THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2230, 6 November 1907, Page 2

THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

MAKEH .SCATHING INDICTMENT ON GISBORNE ROADS AND CO UN OIL’S AiETHODS.

RESIGNATION ACCEPTED UNANIAIOUSiLY, PRACTICALLY WJITHOUT DISCUSSION.

Last night tho following letter Was received from Air. E. Harvey Gibbon, Borough Engineer: “Engineer’s Office, “November sth, 1907. “liis AYiorsilii.p the Mayor.

“Sir, —In view of wliat 1 have lo any-a little Inter on, I conceive it to lie" due to myself to briefly state the condition of affairs which las icvl up .to tlio existing relations between rayself and a section of your Council, so •that the public may judge as to whom the responsibility for the present ‘impasse.’ attaches. “Shortly after I came here, I was amazed at the cost of your metal supply, and immediately cast, about to see if it wore not possible to very materially reduco such an extravagant expenditure. After a thorough examination, I ascertained that there was an abundant' supply of a very mutable stone, and that it could be put on your streets at a quarter the cost of what was being paid lor the Pa tubabi st one. “The Council .instructed mo to open tho ground at AVaihirero and prove it, which I proceeded to do, but I discovered, that although tho Council held the deeds, the amount of compensation for taking tlio land had not been fixed. I immediately wrote a confidential letter to tho Council, stating that tho ground should not be proved until after tho Compensation Court had dealt with tlio amount to be paid. “The Council declined to accept .inv adv.ico, and results have certainly justified my recommendation, inasmuch as the owners of tho land are very much a live to the fact- that the Council’s future supply of stone must come from there. “Time passed on; I partly formed a road to where the best of the stone is located, and opened up a face showing an abunduico of good stone, but although I did my best to make the Council appreciate the fact that the problem of cheap metal and good road’s had been solved, I met with nothing but discouragement and determined opposition from a section of the Council, whose efforts have been wholly directed to show that I was - wrong. At their instance, my facts and figures have been submitted to the best professional men here, with tiie forlorn hope that I should be condemned, but the profession has agreed with me on the subject. “Shortly, although I have shown you how you can get an abundant supply of metal, liow good roads are to be easily obtained, and at least £IOOO a year can be saved,* jet all my efforts in that direction have been rendered negative through want of energj - and enterprise on tho Council's pant. CONDITION OF ROADS. “I have reported times out of number as to " the condition of your roads. I bavo fold you they are completely denuded of metal, and that unless a liberal supply of metal is forthcoming, their condition next winter will bo infinitely worse than fcliev have been during the past one. In order to meet this emergency the Council lias ordered 5000 c. j - ards of Pa.tutabi metal, which is hardly enough to make Gladstone-road passable, tlio other roads being left out of the question. Certainly 2000 yards of shingle lias also been ordered, but this material is not only unsuitable .and costly, but the quantity is totally insufficient. _ ‘ TARRED FOOTPATHS, Etc. “Iu your remarks at the last meeting of the Council, you state that ‘til® roads had never been so bad; tlio Haiti Bridge decking had not been done, nor the footpaths tarred.’ • “AV.itli all due respect toj - .o:iir A\ orsliip, and as one who I feel would not make a statement such as tho above with any intent other than that of the public good, I must be permitted to refer you to my report of I'ebruary 12th last, in .which I reported to the Council that the whole of the footpaths in the borough had been repaired, and that I was busy repairing the asphalt crossings. “Since then the footpaths and crossings have had such a. raking about by waterworks’ contractor and tho Telegraphic .Department that .they are in a bad condition, which owing to t-lie state of the weather I have not been able to repair. HAITI DECKING. “This lias certainly not been done, i.vs I was particularly instructed by .tilie Council not to do it. Ex-Cioavn-cillor Lysnar supports me in this, as it was his resolution. STATE OF THE ROADS. “This statement is quite correct, it being impossible to repair them with not a single stone to do it with. The Council must accent their responsibility on this matter. “It would be interesting to know where the information was obtained that mv foreman could not nil lip a rut in the road without my authority. I have contradicted this wild statement on other occasions; apparently without effect. If the foreman did not fill up dangerous ruts and holes Oil liis own initiative, then he .does not know liis work, but I have found him an honest, willing worker, and who certainly would do such work without referring to me. “I have kept a tight hand on the metal, as it was quite right and proper I should, in view of its being such an expensive luxury. “I could go on at great length, showing bow my professional advice has been persistently set aside in ■many other matters, but ‘cui bono. “I feel that I should bo completely lacking in self-respect, and that a long and successful professional career would bo imperilled by remaining in your Council’s service under existing conditions. I shall therefore avail myself of tlie opportunity of severing my connection with yon, but such severance must be in accoidMiice with the terms of my agreement. . “I have the honor to be, air, “Your obedient servant, “E. HARV.EY-GIBBON, A.ALI.C.E., “Borough Engineer.” Cr. AVliinray said tho quantity and quality of the AA'aihircre stone Was still unknown, despite professional .statements. He had taken liis stand •against the quarry because lie thou gilt the metnl would be no good to tlio Council, which could get better and cheaper metal elsewhere.

The Alayor moved that the resignation be accepted. Cr. Somervell seconded the motion. Tilings had come to such a pass between the Council and the Engineer that the proposed action was the best.

The motion: was carried unanimously.