HARBOR AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 890, 13 May 1903, Page 3

HARBOR AFFAIRS.

RESIGNATIONS OF ENGINEER AND

DREDGE MASTER,

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon, to consider the appointing of a captain of the dredge •John Town ley. There were present Messrs

Townley (Chairman), Hepburn, Matthewson, Sievwright, Whinray, Harding, and Clark.

A Committee reported recommendin': the acceptance of the Engineer’s resigna. tion.

Mr King’s letter was as follows : “ Please accept my resignation as Engineer to your Board. My reasons for resigning the appointment are as follows: (1) The members of the Finance and Works Commit-

tees, including a majority of the members of tho Board, at a meeting held about the beginning of April last, expressed their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the harbor works are being supervised, and as i am responsible for the proper supervision of these works, I conclude that my services are not giving satisfaction ; (2) the work in my department lias largely increased,ami us the works proposed to lie done in the immediate future are considerable I anil important, involving close attention and a large amount of responsibility lor such services, f think the salary paid insufficient. —John Kino, Harbor Engineer.”

The Chairman moved, and Mr Harding seconded, the adoption of the report. Mr Sievwright moved as an amendment that the Board refer the Engineer’s letter back to him for further consideration,, as tho Board as such had made no reflection on his work, and had not before it tho question of an increase of salary, and adjourn this mooting till Friday, the 15th inst., to receive the Engineer’s reply, and then to deal with tho wholo matter. He did not think thero was any use in making much comment now. Tho Engineer seemed to have resigned in a “ pet ” because ho thought the Board wero adverse to him, which they were not, though some nagging remarks had been made. The question of salary had nevor come before them ; for his part he thought tho Engineer was underpaid. Though there had been some criticism, the Board were not adverse to him. He (Mr Sievwright) would say nothing now ns to tho question of resigning, but ho thought that the Engi. ncor should he given an opportunity of reconsidering his decision. It would be very awkward tor tho Board to have to replace a man who had all the work at bis fingers’ ends, to put a stranger in. “ Does Mr Sievwright take us for a lot of children ? ” Mr Matthewson rose and asked before the motion had been seconded, ft was, he said, tantamount to that. They

rad passed this at a committee meeting, ind Mr Sievwright now simply asked ;bem to knuckle down to tho Engineer, What were members thero for, if it was

not to superintend and criticise the work, and as long as he was a member of that Board ho would do so. He went on to comment in strong terms on the Engineer’s work, in an adverse strain. He did not, ho said, make any reflection on the Engineer’s skill, but ho seemed to be unfortunate in the way tho work was carried

out. .Replying to tho comments made, Mr Siovwright said that that was riot the opinion of Mr Napier Bell. Mr Mattbewson : Ho has not seen it. Mr Siovwright: Ho has reported that it was most economical work, excellently carried out. Mr Matthewson said that it was good work for one hour in ten. He was rather astonished at tho amendment. Mr Siovwright said that he was not favoring Mr King in any way by tho amendment. Mr Matthewson : I adhere to the decision of the committoe and hope to Bee it carried out. We cannot be slaves to our employees. Mr Clark, who had como in a few minutes late, said he would havo liked to have heard Mr Sievwright's reasons—he knew of none.

Mr Matthewson : He said in effect th at he (the Engineer) was an ill-used man because ho had been criticised. Mr Clark said ho was sorry that tbo previous meeting had been a committee meeting. Whon thero was such an important matter to deal with he would like to see an open meeting, with tho reporters present. He supported the decision of tho committee. He could not understand the proposal to ask tho Engineer to withdraw.

Mr Siovwright: My motion does not ask that. It asks him to reconsidor.it, because I believe his reason for resigning is wrong. Mr Clark : It is practically asking him to withdraw, and I cannot think of anything to be said in support of that.. I would strongly support the resolution arrived at. Mr Matthewson said that one of tho strong points Mr Sievwright had made was that tho Engineer had not had sufficient pay ; ho agreed with that if it was a first-class engineer they required, but what they really wanted was a first-class foreman of works, able to carry out tho details of the work and see that it was properly done. „ “ According to Mr Siovwright s ideas, said Mr Hepburn, “ we as a Board should not criticise tho Engineer at all. Then what are we hero for > We eomo hero to represent the ratepayers, and if we see work not boing carried on as it ought to be, wo are hero to see into it. I regard it as if I wero getting work done for myself. In that case if 1 were not satisfied with men I would get rid of them.” Continuing, Mr Hepburn cited the work of putting the mud over tho wharf. He noticed there wero two men to one wheelbarrow ; while one man was wheeling the other was waiting, idle. Those men were really doing six hours a day. , “It is not tho men’s fault, said Mr Matthewson. Mr Hepburn : Not at all. I don t blame the men. It is bad management. That is just an example in a small way. “ I support the action of tho committee,” said Mr Harding. “ I was rather surprised and disappointed with what took place at last meeting, for I think wo were in order to deal with the question then ; but Mr Sievwright being an authority on ! tho legal position I did not want to go against him. But I am surprised at Mr Sievwright bringing up an amendment of this sort at tho last moment, and when we are horo as members of the Board to deal with tho question. If we aro not capable of dealing with matters boforo us it is time wo left tho Board and gavo place to someone who is. As to tho Engineer’s salary, whether it is sufficient or not, I am not in a position to speak. He knew what it was when ho accepted the position and was satisfied, and up to this moment no application has been made for an increase. Whether tho Board was wrong in not bnvng made an increase without boing asked or it is for membeis to say, hut wo are lerc to-day for one object, to deal with the :wo vacancies, and as long as I am a

