THE HARBOR BOARD AND ITS ENGINEER.

Evening Star, Issue 4226, 12 September 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD AND ITS ENGINEER.

At yesterday’s meeting, Mr Eitchie, in seconding the amendment that had been moved by Mr Tewsley to the motion of Mr Beeves, gave the reasons that had induced him to express the opinion on a previous occasion that Mr Simpson had not such experience as would justify the Board in placing full confidence in him m going forward with the work. His opinion on that point was formed long before he became a member of the Board, and before he knew Mr Simpson. He found that seme time ago Mr Simpson came to the Colony a yonng man, and since then hod held eleven or twelve appoint* ments in New Zealand in as many years, and in various places from Auckland to the Bluff, but none of these positions related to marine engineer* ing in any way, bat were confined to Eoad Board and railway works. He had not been able to find out that, daring Mr Simpson’s twelve or thirteen years’ residence in the Colony, and during the time which he had held twelve or thirteen distinct appointments, the matter of marine engineering ever came before him in any way. This might not have been looked upon as being each a very serious matter, if it had not been brought into prominence , 'y the disposition Mr Simpson had shown on several occasions to strongly object to any criticis «s on his plana or engineering skill. This had been exhibited in a marked degree in regard to Mr Gordon’s report and Mr Blackett’s remarks upon Mr Simpson’s plans. Had Mr Blookett’a criticism been wrong and improper, it should never have called forth the exhibition of feeling Mr Simpson had shown. His (Mr Bttchie’s) experience since he became a member of the Board,' taken in connection with the knowledge he possessed of Mr Simpson’s career in the Colony, could not fail to produce an uneasy effect upon the mind of any man who had a conscientious eeling in reference to the duties which he was called upon to discharge as a member of the Harbor Beard. As the revenue of the Board would, in a great measure, be dependent upon the way in which the Harbor Board works would be proceeded with, the mauner in which the works would be proceeded with would be the lackbone and life of the whole concern; therefore, if the works be carried out in a way which prove to be wrong or injudicious, the whole fabric would fall to the ground. It struck him to go forward with an engineer like Mr Simpsou, who had no experience in murine works, and who had exhibited a most persistent disinclination to bo discussed or criticised in any way, no ma ter by whom, and no matter whether it was by men who had years of experience, and who possessed a repu-

tation which he had to naira, oud who evinced an inclination, that ho would ho displaassd niloaa own ptons were carriad out, would bo nnwiaoon the part of the Board. All these circumstance# led hiul to the belief that something el«e abonld bo done. He was not at the present moment prepared to recommend what should be dene, bat he had made up his mind most thoroughly that, until a greater disposition whs shown by Hr Simpson to submit t> some consulting would not be prudent for the Board to proceed with the works. . In Mr Simpson’s last letter he intimated for the first, time his willingness to submit bis plans to a man who was competent to overlook and pronounce upon them. It appeared as if the letter containing Mr Simpson’s animadversions was to bs slipped aside, and the second one brought in; but he thought that Ur Simpson’s second letter should have commenced with an expression of regret tor the one which he bad previously written. He was not opposed to Mr Simpson going to Wellington. He had not the least animus in the matter, and what he said was in the interest of the Harbor Board. Remarks had been made to bhw by people resident in London, and who had an interest in the Province and in the • elony, and who might have an interest in the bonds of the Harbor Board, under whose supervision the Harbor works were being carried out; and much surprise had been expressed that the Harbor Board up to the present bad not taken the advice or bad in some way attached to them an engineer whose name would carry more weight with the engineering world than Mr Simpson's. Mr Simpson might be the greatest genius that ever lived, but it was the Board which was responsible, end unless its responsibility were hacked up by sufficient authority every pound expended was in dangerof being lost. If things, were to go all right Ur Simpson would get the credit, and justly so; but if an utter failure resulted then Mr Simpson would drop into utter darkness, and the Harbor Board of Otago would be the body which had failed to cany out with proper care the trust which had been imposed upon it. He reiterated that the Board had no right at present to proceed to carry ont the large wo ks entrusted to it with the sole assistance and guidance of Mr Simpson as engineer. Mr M'Kinnon referred to mx Simpson’s promotion as a credit to him, as was his present appointment. The Engineer had never been asked to submit his plans to anyone, and his present proposal, besides meeting oil Mr Bitchie asked, should be satisfactory to every member of the Board.

