WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 7

WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY

» — ALLEGATIONS BY THE CHAIRMAN. (Br Tdesrapli.—Press Association.) V/estport, September 14. The Westport .Harbour Board Commission resumed its inquiry yesterday, Mr. F. F. Munro giving lengthy evidence under different heads included in the scope of the inquiry. He considored a large quantity of 6mall stone tipped on the breakwaters 'might as well have been tipped in the sea for all tho good it did. Mr. Betts, an ex-inspector of ■works, was responsible for the loading of stone, and was in charge under the engineer when some 80 fcot of the breakwater was flattened out. Witness considered the former board had not shown foresight in failing : to prevent tho - private acquisition of land on the west side of the river. Past charges had not been adjusted so that shipping sKould bear a fair sharo. Tho coal trade was in the hands of a combine which reaped big profit without paying legitimate charges for the services rendered.' The trading accounts of the board did not sufficiently reveal transactions. .When he took office he inquired concerning the Rubi Seddon pijies, and the secretary- was unable to give him any information. The engineor then suddenly remembered they had been loaned somo six years ago, l and were now doing duty as smoke stacks to sawmills. Tho engineer had since sent an account for the pipes, but witness thought tho price charged was only half their worth. TTie board had hired plant and lent the sorvices o' the tug to Mr. Foster in connection with tho Motuoka Harbour contract, Mr. Fostor being at the time a member of the Harbour Board, and thoy had not been paid—not oven getting a deposit. '