ENGINEERS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1930, Page 10

ENGINEERS CONFER

TELEPHONE SERVICES

A VALUABLE PAPER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, Tn,? Day,

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was Continued in the University buildings to-day. The president (Mr. J. A. Alexander) occupied tho chair and there was a large attendance of members.

A pai#:r dealing with general engineering problems, with special reference to the economics of development studies and standardisation was read by Mr. D. E. Parton, of Christchurch, who based his remarks on his experionce in laying down an underground telephone service in that city. Mr., Parton stated that the work was based primarily on development studies, which had been .in vogue in America for many years rfrom a telephone point of view, and ■.more lately from an electrical point of view. His information was based on tihe work which he did in Christchurch ait a cost of £240,00p in an area of 50 si'juare miles, involving 100 miles of trenches. The actual work was started ill 1923, and in three years £240,000 wiis buried. As a result of his oxperieiirce, he felt that probably similar experiences could be used in connection vtrtth other systems.

.In the discussion which followed the members spoke of the value of Mr. Pajrton's paper, and it was suggested that the Fulton trustees should take it int<> careful consideration.

A precis of a paper by Mr. F. E. I'ovu ell relating to the Northern Wairoa Bridge at Daragville was read by Mr. G. T. Murray in the absence of the autlior.

Mr. F. T. M. Kissel!,1 the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Public Wor'fcs Department, occupied the chair at the first sectional meeting of the electrical and mechanical engineers. Mr. JL. E. Robinson, District Electrical Engiiiieer at Shannon, gave an address on the? insulated tests on, the Mangahao system and with the aid of tabulations on the blackboard gave the results obtaineu >on the various lines.

In thic afternoon the members enjoyed a trip '<on the ferry boat to the lower harbour, and in the evening a social gathering was held.