Facts in re "Honor to whom Honor is Due."

Southland Times, Issue 4793, 16 November 1883, Page 3

Facts in re " Honor to whom Honor is Due."

-.*.-. '. ■ '.- .■■■■.■ ..:•- TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— i The plan accompanying ray report to the Bluff Harbor Board, dated 28th October 1881, shows the depth of water along the northern face of the wharf to be from 15 to 20 feet. Plan No. 1, attached ; to . my report dated 7th August, 1882, shows the position I recommended to the Board as suitable for wharf extension .eastwards, and also that 21 feet of water existed where I proposed erecting such extension. In reply to this recommendation I was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the work, which I did, and handed them in to the Board's office on sth September, 1882. These plans are still in existence, and show the depth of water in soveral places to be 21 feet. With these reports before it, the Board instructed me to prepare plans of certain works, and, because 24 feet of water coulrl not be found when I showed 21 feet, am I to be blamed ? On the 30th June, 1883 (a year afterwards) when the question of whurf extension again cropped up, I reported thai: the extension should be naado at a certain angle with the present wharf, so as to gat into deeper water than by going straight, and this line, laid down on the Admiralty chart, shows that 24 feet exists along it ; hence my statement that such a depth of water would be found by . producing the " extension " 1500 feet eastwards, I never for a momentjdoubting my authority. The first 400 feet, being the piece the Board intended to erect in the meantime, would get into about 22 feet to 23 feet of water, and if continued further eastwards another ship's length, and to the end of my proposed ultimate extension, the 24 feet sought would be attained. The foregoing explanation I had intended for the Bluff! Harbor Board at its next meeting, and I avn consequently extremely annoyed at having thus to make it public beforehand. But the circumstances of the case being urgent, aB affecting my professional standing, I feel justified in explaining the position of affairs relating to the question at issue. — I am, &c, D. W. McAbthur, A.M. lnat. O,E. Invercargill, 15th Nov., 1883.