ENGINEERS CONFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 7

ENGINEERS CONFER

SOCIETY MEETS IN SOUTH NEW OFFICERS ELECTED Press Association DUNEDIN, Tuesday. The annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Qivil Engineers was opened in the University Buildings this morning. The president, Mr. J. G. Alexander (Dunedin), occupied the chair and 100 delegates were present from all parts of New Zealand. Before on the business of the session the delegates were accorded a civic reception by Mr. R. B. Black, the Mayor, who extended a hearty welcome to the city.

The agenda paper was then taken up. The report of the council showed a material increase in membership during the year. The council had considered it necessary during the y<*ar to reject one application for membership, and to require eight other candidates to sil for an examination, or in the circumstances where this would have involved undue hardship to submit an original thesis on prescribed subjects. Mr. R. W. Holmes, who had always taken a keen interest in the affairs of tho society, some years ago had exe-i-uted a trust deed, under which the society would ultimately benefit very substantially, and meanwhile it received a, generousannual donation toward the library. Mr. 11. L. Cole, a member of the who has bad considerable experience as secretary of the Indian Government Railway Board, was appointed acting-secretary, Mr. Rounthwaite, the secretary, being granted three months’ leave preparatory to retiring from the secretaryship. The conference stood in silence for a lew moments as a tribute of respect to tlio memories of members who had died during the year. After a brief discussion the report was adopted. Mr. P. W. Mac Lean reported that the committee which had been set up lo consider the question of the disposal of the Fulton bequest recommended that the capital, which amounted to £250, should be vested in three trustees who would have the whole management of the fund and power to invest money in the debentures of the society. It was proposed to award a gold medal for the best paper by a member or associate member of the society in any one year, ilie trustees to have power to withhold the awards if the papers are considered to be of insufficient merit. The proposals were agreed' to. and Messrs. P. J. Jones, J. G. Lancaster and A. S. Mitchell were appointed trustees to administer the fund. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. G. T. Murray (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel (Wellington); treasurer, Mr. R. W. Holmes (Wellington): council, Messrs. 11. Vickerman (Wellington), F. J. Jones (Wellington) and E. Hitchcock (Christchurch). One member of the council has yet to be elected. It was decided to hold the next annual meeting in Auckland