MR JOHN GWYNNETH IN EXPLANATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1574, 5 August 1882, Page 3

MR JOHN GWYNNETH IN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir. — There is an old axiom that "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." Had Mr Hosking, C.E., borne this in mind, he would not have set himself up to give an opinion on the suitability or otherwise of the design prepared by the Government engineer, Mr Hales, for the Karapiro bridge", as against the one prepared by himself. Had he not thus madly rushed to the front, he might have gone on writing C.E. after his name till the end of time, before I would have interfered. But, as he has himself drawn his spear against a Government officer (who is debarred from replying in the public papers, where Mr Hosking's assertion appears)— l as a member of what (in every country I have been in, except New Zealand) is considered an honorable profession, would "like to know, you know " where Mr Hosking obtained the right to sign himself C.E. and call in question the suitability of designs prepared by (it may be) better men than himself. I did not take up my pen, however, to defend Mr Hales or his designs, as I presume he is quite able to do that for himself in the proper quarter, but to inform you and through your columns the public what I have been told of Mr Hosking, C.E.'s. experience, and then let them judge for themselves as to his right to call in question the suitability or otherwise of Mr Hales' plans for the Karapiro bridge, or any other engineer's plans. A few weeks ago I met Capt. Thomas, Manager of the English Mining Company at Coromandel, who, after asking me if I knew Mr Hosking, C.E., informed me that he was no engineer at all, he having worked for Capt. Thomas as a miner at Coromandel, when he made no pretence to any knowledge of civil engineering or even surveying, that what little knowledge he had of surveying, he had picked up whilst assisting him (Captain Thomas), in making some mining surveys foi his company at Coromandel ; that he had always believed that Mr Hosking, C.E., had been brought up as a schoolmaster, and that he (Captain Thomas), used to excuse his want of knowledge in mining matters on that account. Capt. Thomas desired me to make what use I choose of this information, as he considered the profession was being dragged through the mire by men having sufficient arrogance, and impudence to write C.E. after their name, without any qualification whatever, and so do I. But never having myself heaid of Mr Hosking, C.E. , until I came to Cambridge, I could not say anything either for or against his qualifications, (if lie has any), as a civil engineer, and it is his arrogance in taking upon himself, unasked, to condemn .another gentleman's work, that causes me thus rudely to withdiaw the veil, and expose his nakedness. .Should Captain Thomas have been misinformed, it will be an easy matter for Mr Hosking to prove that he never was a schoolmaster, &c, &c, but on the contrary, that he had been educated, and icrvctl hit articles, to some civil engineer of standing, and thereby had ob tamed a legitimate right to sign himself C.E. and give an opinion on the works of other engineers. When he does this, I will be most happy to make tiie amende honorable for this communication, and acknowledge him and his opinions on engineering matters in future. Until thcu, I must decline doing so. As there are several others in the Waikato who sign themselves C.E. and have no ricjht or title so to do, I will with your permission return to this subject. — Yours truly, JOUX GwYXJfJiTir, Civil Engineer. Cambridge, 2nd August, 1882.