THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2691, 22 December 1909, Page 3

THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l hope the Borough Council at its meeting to call, for applications for borough engineer will not be in such a hurry to have the applications in that it will prevent competent men outside New. Zealand from having a chance to apply. In such an important question I think it would be a wise thing not to advertise the salary, but allow applicants to state the salary they would require. Ip that manner the Council could perhaps have the choosing of the best men, "and then agree as to salary. If, of course, amicable terms could not be arranged with one, they could with another. I should- like to see the time during which, .applications are invited extend to some five or six months. This would give an opportunity of receiving applications from England, from whence a really good man might be obtained at a .moderate salary. I am convinced of the fact that there are no engineers capable of constructing such good and lasting roads as those with experience on that class of work at Home. Anyone who has any knowledge of the splendid roads to he found in all parts of England could support me with the statement that they far excel the roads of this Dominion in durability and formation. I am merely suggesting these details as they may uot be thought of by Councillors. At any rate, it is to be hoped they will liberally advertise for applications (throughout Australasia, and yet not hope to obtain a man competent to have a full technical knowledge of road-making, sewerage, and drainage, bridge construction, tramway construction, and electric lighting. It will be advisable to leave the latter job to an electrical export, as I have seen and know of so many towns, in England where their electrical lighting scheme has proved a failure owing to mistakes made by men,'although electrical engineers in a sense, proving themßelvc R unpossessed of the requisite knowledge to master the difficulties encountered in the intricate task, of installing a successful electric lighting and nower plant. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing” when one starts meddling with electricity.—l am, etc.,