BOROUGH ENGINEER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1864, 19 September 1906, Page 2

BOROUGH ENGINEER.

MR E. HARVEY GIBBON APPOINTED.

A Bpeoial meeting of the Gisborne Borough Counoil was held last evening to eonßider the question of the appointment of a Borough Engineer. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Townloy), Cis Reeß, Miller, Whinray, Webb, Dyenar, and Colley. It will be remembered that at the previous meeting Mr Blackwell was eelcc'.cd, but having since the date of his application been appointed to a similar position in Newcastle, he was unable to take up the duties in Gisborne. Or Whinray thought it would be a waste of time to again ga through the list of candidates. He was of opinion that Mr Gibbon should be selected, seeing that he was next to Mr Blaokwell at the last meeting. There were important works pending. and the borough required the services of an experienced man such as Mr Gibbon appeared to be. He moved a motion to that effect.

Mr Lysnar sreinded the motion, speaking in terms cf praise of the qualifications which Mr Gibbon possessed. Cr Rees proposed as an amendment that Mr Metoalfe be appointed. The only thiog against him was his age, some councillors thinking he was too young. Ho thought that Cr Lysoar and others should be consistent, seeing that they had at the previous meeting referred to Mr Gibbon ai being too old for tbo work. Cr Co'ley seconded the amendment. Mr Metca'fo was youDg and aoiive, and would put plenty of energy into the work, He also had excellent testimonials.

Cr Lysnar sought to speak to the amendment, when Or Rees protested, olaiming that bB could not as seoonder of the motion speak to the amendment. He asked the ohairman’s ruling.

A lively discussion followed as to the right of Cr Lysnar to speak again, the Mayor finally ruling that Cr Lysnar was entitled to speak to the amendment, remarking, as he did so, “ it need not, howevor, be a long Bpeeoh.” Or Lysnar contended there was no reason to heeitato in regard to the appointment, Ho considered that Mr Metoalfe had not had the necessary experience for the position. There was nothing to justify the appointment of Mr Metoalfe over the other applicants. Cr Whinray strongly urged the claims of Mr GibboD. He could not, he said, understand the position taken up by OBrtain councillors. Ho did not think it was right, It was, in his opinion, breaking the declaration which they had taken when elected,

Cr Rees demanded that Or Whinray should withdraw the latter remark, as it reflected on the Council.

Tho Mayor thought that Or Whinray ia making tho rematk had gone a little too far,

Cr Whinray withdrew the statement complained of. The Mayor supported the cla'ms of Mr Gibbon, and a vote being taken the amendment was lost, and Mr Gibbon was unanimously elected. The successful applicant, Mr E. Harvey Gibbon, A.M.I, C.E-, was for Borne time engineer in New Plymouth, and is at present in Brisbane, where he is temporarily engaged by the Board of Waterworks in layiDg out a large intercepting reservoir and establishing new sites for filter beds. Ho was for some time assistant engineer of Wa'inate, Canterbury, where he was engaged in extensive road, bridge and drainage works ; also assisted in the preparation of plans for the Waiho-Forks railway, and had tho opportunity of ob» serving the construction of part of the Timaiu waterworks. Practised privately in Auckland, and afterwards received the appointment of assistant city engineer for Brisbane. Undertook all olasses of work in that oity. Was runner up for the position of engineer for the city of Wellington, aid was afterwards appointed to New Plymouth. Eduoatid in Jersey, Mr Gibbon passed the preliminary soientifio examinations at Lincoln’s Inn, London, aud spent three years at St. George’s Hospital, it being intended that ho would enter tbo medical profession. Tho work being uncongenial he followed his natural indication, engineering, whioh profession ho adopted.