PETONE WHARF SUBSIDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 641, 19 October 1909, Page 7

PETONE WHARF SUBSIDENCE.

HARBOUR-BOARD INQUIRY IN CAMERA. A special meeting of the Harbour Board was called for yesterclny afternoon to consider the matter of the Petono wharf; There were prosent at the opening of the meetings Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. (in the chair), Dr. A. K. Newman, tho Hon. T. K.Mttcdonalii, M.L.C., and ■ m?? 8- ' ?' Wl and ' R ' ! Fletcher. 1 ' lno chairman, after. announcing. that 'the for the purpose, of taking ovi(lence about the Petone wharf in reference to its subsidence,, and that thp witnesses' would mclurte Sir. William Ferguson, Mr. Cachema,He, representatives of the contractors, and others, also that ltwas open to' any-member to suggest the name of any witness whoso evidence he might wish to hoar, stated that the meeting was in committee. . this intimation brought.a protest from, Mr. Fletcher, who did not seo why- tho meeting should not be open to the'press. The subject to be dealt with wos one of,'considerable public ■ interest, and the peoplo of Wellington wished to know something'about the' cause of tho subsidento of the Petono'wharf. He contended that full publicity/should be-given to the inquiry. The public received no information except'in n boiled,down state, and the board had nlready' made a narao for goinß into committee when it should not. A great (leal of public money had been expended on in question, and it,was-only fair tint the nubile shnuld ];now the position. , Mr. > Wilford said the -meeting had been called in committee in pursuance of a resoluJμ i, » n r ptc 4, b A th!a J . b , oard_!X with ■which Mr. Fletcher did not agree. ~T he secretary (Mr. H. E. , Nicholls) bore out the chmrman's statement. Mr. Wilforrt went on tn say that when tho nvideii6e had been heard, and a full report hart been drafted, it could - be. discussed in public. Any member of the board /-would tK6 opportunity of commenting on the evidence, or reading the whole or part'of it at an ordinary meeting. . , , ... At the invitation of tho chairman, the secretary then read the resolution'calling the meehncr, which stipulated for "a full and exhnnstivp inquiry by the board in committee." .Mr. lletchw said ho had moved the resolution originally, but he had not included the words m committee." - . Mr. Njcholls remnrkod that his memory of tho matter was distinct about the words "in committee. Hβ had not an-original copy of tho motion. ; ■ .-. ■. ~ u , r - F1 ?J olle '; T . s ,iid ho did not wish to reUect on Mr. Nicholls in any way. The secretary must be under some misapprehension. In concluding the discussion, the chairman paid lie intended to review the whole of the evidence when the inquiry was finished. Hβ I' , n °P° wor ,?° niter the resolution undor whinh the meeting had been called. Alter hearing the evidence in - camera, the committee adjourned until Monday, next.