CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 210, 10 September 1870, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

AYe are not responsible for our Correspondents' opinions. RAILWAY SURVEYS. To the Editor of the Eveming Star. Sib, —Au " Observer" in the Evening News waxes facetious over the Engineering Kail way Stall' of this province, and would seem to insinuate that the best available talent has not been secured by the Q-overnment. These surreys being only of a preliminary character, it may be justifiable to think that no great talent or experience is required, and that the necessary information as to the general lay, formation, and features of the country proposed to be traversed by the rail —may be got up by our own engineers, without looking as "Observer" does, towards either England, America, or the Eijis. Those more elaborated surveys required previous to inviting tenders for the construction of the works will, according to the Public Works Bill, be under the direction and authority ot the Minister of Works, who will doubtless secure the best talent available for his purpose, and so quieten the fears and hopes, possibly, of " Observer." Meantime the Provincial Government surely deserve some little credit—at all events, little censure—for pushing on their part of the project. The new staff seems to have been formed from out of the present . engineering establishment of the Thames, supplemented by several of its old members, who were at least tried men, and whose credentials are written in the numerous works of public utility constructed on the 1 Thames Goldfields, whose services are fortunately secured. These, with one or two other gentlemen, of some standing and attainments, constitute the stuff now euguged upon the railwas, and who niaj, for aught I know, be quite us competent as " Observer," or any other man or engineer, and who must be indeed egregious blockheads it they cannot complete their next fortnight's work with credit to themselves and satisfaction to the p.ounce.---I am, &0., MICAWBEB.