AKAROA HARBOR BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 580, 3 February 1882, Page 2

AKAROA HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting , took plnre on Wednesday evening. Present — His Worship tho Mayor (chairman), and Messrs Meech, Chamberlain, Cullen, Bruce, and McGregor. MINUTES, The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from Mr W. H. Henning was read, as follows :— "The Wharf, Akaroa, Jan 21, 1882. " Sir, —I have the honor to bring , under your notice that during the visit of the s.s. Penguin, on the night of the 19th inst, a man walked overboard from the end of the jetty, and this being the third accident of the kind within about twelve months. I would recommend that immediate steps be taken for the prevention of a recurrence of such accidents. " In my estimation, the best plan would be to have three removable iron stanchions connected by chains. For easy and speed) , erection and removal the whole should be of as light construction as is consistent with moderate strength—the stiucture not being required to stand any great strain, but merely to act as a warning barrier. Seeing that the jetty end is much frequented by boys for fishing, this barrier might be allowed always to stand, as being something to hold on by in case of accident. When ste uners may be duo it would be removed for convenience in working the springs, being re-erected when those were made fast.

,l ln conclusion, I would suggest that the life-saving gear on the jetty be supplemented by the addition of a copy of The Royal Humane Society's " instructions for recovery of the apparently drowned. , ' These, being clear and concise, enable by-standers to adopt immediate measures for restoration to life, —-a thing of utmost importance—instead of being obliged, through ignorance, to let a case wait until the arrival of medical assistance.—Yours, etc.,. " W. H. Henning, "Wharfinger." WHARF COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Wharf Committee's report, running as follows, was read by the secretar)' of the Committee, Mr McGregor:— The Whatf Committee met at the office of the Council on Tuesday, 31st January, 1882. All the members were

present, His Worship the Mayor in the chair, and have to report as follows:— " Ist Your committee having had under their consideration the letter from the Marine Department dated Bth Dec. last, hiive to recommend that the new scale of duesin connection with the wharf and shed, and the proposed regulations for the control and management of the same, lie open for inspection at the office of the Council for a month, and that an advertisement be inserted in the local paper once every week for four weeks, intimating the same to the public, and requesting persons having any objections or suggestions to offer, to send in the same in writing on or before the Ist day of March next.

" 2nd Your committee have to recommend that a hand rail bo erected at the end of the Government wharf to prevent n recurrence of accidents, in the shape of people falling overboard at this place. They have also to recommend that about 20ft of rail be erected between the watercloset on this wharf and the first angle of the wharf. When the work men, who have been employed to execute the repairs to the wharf, have completed the same, plenty of material will be on hand from the repairs to do all the necessary rail work ; and the committee further suggest that the work be done by day labor in connection with the other repairs of the wharf. " 3rd Your committee advise that copies of Humane Society's Regulation for tho resuscitation of persons apparently drowned be procured and exhibited on

conspiciona places on tho wharf. "4th Accounts amounting to ,-£l4 Is 2d will be presented for payment from the

1 wharf funds- Part of this outlay was incurred through the committee's ordering certain appliances and labor for recovering the body of the sailor, who was drowned by falling- from the Penguin on 16th Dec. last. These have been carefully stored and will be ready for use on any emergency of a similar character." Mr Meech said lie had gone through the matter that day, and found that most of the regulations proposed wore already in force. He was of opinion also, after consideration, that they had no power to make new regulations, net being a Harbor Board under the Act, but only a Borough Council acting as a Harbor Board, and therefore without power to form regulations, being bound by the general regulations for such bodies. This was the opinion lie had come to after carefully studying the Act, and ha took this first opportunity of stating he hud changed hid opinion of last night, and did not agree to the first clause. Mr McGregor said the matter had been agreed to before, and there would be an end to all public business if gentlemen said one thing one day and another the next. At the meeting of the Wharf Committee on the previous evening, they had all agreed to the report, and now they objected to tho regulations. These regulations were no new thing, but had been agreod to by the Council.

