BLUFF HARBOR AND INTERCARGILL RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 220, 23 February 1866, Page 2

BLUFF HARBOR AND INTERCARGILL RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOB OP THE SOUTHLAND TIMES.Sic, — Haying read with interest letters signed " C. D. Irvine, B. A. Engineer," on the subject of the construction of the above Kail way and abusive of the Engineer engaged on these works, and admiring the puDiic spirit which induces that gentleman to devote so much of his valuable time and talent to the subject, with that apparent abandonment of self which is the strongest incentive to the perusal of his letters ; for I argue that had the writer any ambition to obtain government employment} on this Railway, gentlemanly and professional feeling would restrain his adoption of such a ' course to that, and whilst common sense would teach its impolicy and the necessity •■■ of his adhering to . the patriotic self ■sacrificing policy to the end, I felfc myself caliod on to make some personal ■sacrifices to the further enlightenment of -the public, and to this end. 1 first of all obtained the Frooincial Government Gazette of 30th January, iB6O, m which shfl yeporfe diiee^d

With this report in my band I called at the Railway Engineer's office ; that gentleman himself was absent, but from information supplied me with reference to books and other documents corroborating the statement, I find that for 3 miles and 75 chains of the swamp it was utterly impracticable to take any levels, and that the gentlemen engaged on this service were more likely to make the attempt were it at all practicable than Mr. Irvine B. A. himself would be, and that any levels spoken of by that gentleman must have been taken over another portion of the swamp, which portion was also levelled over for the Kailway and that passengers to the Bluff can satisfy themselves of the place where Mr. Irvine took these levels by the observance of a trig station in the centre of the road very inconveniently left there, and as I am informed very innocently treated in this way by Mr. Irvine when employed as sub-assistant surveyor, under the erroneous impression that such stations were unnecessary on the completion of the triangulation. As the readers of this letter will be likely to refer to the report itself in the Gazette rather than trust entirely to what that report is represented to be by Mr. Irvine in his letters I will give the result of my inquiries in the order of the report for their convenience. Before, however, getting beyond the swamp alluded to, it may be desirable to state that its character for the distance stated was so well known that a member of the Provincial Council once declared that the Bluff Hill put into it would not be sufficient to construct a railway over it, and a gentleman declared to me that he had been pulled out of it when endeavouring to cross it on foot, and that the idea of levelling over it would only be entertained by a madman. Alarmed at a statement in Mr. B. A's second letter, with regard to the unintelligible expression made by the engineer, of which some playful sport is made by B. A., I find the report to state, '' in all of which bays the works had to be protected from the action of the sea at high tide during gales of wind," I further ascertained that the depths of the solid bottom below the swamp surface had been ascertained, and that across the portion described, they vary from seven to twelve feet, and in reference I find their depths not so easy to deal with in all cases, as they are about the same as those across a considerableportion of Chatmoss, the difficulty of crossing which is known. On inquiring of competent engineers I find also that it is not unusual to let Railways to contractors at the present day, for so much a mile, including all contingencies, or for a lump sum, including all contingencies, and that had it teen politic to do this, it would not have been so unusual or absurd a method as B.A. suggests. It has also been explained to me that in dealing with the figures given in the report, our B.A. has jumbled together all the payments to 38th January 1866, and treated them as if made in May or June, 1864, after the "works were stopped, although these payments necessarily include large items arising out of the stoppage of the works ; into this matter it is satisfactory to know that a commission of competent engineers will enquire. I was sorry to see that our B.A. had demeaned himself in the £10 matter lie alludes to, whilst declaring himself to be under no obligation, and to find him publishing a testimonial, the draft of ■which was written by himself and given in his own words, this draft was shown me in answer to my inquiries, and a letter stating how deeply indebted he would feel himself for such a testimonial. These facts have somewhat shaken my confidence in his disinterested patriotism, and if he is not a patriot devoting himself to the public interests, what is he? I am informed also that competent engineers are men who, having studied for the profession, become articled to gentlemen in practice, who have extensive works on which the embryo engineer can gain that experience and knowledge of work necessary to fit him for conducting it, and that proof of such employment for many years is necessary to qualify any engineer to act independently in the profession. I give such information as I have . received it, because it appears reasonable to suppose that a man is not necessarily a carpenter because he has a bag of tools, nor a blacksmith because he has an anvil ; no ! a man requires the experience necessary for any work before he becomes iit to conduct it, or to set himself up as any authority whatever respecting it. — I am, <fee, B. Gr. Invercargill, 19fch Feb., 1866.