member of ibis Board I shall nover vote in favor of referring an ollicer’s resignation back for reconsideration. I would go this far, to give him a chance to apply with others for the vacancy, and stand a chance on his merits. I shall support the committee's action.”

Tin; Chairman said that he wa:

verv sorry that the resignation had hct'ii received while important works were still uncompleted. There was the groyne to complete, and he hoped that the slip would soon he ready

lie would have been pleased to see Mr king continue in the service ot of the Board. Mr King had worked well and faithfully, and with the appliances al Ins disposal, had done good work. Mr Napier Bell had said that the work was well planned, and excellently carried out—the best of its kind in the colony. The river was in very different order to-day to

what it was when Mr King had taken up the work, and that gentleman had served the Board well. Referring to wintl Mr Matthewson had said about criticism, he had allowed the work to go on for three or four years, and nuisi, take ids share of the responsihilitv. It was strange that lie only now spoke about all this. Mr Matthewson: 1 have often mentioned the subject.•‘Often mentioned the subject 1”

exclaimed 'the Chairman ; “ and he is getting his knife into the Board for not narrowing and spoiling the river. If lie had had his way. the river would have been absolutely useless, lie wanted to lence oil the stockyard

and narrow the channel ! But that has nothing to do with the question,” added the Chairman, as lie was about to return to ihc main subject. “ Your remarks have nothing to do with tin: question either,” interpolated Mr Matthewson. “ The matter,” said the Chairman, “ lias gone too far to ask Mr King to withdraw. lie is a business man, and having sent the letter I do not expect that lie would withdraw. T regrei that he is severing his term with the Board when he has everything in readiness to carry out the works in an expeditious manner.” Air Matthewson said lie agreed with tlie Chairman in regretting tliai Mr King hud chosen such a time to send in Ins resignation ; but lie had sent il in, and they would be a lot of fools to ask him to reconsider it. ” If lie cannot stand just criticism, ’ said Air .Matthewson, “we must not knuckle down to him. i express Air Townfey’s sorrow that tie 'is leaving before the work (tlie slip) is finished.”

The Chairman : it (the slip) is literally finished, hut it is ttic- gioyne i mean. Mr (.’lark said lie could not understand Air .Matthewson speak as he hail done about the work, and then -my lie regretted Air King had sent n his resignation. Kor bis part, ie was sorry I lie slip had ever been

tarled. “ I think," lie said, “it was fin” of the biggesi mistakes ever made to start that work." However, time would tel*, lie had for years 1 bought. that .Mr King's work was honestly planned and carried out as far as his abilities went, but had fell that they had not got this worth of work m the pound. Time would tell whether the Chairman and the majority were right. They need not blame Mr King, who had done his work faithfully. If the slip were a failure, the Board could not blame him for that —it must take the. blame itself. As for the slip not being finished, that was a matter of detail that a foreman could see to.

i\lr Sievwriglit said the only sensible criticism he had heard was that of Mr Clark, who had all through maintained that the. river should he deepened from the bar upwards, lie quite concurred in that, though other work was necessary. But he was not in sympathy with the petty criticism, and thought it was a pity i\lr King .should be aggravated by that.,

The amendment was not seconded, and the motion to accept the resignation was carried, Mr Sievwriglit dissenting. The Chairman said Mr King had asked for a holiday when he first spoke oT resigning. Mr Clark : A man does not usually ask for a holiday when he hands in liis resignation. It was agreed, at a later stage,

that a committee of the whole Board should meet next Thursday to decide what should he done in regard to the. engineer’s position. The Chairman said that the notice was for three months.

JJRIODG KMASTKR. There were six first-class applications, accompanied by, excellent references. Mr .Sievwriglit moved that Captain Coulsen he appointed, his reference being the best.

Mr Harding said they all knew Captain Solvandei: and his work for years.

Mr Whin ray. seconded Captain CoulSOII.

Mr Harding proposed Captain Soivander, whom lie knew, while he did not know tho other gentleman.

Mr Hepburn seconded Captain Solvander, of whose character and qualifications he spoke very highly. Mr Clark also spoke very highly of Captain Solvandcr. The other captain might be as good, hut Captain Solvandcr had the advantage that they all knew him as a hard-working steady man .just, the man, lie thought. Mr Matlhewsou also spoke Highly of Captain Solvandcr, hut said that (he other captain having a deep-sea certificate had that advantage. The motion in favor of . Captain

Coulson was put and lost, and tlien Captain Solvandcr was unanimously appointed.