THE GRAVING DUCK.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2595, 12 June 1871, Page 2

THE GRAVING DUCK.

To the Editor. Sir —Engineers like doctors sometimes differ in opinion, and when all the arguments that tney bring to bear on any given subject are exhausted, it reminds outsiders of that celebrated verdict, delivered by a Yankee coroner s jury over a hat and jacket found upou a river bank while the body was washed away by the current and never re-covered-viz., “Found empty.” Mr John M‘Gregor, C, E., like the geni is of a modern “ Pallas,” descending from the head of Jupiter, fully armed and ready for the combit, is quite wroth with Mr Engineer Brunton for presuming to report on the Dock leagage w th the superficial survey he held on it; but, Sir, as I cannot find either in “Johnson” or “Walker” anew definition of (he w'ord consistency, perhaps Mr M‘Gregor will inform the pqbjio syberp Mr I|lair goj; l}is Information wjfcfi regard to tlje defective concrete, dsqutstive people ask, Was he in the bottom and examined ifc for. himself ; if not, I might inquire, with some show of reason, how he presumes to give an opinion ? If there was presumption on one side, surely Mr M ‘Gregor will allow tint there was an overflow of it on the other. As Mr ‘Gregor is going to have a thorough examination of the 1 Dock bbttomj to see if there were bad materials used < r bail workmanship in its construction, the public begin to inquire the reason why LIOOO a year should be spent in finding employment for an euginoer and two inspectors if it was not to find out if there were bad materials or bad workmanship employed. Has there been any written protest given, either by the Engineer or Inspectors against any portion of the work, while it was in progress ? Wore those extreme measures put in foroe so well known to engineers and jnspec* tors as the stoppage of progress payments, if the work was not done to their satisfaction ? Or have the Inspectors recommended from time to time progress payments, and the Engineer endorsed such recomnjendutions in his monthly reports to "the Dogk Tfrst’ These- are things we want to know 5 for no verdict can be just, honest, or true, unless we know all the circumstances. The employment, of professional engineers on either side can have but very litt e effect in stopping the leak, unless practice is put in force, and all the still-born arguments of the engineer will be of as little avail in stopping the leak as the emptying the dock with a panikiu.—l am, &c., Ufvnoy. P.S.—I am exceedingly disappointed that the Engineer has not seen his way clear to call to his assistance that worthy Dunedin Councillor, along with other 4 • professional men, ot give his opinion on puddle'aud spalls, but I suppose the' Engineer has him iu hts eye for the next Dock Trust meeting.