( 163 )
2078.
9
By Mr. Shewan.-You said you asked Mr. CHADWICK why private Civil En- gineers should not have this work ?
A-No, what he asked me was, did I think I could take it on. I had been in charge of a very large water-work at home, under Mr. HAWKESLEY. He asked me if I thought I could undertake the work, ie, the Tytam Works. At that time I had only left Government service about 2 years, and I was not in a position to take up such a large work.
By Mr. Master.-Do you think that firms of architects or civil engineers at home are in as good a position to prepare plans for buildings here as architects or civil engineers on the spot?
A-I certainly do not think they are.
2080
Q--Do you think local knowledge is of importance?
1
2
4
6
A--I certainly think it is of the very greatest importance.
Q-Do you think the Public Works Department, as at present constituted, is sufficiently manned to undertake all the public works extraordinary ?
A--I do not think so; I think they are undermanned.
Q-Do you think they are only sufficiently manned for the ordinary routine business, and that large public works extraordinary coming like that, they would necessarily have to secure additional help ?
A-I should not like to say that they are fully manned for the ordinary routine work, because this Colony at the present day is only in its infancy.
Q-Does that answer mean that you will certainly say that they are not sufficiently manned for extraordinary public works?
A--Of course that follows.
By the Chairman.-Have you ever had any experience, special experience, of road-making?
A-Yes, I had at home.
Q-When you were Burough Engineer in Leeds?
A-Deputy Borough Engineer.
Q-No doubt you have noticed, what every other person seems to have noticed, that the roads here at present are not in a satisfactory condition. Do you think they are in a satisfactory condition ?
A-1 think not.
7
Q-To what is that due ?
8
A-Due to want of economy and short-sighted policy in the first instance. Take Queen's Road, for instance. During the last twelve years the money that has been thrown away on that road, had it been spent in laying down a proper macadamised or concrete road in the first instance, it would have been as good now as when it was first laid down.
Q-Can you, as a gentleman who has had experience, tell us what is the proper way of laying a macadamised road ?
A-The first layer of metal is not heavy enough, and is not rolled sufficiently. They are putting down about six or seven inches, instead of having twelve or fifteen inches, well rolled with a heavy roller. The steam rollers you have here now are little more than toys.
295
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.