Town Surveyor and Engineer

Descriptive Data

TypeAgencyDate Range1864-1898DescriptionThe Wellington Town Board was constituted under the Wellington Provincial Governments Wellington Town Board Act in June 1862. Its operational power was limited to maintaining the city's roads and streets, drainage and sewage works, and making regulations against fire.

Clause 21 of the enacting Ordinance gave the Board power to enter into contracts and employ officers to carry out these functions. At a meeting of the Board on the 22nd September 1864 it was resolved that a newspaper advertisement would be issued seeking applications from "gentlemen competent to undertake the duties of Town Surveyor and Engineer". At the following meeting on the 27th it was resolved that Mr R M Skeet be appointed Town Surveyor and Engineer to the Board.

Mr Skeet commenced his duties on the 1st October 1864, with the following responsibilities:
- To assess all additional improvements since the date of the last assessment of the City
- To Superintend all labor
- To Superintend all Contracts
- To attend all Meetings of the Board as required
- To find all instruments required for his use, and generally
- To act under the direction of the Commissioners.

The Board, and later City Council, increased the size of the Town Surveyor's Department, although for major works separate engineers were appointed; for example, the appointment of waterworks engineers overseeing the implementation of a water supply for the City. From 1893 a resident Drainage Engineer was employed.

In 1898 the City Surveyor's Department was reorganised and a City Engineer appointed.

Controlling Agency or Organisation

Controlling Agency or OrganisationWellington City CouncilControlling Agency or Organisation Date Range1870-

Related Agencies

Successor Agency or OrganisationCity Engineer and Surveyor's Office

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Town Surveyor and Engineer