Mr. Gent.
89
Hong Kong: Appointment of Engineer for Survey.
I spoke to Mr. Peirson Frank, the Chief
Engineer of the L. C. C., about Mr. Binns, late Chief
Engineer of the Port-of-London Authority. Mr. Frank
has seen Mr. Binns recently and he describes him,
apart from a bad cold, as being in good health. He
is at the moment employed as the Consultant by
Rendel, Palmer and Tritton. He is a member of the
Council of Civil Engineers and is President this year
of the Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Frank informs me
that Mr. Binns's qualifications and experience lie on
the mechanical side rather than on the civil side.
When he was appointed, the Port-of-London decided that,
with reference to their larger works of dock
construction, they would employ the services of
outside Consulting Engineers. He mentioned,
incidentally, that the Port-of-London frequently
employ Messrs. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, and that a
den
Mr. Buck, one of their partners, whom I know
personally, is much more experienced in harbour work
than Mr. Binns. Messrs. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton
are one of two firms who carry out a great deal of
work at ports: the other firm is Messrs. Coode,
den
Wilson and Partners. Mr. Buckton was employed for
work at Haifa, of which I imagine the Colonial Office
must have knowledge.
My