INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS

Southland Times, Issue 14634, 26 January 1911, Page 6

INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS

ANNUAL MEETING*(Per United Press Association). DUNEDIN, Jan. 25. The annua! meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors was held to-day, and was attended by delegates from Wellington. Christchurch, Invercargill and Dunedin. Mr J. Blair Mason (Dunedin) presided in the unavoidable absence ■of Hie President (Mr Fulton), who was detained in Blenheim on legal business. The annual reporl staled that the Institute had lost thirteen members during the year, but twelve had been or were to be elected, and the loud membership would then lie 220. Uegrot win expressed at the death of Mr A. P. Mason, treasurer of the Institute, and one of the most enthusiastic, members. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of f:;:jl 5s 2d : but outstanding subscriptions were larger than they should be, notwithstanding the secretary’s vigorous attempts to collect them.

Mr Siadden (Wellington) said that a matter of considerable importance to the profession and local authorities was the establishment of a (nullification for Engineers. At present anyone in New Zealand could call himself an engineer. The Roads and Bridges Department-had been recently absorbed by the Public AYorks Department and the spending of money now fell on the local authorities, many of whom had only foremen, not engineers. These men were not competent to supply plans and carry out bridge and road designing in the best manner. It was often necessary for the Government Engineer to draw up complete drawings, watcli the work and certify to payments. It was suggested that a Board be set up and that examinations be held on the linos of surveyors' exam*. Two or more grades could be established, one to cover road works and smaller bridges and such work as came essentially within the province of surveyors. The other grade could include larger ■works, covering also mining and electric - al engineering. A Committee was being set up to comprise engineers and surveyors to draw up recommendations and a syllabus and report with a view to legislation at an early date. The speaker also referred to the difficulty in connection with surveying Native land in the North Island. .Payment could only be received if a Judge of the Native Land Court certified to the necessity of the work. This was not 'always clone and security for payment -was a matter of more difficulty . than formerly. The matter had been . placed before the Board and the prospects were that remedial measures would shortly be taken. The report was adopted. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—President, Mr T. Humphries : vice-president. . Mr H. G. Wylde (Palmerston North) ; treasurer. Mr M. C. Smith (Wellington) ; members of Council, Messrs Jas. Fulton (Wellington) and F. Ledger (Nelson). / The following motions were carried : That it be an instruction to the Council to take steps to have the survey regulations amended as tq the one link per mile error allowed for town surveys by limiting its application to surveys in the main streets of the principal cities or lands worth £2O per foot and upwards. That in the opinion of the meeting the application of the one link error to a town of little value and in rough and windy positions is unreasona,ble and was not intended.

That tite regulations are too stringently enforced and that the chief surveyor should exercise his. discretion more liberally.