HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD.

MR. WILFORD CHAIRMAN. ANNUAL AND MONTHLY MEEfINCS. Tho- annual.; meeting of tlib /.Wellington' Harbour Board ,for tho election of- a chairjnnn. was .'held.. yesterday, afternoon. Tho Secretary (Mr. W. Fcrgusoji), 'presided,, and 'the. members; present were :-r-Hbn. "T. 'K. Macdonald, M.L.C., Hon.' T. W. Hislop, ■Messrs.,T.,M., JVilford,-M.P., F.' H., Fraser,. C. W. Jones, R. Fletcher, 'J. AV. - M'Ewan,J. 6: -Harkness,. C. E. Daniell, M! Cohan, - and F.'G;-Bolton. : .', , " ... ' Mr.-Pi. 11.. Fraser nominated Mr. T. M-. Wilford; M.P.,- for tho chairmanship . . .

': :Mr.':o. W. Joiiqs, in seconding-thb. noiiiinatipn, said that it had been" tho custom of-the Board—though there -had been, exceptions— that -no liiiin , should bo chairman -for. ' more than one year continuously, so .that the hon r 'purablo. position should go round'as'-far : -as possible. :'Tho.;Board was'-starting--' im-: •p6rtant> : yoar''in its'history.-": It bad/, n t'owL secretary,- and, though that official, was fami-, liar - with' tho work,. it was desiraulo. "ui.at' tuo". chairman should.' bo' one who • had had ;experibiico. : ih'■■■ c'oiinection'-:-with ]the Board. ■■ .':■ -..Mr. ■ K'.i.- Gi' Boltort'Snomiriated'iMr;'-' j.: G, ■HarknoSs.;! 1 He-; urged; l ' that--'rt-he : ' chairman ;'shbuld... be- thoroughly ..conversant, with. the. ■inattors'of which ! Mr: ! Harkness was-a master.; .He: believed .-Mr. Harkness; would : be. siblp to. amount of time to tho service, of, tho/Bbard,.more,'Hn,fact, than: had;b'een; required of : chairmen iri' tho: past./ He, Wantbd -to; k n <>w:if 'Mr. Wilford. would be able •to get doivn to the work. Mr.''TWiford:' Yes.'. ■; :

i ■ Mrs; Bolton', proceeded tp stato tho -number I,of meetings that Mr.-Wilfoid'had-Jattunded dunn'g'tho past year, and lio-. also stated itliat.- Mn Wilford was supposed to bo a.candidate for tho'city mayoralty,"which was anothoiv reason, why ho might boiunablo to' devote:much timo to tho'business:' of-';tfiio: Board. ■■■;..'. /-/V, -v Mr. Danioll .dcclarcd himself a strong'sup'portor'.of Mr. .Harkness. Ho-held>that efficiency anil suitability; should bo considered be- • foroj seniority. . Mr/'Harkness,' as: a'-commer-' cial. nian', ;> was',' eminently, -fitted', for ~ tho. position. . '• . '-. : ':. :. : ' Hon. T. W. Hislop said the/'qucstion of. the proposed, action-.in; regard to, the- Patent Slip .Company;'.had beei(-!raised-'.outside in cbnnec-' tion: m'th. tho'.chairmanship. ' Ho'..wished' to 1 , know whether:there was .tb'be any hesitation: ,in yiat 'inatter on tho -'parti of: either of the.' /gentlemen who,had been nominated;': Ho-also; ; wished to know what'the candidates proposed -should bo dono in'. tho- niattor "of-, tho .Evans Bay reclamation ichomo.' .His-experience -waa. ..that;Wellingt'on was always'>behindhand with" /public enterprises,' and: ho' hoped ithat. oppor.tunitiesihow otfering would ;not be. allowed to go bT.; : Ho would; liko'Mr. AVilford to 'say whother.-ho; would be' able to spare! '.tho, ncces-. sar.v 'time to ; ' duties ..of- .the 1 chairniariship: 'Ho' was . awaro-' that- ifc. was difficult for 'Wilfbr'd i.and..himself''to bb. regular.'in;attendance'.at > tho mcbtinKs: . Somo good reason' should bo. shown,-rif top gopd old; custoni\ of appointing the chairman according to .Boiiiority: was to,bo doparted from-. :Ho- had' the . very 'highest regard for' Mr. Harkness, v and,; other things! 'being equal,' .ho - would t have bopri■to vote-tor -him.". Ho recognised,'th« importr ; ance of' cbmiriereial interests;- but '.lie; thought ' that-^thb'.' judicial;; tuind : with''which \th4 members of his. own profession -wereicreditedwould bo of spccial value''iti,'thb;cllfifmaiisklp."- .

