The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURISTS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 849, 4 January 1879, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURISTS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879.

As the wult of lut night's meeting, it may be aid that the Council have adopted tbe suggestions of its Engineer, who

seems to be confident that he is able to complete the waterworks satisfactorily. views on the «abject*f T>nV,^S» t *««Zs]!I on ' Imp

pledge is necessary to the formation of a correct judgment as to the best method of constructing waterworks, the opinions of an engineer would of comae be more valuable than those of Councillors. The whole responsibility of the judicious expenditure of the £33,000, which it is ■aid by the CounaTs Engineer will bring the waters of the great Waitaki into oar dwellings, devolves apon that gentleman, and if his success prove* to be commensurate with his confidence, all will be wdL Hat grave engineering blunders have before now been madeby engineers as clever | aaMr.Mli*OD,andthepeopleof the Colony hare had to pay for them, and look pleasant. It cannot be supposed that Mr. Guwcthebs, late Chief Engineer of this Colony, was not as strongly of opinion as Sir. M'Leod is that his engineering ideas were sound. Bat everybody knows that difference of opinion exists on this point. We do not wish to draw a parallel between Mr. M'Leod and Mr. Cabscibibs, bat we wish to show that even Chief Engineers of a Colony like Sew Zealand, with the expenditure of several millions under their control, may make mistakes. It is no reflection on the ability of Mr. M'T.mn to say that he too may err in his engineering judgments. Were it inevitable that the Council should depend upon Mr. M'Lzod's opinion, we would have nothing about the appointment of a consulting engineer. But there are Engineers in this Colony who are daily entrusted with the carrying out of .engineering works involving a large expenditure. Mr. Buckiit, Colonial Engineer, is one of these. If the Council that Mr. Hiooiksojf, who held a high engineering position under the late Government, and whose services could probably be secured for an inconsiderable sum, is not good enough, the Government might be asked to allow Mr. Buckkit to advise witli Mr. M'Xjfoo. If there is any objection to proposal, let the Council turn its attention to Mr. Kkobpp, an engineer of vast experience in India and elsewhere, and who, if we are not greatly mistaken, possesses special knowledge in

connection with works such aa that we are endeavoring to carry oat. Councillor T.rnmVi objection to the appointment of a consulting engineer seems to have undergone a change sinca Thursday night. He then contended that those of the public that are now dissatisfied would be so still, even if the Council appointed a consulting engineer. Lost night Councillor TiHT"«» seemed to have become convinced of the desirableness of making such an appointment, but thought that there waa bit one Tna " in the Colonies who was competent to fill it, and that man is Mr. Oewxm, who, he thought, would require the afce little fee of 1600. We would not say tiisi even amount would he badly •speeded in securing authoritative engi■Mrfng atkUe; bat it has not sorely come to lids; We must either engage Mr. LnwufslMS and pay him L6OO, or engage nobody. We believe that Mr. Bucnrr's services AMld be secured for a trifle, and we think tbat if the Council should neglect to make inquiries with the object of appointing a consulting engineer, provided an efficient one can be procured at a reasonable cost, it will be highly UamaUc.