Harbour Beard.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 6, 2 October 1907, Page 7

Harbour Beard.

A SERIES OF MOTIONS. Mr. Flotclier, a member of tho Harbour Board, onjoyed what may' bo tormed "a day out" yesterday. Ho had set down no fewor than nine notices of motion, and a special mooting of tho Board "was called to consider them. The following wore present:—The Hon. T. K. Macdonald (chairman), the Hon. T. \V. Ilislop, -Messrs. M'Lcllan, Ocauchamp, Shirt? cliffe, Fletcher. Frasor, and Wood, M.H.R. •

In moving the first motion, Mr. Fletcher explained ho was acting solely out of a sense of duty and in tho interests of the Board. The motion was as follows" That tho Engineer be instructed to remove the lamp-posts from the centre of the Railway Wharf, where at present they form a constant source of danger and obstruction -to traffic, and replaoo them close to tho rails on either side, sufficient to clear tho ' movable cranes." He emphasised tho danger that resulted from the presenco of the posts, and. trusted that tho motion would bo carried.

Mi' Shirtcliffo seconded tho motion pro forma, but was noi altogether in favour of it. • So . long as they used gas, he did not seo how the posts could bo romovod.

Mr Befauchamp opposed the motion, as. he did not think there was any real danger arising from tho posts. Apart from that, there would be great difficulty in making the suggested change.

The-motion was lost. The second motion was as follows:— " That it be an instruction to the Engineer to demolish tho old wooden fenco inside tho Brandon Street Wharf approach." This was withdrawn, as tho matter was already receiving the attention of the Engineer. . In moving " That tho wooden palisade at the. head of Queen's Wharf bo removed, including tho bookstall, tho lease of same, if any, to bo determined," Mr Fletcher enlarged on the danger that existed, and mentioned a tidy or two ago a steamer bumped into it.

Mr. Hislop seconded tho motion, which was supported by tho chairman.

Mr. Macdonald agreed that there was an element of danger, and expressed surprise r that accidents had not occurred during times, of pressure. Mr. Shirtcliffo deprecated tho proposal, as the palisade had proved of undoubted use.

Mr. Beauchamp spoke to similar effect. He warmly condemned any proposal to remove tho bookstall.

Mr. M'Lcllan strongly objected to ,tho removal of tho bookstall. Besides being a very great convenience to the general public, the bookstall, which occupied only about 10ft. square, returned a rent to tho Board of £35 a yeas. Against that thero wero boats coming into tho harbour and occupying berths of 80 to 100 feet, which did not pay anything liko the same amount. It would he scaudalous to remove such a general public convenionce. As to Mr. Fletcher's remarks concerning the motives which actuated him in moving tho motions, ho (the speaker) was very pleased to hear them, as net only he, but a great many of the general public, had thought that Mr. Fletcher's motives .wore altogether'different. Mr. Hislop did not consider that the bookstall was such a great convenience as had been represented. After further discussion, Mr. Fletcher withdrew his motion in favour of tho following, which was proposed by Mr. Fraser, and carried: —"That the Engineer report as to the feasibility of substituting at tho entrance to the wharf some other kind of barrier of a moro ornamental character til in the existing one." The noxt motion moved by Mr. Fletcher was to the cfFcct that ''each member of tho Board bo furnished with a copy of the order paper, setting forth > the business to be transacted, at least four days prior to tho said meeting." After somo discussion tlio motion was carried. In moving that "a committee be set up to revise the whole of the by-laws regulating conduct of tho business at tho Board meetings," Mr. Fletcher statod that it was almost twlevo years sinco tho rules were revised, and it was quite time they were examined again. Tho motion was carried, and the" following wero appointed to tho Committco: —The Chairman, Messrs. Hislop, M'Lellan, Shirtclifl'o, and Fletcher. Mr. M'Lellan voted against the motion as a protest against the manner in which the matters had been brought forward.

Tho last motion moved by Mr. Fletcher was as follows: —"That whereas it is tlio intention of the Government this session to remodel the constitution of the Harbour Boards throughout tho Dominion, tho time, therefore, being opportune, this Board recommends the Minister in chargo of tho iiill to consider the desirability of all representatives on Harbour Boards being olected by the people on the basic of the, municipal franchise."

Mr. Hislop seconded pro forma,

The feeling of the meeting was against the proposal, which was lost, only the mover, voting for it.