, Mr.-•Fletcher,', said it'.was-his. 1 intention -ito yoto-for Mri.jWilford)- firstly, bccaiilo ho' had promised :to'do 1 soarid,;sccondlyj,' because. Mr. .Wilford-. was; tho'senior memberi'of: the Board. -' It would bW onlyifair : to; give : him '•«* opportunity., of himself.'; i,-; 1 , Mr.' -Bolton :1s this tho right time .to' try • ■experiments?^iVvs-;, [ .; : ' -- v : Alr. Wilford,-,.replying to a .question put by. Mr. Bolton ; rdechnea-:to make any- 3t-ate- : : ; mfint.,'as to: thoprobability,--: or-' otherwise,. of. his j re-appointment as one ;of tho Govern-; Rent's representatiyes/oii, the Board. / . . "Mr;-Boltoj ! ha .thought'* his - position -aj-JsolicijEor;"to":the Ship .Company, would, interfere .with his duties' ''

;,The. : 'Hon;" T. K. Macdonald.'! protested ■against a*tlii's kind ;of questioning. 'It' was" altogetherunusual ■on such occasions.'.: It' was ttifriirig'-the.'meeting , into an::electioneering affair.';. - i". > ' Mr.' "Wilford complained ' that" ho had been bailed up? bv all .the .'^Wellington' newspapers'' in' articles, deisignodrto show, why .'ho, should' noji-b'o.chairman of the Board.'His-relation-:, ; ship: _with-!thb';'Onion : ,'Cbmpariywould.-.' make : .no.; difference'. to;:him';;'as' .chairiii'anT.Clf : kny .question •■ HiiVpojition' a - delicato'- one" as' between 11 the'.Board' ! and his wouW ' aslc for a' colleague ,'to .bp :r appq!n^;;fb^act; with,hiiri,;l : r ln':rega'rd. ito tho/Evans; Bay.. scheme, he' thought .legis--'dative'power bo: soughtj to - bnabio - the 'Bo^rd..'acquire the,.land:iiecessa'ryifor: obtaining jspoil;;.:and, authorising : th'o ..Board.to' . do-what it' thought n&essary. l ., If appointed, 1 'hewbiild attend;the'meetings;;"anU endeavour; to dp':his;vduty..in : such a 'manner' .that 'fW ; Board', and ' : tho ! j city; jwould,look-;back -.'.with', prido on.'.his.tpm. of office. . ' . ; 'Mr. ■ Harkness deprecated 'the practice. of .'questioning- candidates !■ for .the - chairmanship 'as,to'their.opinions. 1 , Ho believed it;was tho ; bounden duty' of the Board to acquire .tho Patent' Slip,,; .;Tho ,: Board. should seek, legislative power to'-proceed, with the, Evans Bay schem'oj/.and if it could; be carried out without too.-greatan. expenditure, he, would', be eiitiroly.in favour of it. I vote-was' then taken, and resulted In the election of Mr. Wilford by six to five. Members: voted.-as"follows : . Y :''

