CIVIL ENGINEERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3009, 21 February 1917, Page 7

CIVIL ENGINEERS

W ZEALAND SOCIETY'S .ANNUAL MEETING

JPOST-WAR RESTORATION

I Iho annual general meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers Svas commenced in Wellington yesterday Wning, the attendance'• being ■ about jane-third of the membership. Mr. B. AV. Holmes (Engineer-in-Ohief of tho Pnblic Works Department and president i>f the. society) occupied the chair.' ■ The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. JLuke) opened the proceedings. He expended to tliomombersipresenta hearty ■•welcome to tho city. He said that the (members of-the society were, many of Ihem', well known to him, and lie wished to pay a tributo to their president in particular, not only for his qualities as Jan engineer, but also for his general citizenship: and.the' fact that he was » good "white man.''- Referring to *6nembers who had gone to the war, he jexpressed tho desiro to see them, all Reinstated upon return.. The., wastage •tof war-was very considerable,''and the. would bo tho first-man'.to tengagc in tho work of restoration. The {engineers of tho Dominion would-.liave Jfco. consider how to. meet-tho coming .fconditions, and the sneaker was confident that, they would do their work •thoroughly and well. Referring to Jworks carried-out in .the city','he saidifthey were a credit :to the engineers Jthat had been engaged.upon them.' Ho fhoped'that'thoso ;in authority would (always show an- honest and proper rejgard for the profession, since if it waR {successful the Dominion generally would Sie successful. .A'vote of thauksto His Worship was jfcarried on the motion of ~the chairman. . The annual 'report of tho, Showed the membership to be IR7. The mnancial position was stated to be satisfactory, i ' i Messrs. Watkins, Hu11... Hunt, and iWheeler were reappointed auditors for Jifchn ensuinfr year. ■ .'; - ■ j Messrs, J. R. Cyrus Williams, .S. [tfickell. and the chairman,- ..were . apr, (pointed to vacancies on the council. [ The. chairman reported that the son W the late Mr. 'John Carruthers (a [•former chief engineer to the Public liWorks Department) had mado a present jfco the society, of a complete set of tho '"Proceedings of the British Institute ''of Civil Engineors." This, ho said, conjßtituted one of tho finest; engineering libraries obtainable. ,'A vote of thanks ko the donor was carried.

The chairman reported a suggestion pfrom Mr. Clapcott, borough enginoer /(Invercargill) that a small committee flbo.set up to investigate and report to Ahe next annual' meeting as to the feasibility, of fixing a standard for all wipes, traps, and fittings used in connection, with sanitary plumbing work an buildings. The suggestion - was Adopted. ■■■-.. A report was also made by the chairMian regarding an apph'cation by tech-1 inical officers of the Public; Works Deipartment at'ipresent with the forces, ifor leave of absence upon, the cessation tof hostilities. The'object was to en--fcble the \ applicants to travel • and inspect works.in Europe and Great Britain. The chairman said the Defence [authorities had stated that thb officers could be discharged in England, and would in that case have to may their own passage back to-' the iODbminion. He asked, the meeting, (whether the matter'should'be brought joip again. ■ It was decided, that it be jta instruction to the incoming council fto make fresh representations on bettalf of the applicants.. . A recommendation was passed on to 'the incoming council as follows:—That, 'the necessary steps be taken,to secure , the lease of a suitable room for council i'jrieetings,. housing of library . etc.," in ■ .Wellington. It was resolved to hold the next annual meeting in Auckland, provided the war terminates within the next six months. Otherwise, the meeting will be held in Wellington. ■ Mr. Holmes said that thouffh pressed iby the council to seek re-elecHon to the flffice of president, he must decline to Wo, so, owing to increased duties aris-' Sing out of the war; and also to slight ill-health. _ He read, a lengthy nddress dealing chiefly with the'development of public works during the last 46 years. A vote of thanks to the'retiring

president for his address was carried on the motion of Mr. Blair Mason. Tho following programme- for to-day and ensuing throe days was announced by tho chairman: — Wednesday (to-day): "Afternoon, visit to Trentham Camp; evening, continue . meotiri'g. Thursday: 9 a.m., meeting of council; 10 a.m.,. general meeting; afternoon, visit to harbour works and Parliament Buildings; evening, annual dinner. Friday: Morning, visit to Pelone, and lunoh _at Pipe Bridge; afternoon, visit to Wainui. i Saturday: Morning, visits to city works.