mr. Brigham's superior as an administrative officer in the colonies. As for the engineering department, they had Mr. La Roches under engagement until December next, and he was carrying out work which had been laid out by Mr. Napier Bell, who had no superior as an engineer in the colonies. This was an unworthy attempt to get a slap at Mr. Brigham behind his back., Mr. Julian: I am not afraid to slap at him when he is here. I have said more to his face than you dare say. Mr. Napier said Mr. Julian knew perfectly well that one man could not do the work of engineer and secretary. They would have to appoint a man to do the work Mr. Brigham is now doing and call him assistant secretary. Mr. Stichbury said the Board wanted a strong man as engineer, though he did not think the two offices should be combined except, perhaps, in name. He would support a proposal to get an engineer, but not to get rid of the present secretary, whom he considered an excellent man. Mr. Witheford said he had no unkind feelings towards the secretary. Had they had an engineer at the head of the Board's affairs they would never have sent a representative to the Admiralty without the engineering information the Admiralty asked for. The want of an engineer had involved the Board in great expense and had cost them the respect of the Admiralty. Mr. Napier had spoken very highly of the secretary, but about eight years ago Mr. Napier took upon himself to investigate the way the Board's books were kept and to establish a new system of book-keeping in the office. He felt perfectly ashamed of the equipment of the Auckland wharves when he went, down to Wellington, and he was convinced that irreparable injury had been caused through the Board not having an engineer. Mr. Dacre held that as the Board had seat the secretary to London they should lcavo this matter till he returned. Just before the vote was taken Mr. Julian asked leave to alter the motion by striking out the word " secretary," but Mr. Napier objected and the motion was put and lost, only Mr. Julian and Mr. Witheford support tag it, while the Chairman and Messrs. Napier, Dacre, l'hilson, Kidd. Harris, Grey, Stiehfyiry, Nathan, and Cozens voted against. _____________