.For; Mr.. Wilford—Messrs; Hislop, Fraser, Wilford, Jones; Flcitchei;, M'Ewan. , ; ;: For /. Mr/. : Harkness—-Messrs. Macdonald, Bolton,'.Cohen,- Daniel),, anil Harkness., ". :• ' : Wilford then'tpok. tlie cliair and; briefly' expressed his thanks. ' Mr. Harkness also-thanked his supporters and. congratulated. Mr.' Wilford. " " :. ORDINARY MEETING. : ■ ; -V An ordinary meeting of 'tiio -Board W'as' then held,', Mr. Wilford presiding. , FINANCIAL STATEMENT ,- Tho' following report, from tho treasurer was'adopted; — • . ./■ . , -Bank-pass,books:—Current. crcdit ■balance, £16,383 6s. 7d.; Imprest account,' ■ credit -.balanco, £M 6 10s.; On fixed deposit,. £601000. Payments .-—For interest, 'sinking fund, accounts, and wages, iJ8,438105;;. for salaries for February, £796 4fc. 2d..; for progiess on contracts, £1935 17s'. -5d.; .Total, £21,220 lis. 7d. ' ' ■',' ' BOAT SKIDS. ■ Tho Chairman reported .that l plans of boat skids at Baleiia Bay for Mr. Grecnshields had been approved by the Govemor-in-Coun-ci'i. . . ' It was resolved'.to' seal'tho foreshore, license accordingly. ■ .i !' i AVHAEVES COMSIITTEE'S REPOP.T. ' The Wharves-and Accounts Committee rccommcnded the Board-:— : To call for annual.-tenders, supplies, and ;. services, to closo: at-the March meeting, for the year ending March 3, 1909. •- I To approve the draft agreement submitted : by the Board's solicitors relativo to extpn-i siori of. culvert on tho foreshore by the. Eastbourne Borough' Council: thai; on. completion., of tho deetL by the Boroueh the plans bo submitted to the Marine Department for approval of tbo Govornor-in-Council. . " To reply, to the Secretary of tho Post Offico stating that, in-the opinion of the-Board, wharfage should be charged on all parcels arriving by parcel post. : • -'' ( To'comply witlrtlio request of.the' Wellington Carriers' Union that all express-drivers plying ;for hire, for .passengers', .luggage on the 'wharves should hold, a permit, from, tho Board., .'. ' The report was adopted. , . .. . COMMITTEES ELECTED. The following committees were elected, the Chairman beTng ex officio a member of every committee :4 J - . - ; ' . Legislation Committee—Messrs. Macdonald, Boltoii, and Fletcher. ; Sinking- lnvestnient CommitteesMessrs. Macdonald, Fraser, Jones, and. Hark-' ness. v . Evaiis "Bay , Eeclamatioii 'Committee— Macdonald, Fraser, and Daniell.

GRAVEL FOR EASTBOURNE. ' ;Tho Eastbourne Borough Council was granted permission to rcmovo..,. gravel from : tho beach- for ; borough purposes, feonditionally on- the borough assisting to .prevent unauthorised persons doing 1 the same. : EVANS BAY RECLAMATION. . .The Board, in cominittco, passed with amendments certain .motions of which tho Hon. T. K. Macdonaljl had given noticc, and which wero adjourned from the previous Tho resolutions 'as passed were as follow:—. I . . .. ."That the report of-tho-'Evans .Bay. Committee presented to tBo -Board--on January 20, bo now adopted:—That the Board obtain tho spoil required for: reclamation purposes at tho head of'-Evansi Bay from land to be purchased;in Block A,. Miramar, between tho Old. Farm Road and'tho Miramar. cutting, and for.that purpose authorise the purchase, of, the sections hold by private ownors and -'tho cofitinuince'of the negotiations "with tho Miramar Borough for the acquisition of cer-tain-road areas, and .with tho Gas Company for tho removal of spoil from their sections:' ■That the committee-: bo authorised to purchase /forthwith those sections which are under offer at prices which can be approved by tho committee, and to give instructions ' for tho'necessary ißte.ps .to 60 taken for . tho acquiring of the other . sections under the -provisions of t-ho Public Works Act. / ■ " That' tho names of Messrs. Bolton and Harkness bo added to tho EviVns Bay Rc'clamstion Committee. . '

