BRIDGE APPROACHES AND ENGINEERING.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1254, 13 July 1880, Page 3

BRIDGE APPROACHES AND ENGINEERING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sic, — I see by your report of the last meeting of the Borough Council that in following up their well-defined policy of retrenchment it was decided to employ

Engineer Gwynneth to superintend the depositing of the few loads of stuff necessary for bridge approahes embankment. Of course the more he sees of it the better he will be acquainted with its require* xnents, and, providing the same amount of rain fell here as in Cambridge, after a few visits he could simply send his apprentice with instructions, of course at a lower figure, so that it will, perhaps, eventually be a saving to the Borough. Some people who ought to know better (I will not mention names this time) think that the foreman of works would be quite competent to point out where he wanted a few loads of gravel, &c, from time to time. That might have been all very well in days gone by, but burgesses may rest assured that the intellectual giant at the head of affairs has good and sufficient reasons for employing no ordinary engineer for the work, although ordinary mortals cannot see the necessity. But let me tell those who are inclined to grumble at. the cost of the article, that I quite agree with the worthy Mayor, a few loads extra on either side might upset the whole concern, while an" engineer of great experience by simply bringing his professional eye to bear on the matter would at once see what was wanting, and direct matters so as to avoid such a dire caUmity. All public men at some period or other of their career have had to put up with, more or less abuse, and our esteemed Mayor need not expect to escape paying the penalty, if he does not pay anything more ; occupying such an exalted position j so creditably, envious people are sure to try to bespatter him with mud. — I am, &c, " \ Vebitas.