CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents]. :o: TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —The attached is a true copy of the letter forwarded by me to the Borough Council, and which was received by ffjg Worship, the Mayor, in such a highly becoming manner; so courteously ;so gentlemanly that I feel compelled, through your journal to tender him my sincere thanks. If you will kindly publish the sp nic I w iH feel obliged, and let the public jjdg o w herein the pestelence lays. I am, John Ctvll Engineer. [True Copy.] Gisborne, 25th September, 1883. Sir,—l would respectfully draw the attention of yourself and Conned to the following statement as regards the original terms of iny agreement with the Borough Council, on the establishment of the municipality, and what works have been undertaken and executed by me outside my legitimate duties as Borough Engineer. Ist I consider the works undertaken and executed by me, in reference to harbor works was onside my duties, and ought to be paid for. 2nd. —All the plans and specifications, made and com piled, for foreshore reclamation were outside my duties and ought to be paid for. 3rd.—All plans, reports, levels taken and information afforded in regard to water supply were outside my duties, and ought to be paid for. Notably that of the WaunaU survey, I having carried out the whole of the work, leaving the compilation of the report to the Engineer employed (Mr Black), for which he received upwards of one hundred pound, (£100). I also claim the £lOO bonus offered by your council for the best scheme for a water supply <»n the following grounds :—lst. That your Council adopted the Waihiriri scheme.—2nd. That the site of a reservoir and other works were approved of by the two Engineers engaged by vour Council to report on the scheme, viz., Messrs Reynolds and Tatley. —3rd. That in response to your advertisement Messrs Brown of Otago, and McLeod of Christchurch, both endorsed the Waihiriri scheme.—4th. That I prepared sketch plan, showing proposed routes, description of the country for the use of those tendering, and Sth. That I am fairly entitled to the first instalment (£25) of the bonus.—6th. That your Council borrowed £lO,OOO a large proportion of which was spent on public works, thus entailing a large amount of extra labor, and loss of time, which might otherwise have been devoted to private practice, and to which I was fairly entitled under the terms of our agreement.—7th. That the work of the Borough has been steadily increasing since the date of its formation, and some four years ago the consideration of officer’s salaries was taken into consideration, and the whole of the officers received an advance with the exception of myself, the consideration of the Engineers salary being held over until the following meeting. Since that date no further steps have been taken in the matter Bth,— That for the tvhole term of my services I have fulfilled the duties of valuator, the duties of which have become more arduous as year by year, the number of buildings have increased, and the various properties been sub divided, and changed ownership. Trusting yourself and Council will favourably take into consideration the above, I am, Ac., . John Drummond, Civil Engineer.
TO TH 8 EDITOR. Sir, —As an old ratepayer and tradesman who has done the most of the Municipal work in my line, from the commencement of the Borough, I must take exception to the mode the Council have lately adopted in reference to letting small jobs. I refer more particularly to Ihe woiksfor the erection of the now ‘ Fire Bell.’ It was proposed and carried in the Council that the Engineer consult Cr Brown. Nurely the Engineer was quite competent to carry out the works without the aid of any Councillor, but not only did the Engineer consult Cr Brown (who has been elected to the honourable position of “ member of the Public Works Committee,” but gave him the job, so that the result will be that Cr Brown will make his own charges, and bo called upon to pass his own work. I may state that on the two previous occasions of the hanging of the fire bells, I did the necessary works without charge, aud 1 understand that in coses of this km I it was the < usiom of the late Engineer t<» g > to all the tradesmen and get offers from each. I might point our. other works, which are now being carried out under fictitious names, so us to evade the provisions of the Municipal Act. My object in writing this, is that all jobs let may be fair an 1 square and no favor. G-. Humphreys, Coachbuilder and Blacksmith.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBS18830929.2.13
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1362, 29 September 1883, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
797CORRESPONDENCE. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1362, 29 September 1883, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.