ENGINEERS’ MEETING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 902, 20 February 1930, Page 8

ENGINEERS’ MEETING

CONFERENCE IN DUNEDIN REPORTS AND PAPERS Press Association DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was continued in the University buildings today. The president, Mr. J. A. Alexander, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. A paper dealing with general engineering problems, with special reference to the economics of development studies and standardisation, was read by Mr. D. E. Parton, of Christchurch, who based his remarks on his experience in laying down an underground telephone service in that city. Mr. Parton said the work was based primarily on development studies which had been in vogue in America for many years, from the telephone point of view, and more lately from an electrical point of view. His information was based on work which lie did in Christchurch at a cost of £240,000 in an area of 50 square miles, involving 100 miles of trenches. The actual work was started in 1923, and in three years £240,000 was spent. As a result of his experience he felt that probably similar experiences could be used in connection with other systems. In the discussion which followed members spoke of the value of Mr. Parton’s paper, and it was suggested that the Fulton Trustees should take it into careful consideration. A precis of a paper by Mr. F. E. Powell, relating to the Northern Wairoa bridge at Dargaville, was read by Mr. G. T. Murray, in the absence of the author. Mr. F. T. M. Ivissel, chief mechanical engineer of the Public Works Department, occupied the chair at the first sectional meeting of electrical and mechanical engineers. Mr. J. R. Robinson, district electrical engineer, Shannon, gave an address on the insulated tests on the Mangahao system, and with the aid of tabulations on the blackboard, gave results obtained on various lines. In the afternoon the members enjoyed a trip on a ferry boat to the lower harbour, and in the evening a social gathering was held.