ETis Worship said that he had gone through the Government regulations, and compared them clause by clause with those now proposed to be put in force, and he found that really nearly all were already in force. The Governor in this case was really the Harbor Board, and authority was already provided for carrying out the business oi: the wharf in every purticiilar. He had never . found that the authority of the wharfinger had been questioned. 'Die members of the Council knew little of this question, and it was necessary therefore, to carefully consider it. He could not help agreeing with Cr Meech, and he thought it was the most manly course to pursue, to dissent now from the ieport, as, alter carefully studying the matter, they were of a different opinion to that they held on the previous evening, when the report was agreed to, Mr Cullen then moved—''That the report be referred back to the Wharf Committee for further consideration, to be brought up at the next meeting." Ho moved thin resolution simply to give the Wharf Committee time to fully reconsider, the matter amongst themselves.

Mr Meech seconded. He said that fit the time he attended the committee meeting he did not know anything about the matter, boing a new member, and that therefore he took everything for granted. When, however, ho found, looking .

into tliu iimUer, that ihuy really hue' no right to form these regulaiions, which he might say had been palmed on to them, he determined to oppose their being adopted. Mr McGregor said these regulations had been passed first by a committee, then by the Council, and thirdly by a committee again on the previous evening. As to the opinion that they had ?io right to make these regulations, he attached no weight to it, for whatever the clerk of the Government might have written, they had the opinion of one of the best lawyers in the Colony, Mr Cowli.shaw, that they had the right to make regulations suitable for the place, and ho preferred Mr Cowiishaw's opinion to that of the clerk. Besides, the report did not insist upon the adoption of these regulations ; all it proposed w. s that the proposed dues and regulations should be open for inspection and consideration for a month longer. He for one was so disappointed at the action taken, that he should wash his hands of the matter. The Chairman said that a* he did not see they had the right to make any regulations he could not see the use of having them open for inspection. Mr Bruce said that he certainly thought it was the best thing to advertise that the proposed regulations and dues should be open for inspection for a month at the Council Chambers. Ihis would give anyone, a dmnce of objecting, He would move, as an amendment'" That clause No. 1 be adopted/ , Mr McGregor seconded. The amendment on being put was lost, Messrs Bruce, McGregor and Chamberlain voting for it, and Messrs Cullen, Meech and the Chairman against. The Chairman then gave his casting vote against the amendment which was therefore lost. The original motion was then put and carried. This of course put an end to the consideration of the other clauses. A DIFFICULTY. Before adjourning Mr McGregor pointed out the awkard position they were now placed in, as owing to the resolution the accounts, some of which were of long standing, could not be passed for payment. He hoped some means would be taken to remedy this. The Chairman said that he agreed with Mr McGregor. He believed tliey could hold a meeting to pass the accounts after the Council meeting. This was agreed to. accounts; Accordingly after the-.Borough Council meeting the Board again assembled and passed the following accounts: —W. Sims, salary, £5 ; li. Barke, £6 Os 6d ; labor, £1 16s 8d ; Kissel, 7s; Garwood i and Co., 17s 6d. It was explained that ' some of these expenses had been incurred in connection with procuring a i drag to recover the body of the man drowned from the Penguin, and that the materials had been carefully stowed away under Mr McGregor's supervision. Mr Bruce asked if anything could be done in the matter of the Wharf Committee's report, t The Chairman and Mr Meecji explained j the matter to Mr Black, whb had been absent at the prior meeting, Mr Black said he thought they had better all resign. Mr Meech said he did not see it. The fact was the committee had been led by the nose by Mr Mcgregor. It would be ridiculous to make regulations without power to do so— Mr McGregor,: "Tho regulations can be made." Mr Meech: "I appeal to the chair, I will not lie interrupted in this way by Mr McGregor whenever I open my mouth." Mr Meech then went on to speak further but several members rose from their seats and the Chairman ruled thnt tha meeting had only been called to pass the accounts, and thnt no other business could be transacted. What had been said, therefore, on other matters was simply conversational. The conversation then came to an abrupt end by the chair being vacated.