THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2209, 5 June 1908, Page 2

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

MR. fe'. JIOKELL’S ENGAGEMENT. / Air. S. Jickell, who has come to Gisborne to report upon a drainage scheme, spent .yesterday in having a look around the town. In conversation. witli a “Times”’reporter last evening, Air. Jickell said lie had read the “Times* report of the meeting of the Borough Council, and had had an interview with the Mayor in the morning. “I am in a very peculiar position,” lie continued, “and until I know what is going to take place I prefer not to sav anything for publication. I am to have another interview with Mr. Lysnar in the morning when I hope some definite position will be reached.” Speaking to a “Times” representative. the Mayor (Air. AAV D. Lysnar) said that there had been no fresh developments over, the question oT Air. Jickell’® engagement except that lie had received a reply to the telegram sent to the Chief Health Officer (Dr. J. AI. Alason), which read as follows: “Regret exceedingly I have been in the back-blocks. As far as I know Air. Jickell is a capable man.” The Mayor also added that he had -a talk with Air. Jickell, but had given him no definite instructions.. He did not intend to do anything tp stop Mr. Jickell proceeding on tile instructions already* given to him, and since the Council would have to pay 'Mr. Jickell in any case, he thought the ratepayers should obtain the value of their money, now Air. Jickell was here. Cr. Sheridan was also interviewed, and ho stated that lie had' been surprised to find, that Mr. Jickell was an intimate friend of liis. The name had been misspelt in tho correspondence winch, came before the Council and in press reports, and it had therefore never occurred to him to associate with the Palmerston North engineer his old acquaintance. “Does this new understanding in any way modify your views as to the wisdom of the Alayor’s action in engaging Air. Jickell to report on Gisborne drainage matters?” was a query put by tho reporter. “Not at all,” was the reply. “I knew Mr. Jickell for some 17 or 18 years, and held him in high esteem always, but our relationships were purely social. I know nothing of liis professional qualifications, except that lie is a duly qualified engineer, and acted in the capacity of city engineer for Nelson for 10 or 11 years.” “AA 7 hile we are on the subject,” added Cr. Sheridan, “I would like to corect a slight .error that I inadvertently made during my remarks at the last, meeting of tho Council. I stated that Air. Nash, the Alayor of Palmerston North, who had ' been telegraphed to regarding Air. Jickell’s qualifications, had been a contractor under Air. Jickell. I find this was not the case. Of course, the statement was not really relevant to the issue, but as it was made I wish to correct the error. What I would like to make perfectly cTear,” concluded Cr. Sheridan, “is that nothing which, lias since transpired in anyway affects the position which I took up on this matter at the Council •meeting, except that it makes my duty a little harder.” An informal meeting of tho Borough Council will be probably held this morning, when the question of Air. Jickell’® engagement will lie-con-sidered.