•'■That the Evans Bay Reclamation .Committee'be empowered to negotiate, far-'the purchase of tie lands lying,-between Se'atoun ■Road and the forpshoro. . v ; ' I.' "That tho solicitors: be..instructed to include in the Bill-powors to reclaim at thc : head of Evans Bby.;' -.' " i." That plans , hV,'.prepared '' and-..deposited with ttio Marino' Department,. after approval by-the Legislation ; ComVnitteo; of: tho "reclamations ,proposed.'.a't/tjib/head of : , Evans Bay. -. Sv. 1 -'-.' " That to elude in. thti^B|UHnb,^^ing; r bf''4b much :of.' tho bed..ofjiß'ay.'fadjacOTfeVto tho existing foreshore: 'as/will ;enablo;'whan'os;;tp be'constnicted on 'land • VMt^ ! ;^! < tlio':;ite'Sj3'.?;'-,:; '• • "t Somc/disijusjsipii ..toofe'i place when tho first of reported in open meetiiigyiit-J:'^ v ; :-' ;- '■'Mr.,,- Jloltprt/'sriid-:very ;■ little harm' could bo done by .the';purchase of tho land, adjacent to the:-.foreshore,,. hut ho wished to know, whothor the : P*o'ard was committing itself to tho scheme : fter-fecla^iation.,' If the. resolution 'merely meant. that the 'Board wpu!d acquire''the land, ho,'did,.not object, .but',if it meant-an immediatb.poljcy of reclamation, Ke Was against it until'tho.scheme was shown to; be'financially'sound.'

The ...Chairman, said the 'Board would be merely.'committed -to. thovpiirphase/ of the land. , Thq- reclamation could, not bo' gone on : with until le^slative'powers;; had been '.obtained.- ■' -i VV',.-.: ■ -V, ■ I.'; Mr. M'Ewan drew attention-to tho'state-' j 'ment in the Board's'annual, roport that'.the,' I Scliemo'"was •• unlikiily .'-to. be; 'a financial' sue-, cep. Still, the Board appeared -to bo committed; to' the scheme,', arid lie* w'oiild try. to', r help to mako it a ■ siicccss.'' " ',' ;.. (' . \ Tho Hon. T. K. Macdonald said, he was confident .tho scheme-could bo.madc a.com-' ipercial success.' Ho hoped, the Board would not halt .halfway) wijh a schemb'wh'ich >'had :boen carefully'fthouglit out by the 'engineers.' Th'e V ' THE HUTT RAILWAY WORKS. •' Mr. ! Bolton ,'raisod the question- as 'to whether the Hut-t " railway, Vstraightcnmg: works wore prejudicial tq 'the .safety' of this ■harbour. The wall being built ;'Sy tho Govern-' 'mpnt. TvaS; a rubblewall,. ana no l , feared it was not-capable of withstanding 'heavy, .-weather."Thb; Board-might',itherefore,',-bo' '.obliged ; in., future;'to dredgo . out' spoil,,' de- ; posited -in the.• harbour -by-.the; Govornm'ont, -If, coricrote', walls ,'wore. necessary; for-' tho /Board's, reclamations,'the .same; coristruetion must;be necessary on those parts.of.the rail- • way. water-, and ex. .posed: situations, -v.-f. .Tho;.Chairmari said : that the' foreshore: and thej harbour ori' i tliii Govornment-.-raiidv.tlio- Board: had,.no, power ■ boyond r making representatioris. „i : . . Y. ; ' ',Mr. Bolton, said ie.'regarded; tho patter ;as an urgont ono; .-HQ-moved;-^-".That the-.-qiiostiori p{.,thoi aufficiency-o'fi tho protectivo walls in' coijrso, of erection:,by the Gpvornmentj in conncction wit-h the straiglit-cning of tho. Hutt railway line, bo ! referred 'to the engineer, with instructions to 'iteport. to a. 'special: meeting .on -Monday next." . i This was carried. .

THE DOCK SITE ' a The Chairman,'replying 'to Mr. . Fletcher, ' said I t-hat; lie .• intended - to' giro'" liotico ;:pf .motion., to ask.\tho; contractors' for -tho .new l dock; on' what: terms .they would consent.to . a cancellation of .their; contract. ; '■■■>'.»■ •. ■■VTho''pthor : business transacted by the Board is- reported, 1 under, separate headings.' ' Notices of. motion- on the Queen's Wharf 1 bar-' waiting-room and bath facilities, and the-'financial p'olicyvbf-'the Board were/postponed. '' ij :' . O'i-': V '■ ■' -r,:-I--.-'