....
209
reports, the work is not being done in the thorough and systematic manner in which it ought to be done, simply because the Staff is
not available.
My recommendation with regard to the promotion of Mr. Fisher to the rank of Executive Engineer bas, I regret to find, not been approved. Through sheer force of circumstances, I have found it necessary to treat Mr. Fisher as an Executive Engineer, giving him charge of the following in- portent works:-
New Law Courts.
Western Merket....
Harbour Office..
Bacteriological Institute,.
@stimated Cost.
$400,000
194,000
150,000
(Not ascertained. )
I hav. done this because none of the
present Executive 3ngineers can possibly supervise these works and I have found Mr. Fisher a capable and hard-working officer.
The Sagineering Staff in this year's Estimates numbers 13, (excluding Hessrs. Boulton and Mulis), made up of 1 Assistant Director of Public Jorks, 3 Executive Engineers, and 3 Assistant &ngineers. In order that Officers may have leave once in 3 years, it is necessary thet two should always be absent simultaneously, thus reducing the working Staff to 10.
There is no evidence of any decadence
in the prosperity of the Colony and the probability appears to be that further additions to the Staff must be mode ere long. Certainly, if any large schone of improvement of the City on sanitary lines is to be levised, a further increase of Steff will be necessary.
In view of what I have stated, I
submit that the increase of Statt recommended by the Public Works Commission may be given affect to, without taking into consider- ation the services of the two Executive Engineers hitherto engaged on the Reclamation Jorks. In any case, the appointments will be made under 3 years' Agreements and, should matters turn out widely different from what I anticipate, the Staff could be reduced again by not renewing the engagements.
(31.) 1. Chatban.
21st. October, 1903.