Mr Beeves quite understood the feelings of the mover and seconder of the amendment. Their remarks had been rather severely treated by Mr Simpson, who, however, had shown a bold front in defending himself, 'ihe action of the Board in consulting Messrs Gordon and Blackett showed that it had been all along cautions; and so far as hie humble abilities allowed him to form a conclusion, Mr Simpson knew just as much about the matter as Major Gordon or Mr Blackett, seemg that both of these gentlemen approved of his scheme. What was the position of the Board P The dredge would be ready for working before there was anything to receive the material dredged; and as to refer these letters back would take some time, he thought it uuadvisable to delay farther o*er the matter. The punts should now be building, but tenders could not be accepted till this ma»ter be settled. If he had no confidence in the Engineer, he would have boldly said so,and have the matter out. But when gentlemen made little rambling shots and fired them at the Engineer, as they had been doing for the last twelve or eighteen mouths, it was not fair: at the same time Mr Simpson had been a little too warm in his language—(Mr Bitcbie: Hoar)—still be had been irritated and to some extent goaded into doing so. Alluding to the Battray street wharf he consider! d it a creditable piece of work a-, d did not think there was half an inch of deviation from one end of it to the other. This was worthy of consideration, since the abilities of Mr Simpson bad been called in question. Mr Simpson might not have experience, bat he might have abilities to carry on the works. He (Mr Beeves believo I that if he went to Wellington with his pious, they would be thoroughly endorsed by Mr Blackett.

Mr Davie regretted that bis amendment, which would have been the best solution of the difficulty, had not been accepted. The Chaxemah : I concur with Mr Davie's view of the matter. It is a great pity that the subject has been opened up, especially as no -ipecifio charges have been brought. Mr Bitchie must know that general charges are far more difficult to answer than specific ones. With Mr Beeves. I think that Mr Simpson is a little inclined to fire up; but lam satisfied in my own mind, from what took place in the discussions he takes exception to, that he been goaded on, and very few men in his post .ion would have stood it. I know this is the feeling to a large extent out of doors, and be bos hod no means of defending himself. [Mr Bitchie: No.} Hod be been allowed to use tne columns of the newspapers, he would have been able to place himself right with the public. As the members had. disclaimed any intention of injuring Mr Simpson's reputation, they should have uo difficulty iu going the length indicated by Mr Davie. I hope that tho amendment will be lost.

