WAIPORI AND INDEPENDENT EXPERTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 10

WAIPORI AND INDEPENDENT EXPERTS.

Sip,,—Having read the letter in yesterday's issue written by "Disgusted" I am writing io express alio my disgust at tho manner in which the council has appointed so-called independent exports to report. In the first instance, I would like to know whether those appointed could hold a candle as authorities against some of tho well-known practising engineers in Dttnedin -and elsewhere, who are engaged almost daily in reporting 011 schemes with which only competent engineers and tlioso of experience can deal. In the first place, those appointed aro not independent. Can this statement, bo contradicted? Aro not their employers receiving annually thousands of pounds from the council ill conncction with their business? I am told this is an absolute fad. Gnu this statement he contradicted? Surely this matler will not be passed over without sevoro comment, and 1 hope, the Ratepayers' Association will not lose the opportunity of bringing tho matler under consideration at its next meeting.

Time will not permit my writing any more. I hope some more able penman, than myself will thoroughly ventilate and enlighten the public over this business, as it is <1 matter that seriously alFeots us as ratepayers, ami surely one cannot' ask more than justice and straightforwardness. -I am. eic., Disgusted No. 2. March 19.

• CITY TRAMS ON GOOD FRIDAY. Sin,—lt ecems as if our onco respected City Council lias sot. into the trade winds of blunder, and that nearly' everything it dees would bo better done if quite thu opposite course were pursued. Its 'last blunder—that of granting a holiday on Good Friday to all the tramway lmnds, savours of a weakness that, no one would credit, such a bedy of men showing. Can you, imagine, Sir, a responsible public body receiving a petition—«ucii petition backed up by the groater number of the petitioners being present, in the Council Chambers while it was being discusscd in open council? You, Sir. would surely say, "What a pitiable sight!" and "Whore, Duncdin, is ■thy boasted greatness?" To think of our worthy Mayor and his 18 councillors sitting deliberately on a matter that should not have received five minutes' consideration! If the members of the council had forgotten their former mistake in regard to tramway holidays, they li:ul. before thorn, tho sound common sense advicc of Mr Alexander. 1 ' Besides this, they might have seen that it was nothing short: of grow impudence that took these men there in tho first place, and nothing short, of weakness oil tho part; of tho Mayor and councillors to allow them to ait and bear what cach councillor had to say on the matter.

Now, if these men want a holiday, I am suro that Mr Alexander would arrange a day on which the half of his men could get away to have 'their picnic, and I am convinced that if they havo the holiday oil Good I'riday not. one-half of the. men will 1)0 there. Now, this arrangement of relieving the half of the men, (ho other half doing the whole day on duty, would he no great hardship, and is done, I am told, on any tramway in the colony. lam informed that only about one-third o( thn lr.en attev.ilcd the last picnic, and also that, if the hill tramway men get. a holiday. they will not, go with the city men; so that it is evident that tho whole thing is worked up by a few who seem to be able to afford to throw awav the chance of earning 16s for an eight-hour day, or with two bom's' overtime—22s for 10 boms.

Looking at the question from any standpoint, it is hard to conceive how theso moil could think of upsetting the convenience ot Iho whole city of 40,000 i>cop!a m that 25 or 30 men might go "picnicking." The tiling is too ridiculous to thin!: of, end it prevents men who would gladly earn the extra money on that day from doing' so.—l am, etc., Disr.usTsn Resident.

THE BAIIQtJE WAI-ITI. SlP.,—ln yesterday's Daily Times mention, was made that the contractor for righting and floating the barque AVai-iti had thrown up his contract after fruitlessly wveral hundred pounds. I i>m surprifd that no contractor tries to get a punt dredge or suction dredge to work with. If tho barque was worth the expense, a small punt dredge could he <rot and a cut taken along the keel; and if thoy had a forcepump with a hose and nozzle attached, that couid he ufed while hauling the punt back Tl'.o nozzle would stir the mud up under the keel and bilge of the barque, 30 that there would bo a possibility of the barq.ia slipping back in the cut on an oven keel. Surely iheiv is enough engimvrin j ability in Now Zetland to suggest something similar.—l am, etc.. ' . WSTHF.USTOS'F.S MIXER.