Mr Tewslet took up tho position that the eraployds of the Board wereno< justified in challenging its members except for much stronger reasons than Mr Simpson had. The members of the Board were there to do their duty iu accordance with their conscience and to the best of their ability. He had uo animus against Mr Simp; ou, and had no reason to have any, as Mr Simpson had always been civ I towards him. He wished to do away with the misconception which prevailed in regard to Mr Simpson's position as the Board's Engiueer. It had been said that that the Board had taken him as a man takes a wife—for . better or for worse. Ho denied that the Board held that position towards its Engineer. When the election of Engineer was made, the Board was desirous of not making any mistakes, and it received a large number of applications, accompanied by testimonials. Mr Simpson had the smallest number of tesumonisJsof any of the applicants: indeed, he did not think that be had any, perhaps he had one or two. Tho Superintendent was very much in favor of the appointment of Mr Simpson as engineer, and he knew that many of the members of the Board were influenced by the Snperinten- . ,JT ho was to be a good judge of Mr Simpson’s suitability. If the matter had to be gone over again, he (Mp Tewsley) did not think that he would act in the same way. When it became certain that Mr Simpson would be elected, three of the members waited upon Mm and explained t* him the terms upon which ha would be engaged. They pointed out to him that theworks were very large and very important, both to Dunedin and the whole of the Province; that the members of the Board felt the great respondbuity which was thus imposed np n them. H- was distinctly told that in all matters the best consulting talent would be obtained, in order that the Board might bo preserved from mistakes, and that they knew how money had been spent, in oonsa. quenco of wrongly fore ed general plans in other ports.. They were anxious that uo mishnders andmg should exist between the engineer and the Board. The feeling of three members of the Board was that Mr Simpson had tried to over, ride the conditions of his engagement. He had set up bis back on every occasion that the matter had been brought forward. When the letter was received from dr Bladkett or from the Marine Department, Mr Simpson was called down ®®d it was felt that he was a little warm tempered, so ho was requested to make his reply as courteous as possible. When that reply came in they knew that it was so strong that the Superintendent put it in his pocket, actually for the purpose of toning it down. The next thing was Mr Gordon's report. Ho (Mr Tewsley) was opposed to Mr Gordon’s coming down, and was fa favor of doing what Mr Simpson now suggested—namely, obtaining the counsel of one of the Government engineers, and acting upon their united, fruvioe. No one expressed stronger gratification at Mr Gordon s c -ming down than Mr Simpson did He (Mr Tewsley) now took leave to say that he coni sidered that Mr Gordon’s advice had not h<t|f value which it would have had had the secretary's general instructions been carried ont by the Board, mstead of the meagre instructions which might have meant anything or nothing when a very different report woold have been produced. As it was, a short paragraph coached in half a dozen lines was all that was given to him, and the consequence was the whole t.Mng was muddle 1. Mr Simpson did not try to getnu the good be could out of Mr Gordon, and did not enter into the spirit of the Board's intentions in bringing him over. The loiter which Mr Simpson sent m reply to Mr M’Qregor'a was unwarrantably BUoh was l ’ ven th® opinion of his friends of the Press. Ho (Mr Tewsley) had used the word impertinent ou that occasion in regard to Mr Simpson, and tta- was the only thing which he had regretted. He wished ho had used of ft whivfc ho iut adod by it—namely, rude and uncivil* Such the letter was, aud no one oould deny it. Mr Beeves and others now admitted that it was not what it should have been. If they were to pass these things over Mr Simpson would be master of the si nation, and the Board would be his subordinates. If it were supposed that they were merely to carry out Mr Simpson’s wishes independently of •heir own judgment, then tlu y might as well be about their business, and leave the Secretary and the Engineer to carry on the work of the Board. He was gratified at finding that there was but little difference between Mr Simpson’s plans and Messrs M'Oregor and J. T. Thomson • but hi maintained that it was far more important, and re. quired much greater consideration at the Beard's hands, that it should look to too way in which the works wore to be carried out ratter than at the general scheme. It behoved the Board, considering toe way in whioh toe Eiverton and Awamoko railway works had been carried out, to see that it should moke uo blunder* They should exeroise the same prudence and cue in the matter as they would in toeir own private affairs. Merely looking at a wharf wasnoway to tes. ii, as a building might bo nice tolook at yet th^t y Ml O RLn»r n \ w<mW tak « leav « to y than had »<we to do with the Pren than anyone there. It was true that his name did “P* a PP ear 1,1 P r mt; but he was convinced that no +i n .t e »S- e u C^? t J^ r ®^ n, P* oa B®** certain informsp°me before the public. He (Mr lewalty) did net care one straw what the Pren said in regard to him; and he had only wiitton one "v , . er v Jpd ho had signed his name to It, and he uu 6 * -^ r Simpson bad done the same with all no had written. He was not going to be Influenced »y what the sham “Gdardisn" of the public Intoreat might choose to say or do.