ANNUAL MEETING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3600, 25 January 1883, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Napier Harbor Board was held in the Supreme Court House this forenoon. Present: Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), Hon. J. N. AVilsou, Captain Gleadow, and Messrs M. R. Miller, A. AVardrop, J. H. A\autier, and His Worship the Mayor. state of the bar. The question of the barque Thome not being brought inside, as was desired, owing to alleged obstacles having been thrown in the way of such being done by the harbor master, was discussed. The Chaiaman said he had seen the harbor master on the subject before he left Napier, and such arrangements were then made that he went away under the impression that the barque would be brought inside. Every facility was to have been given to effect the purpose. Mr Balharry, agent for the vessel in question, also the captain, and the harbor master, were in attendance, and were examined by the Chairman respecting the matter, Mr Balharry said he had no specific charge to lay against the pilot. The latter first said the barque coidd be brought iv at 11 feet, and afterwards he said it coidd only be brought in at 10 feet G inches, subsequently changing his mind again and making the first offer. The captain then came to the conclusion there was something wrong, and did not care about risking it. Other objections Avere raised by the pilot with respect to the moorage and want of facilities for towing-. Had these objections not been raised by the pilot the vessel would undoubtedly havo been brought inside, the owners accepting any risk of same being done. He could not say himself if tho operation would have been attended with danger. The vessel would have altered her trimming had such been required. There was 13 feet of water reported on the bar at tho time. Captain Hatchwell said it was his own wish to como inside at first, as he wished to save by ballasting. It was some time before the New Zealand Shipping Company could be induced to the risk of bringing the vessel in. Ho bad some conversation at different times with the pilot on the subject, but never got much encouragement from him, and he concluded to remain at the anchorage. Subsequently he got sufficient inducement from the company and was willing to put the ship in trim and bring her inside ; but now that he had been here some time, and become better acquainted with the port, he would not think of bringing the barque inside under any conditions. There was sufficient towing power to bring the vessel inside the morning it was proposed to do so had the weather been fine and no wind blowing. The mooring posts at the breastwork would not have been sufficient to hold the vessel. The "special extra moorings" provided he would not trust string chain to. Mr Miller said the question was, did the pilot put any obstacle in the way of bringing t.hc_vc_scl inside after she was in proper trim. Captain Hatchwell said he would not have come inside subsequently to the day on which the vessel was ready, and on that day circumstances were unfavorable The vessel was not to be brought to the wharf to load frozen meat, but wool. Mr Kracft, the pilot, denied having thrown any obstacles in the way of bringing the vessel inside. He offered to bring it in at 11 feet provided there were two steamers to tow it. The only objection he could see to bringing the vessel inside was the lack of proper berthing accommodation. It was Captain Hatchwell himself who decided to remain at the anchorage. It was not true that he had been " off and on " in the matter of bringing in the barque, as stated by Mr Balharry. AVitness hardly thought the ring placed for mooring would be strong enough to hold a vessel of 870 tons. Had the Thome been brought inside there would have been sufficient berthage left for one more vessel such as Mr Vautier's craft, but not for coasters besides. The Chairman asked what action tho Board proposed to take ? Mr Smith said it seemed the time of the Board had been wasted in listening to the matter. Mr Balharry's letter after all meant nothing. The Chairman thought no influence ought to be brought to bear on the pilot—at the same time every facility ought to be given to masters to bring vessels inside. Several members expressed themselves that Mr Kracft showed too much indecision, and that while a good enough pilot, he was not the proper man for harbor master. No doubt, if the Thome had been berthed successfully, it would have been an inducement to the owners to bring' the Mataura inside also. The matter was ultimately allowed to drop without any specific action being taken. CORRESPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was read: — From the Colonial Secretary, authorising the Board to forward the plans for a harbor direct to the Agent-General at London, who would hand them over to the judges.— The Chairman read a copy of the letter he proposed sending with the plans. He hoped to have the award of the judges by cablegram in April or May, so that the matter could be brought before the next Parliament.—Mr AVilson expressed the opinion that such woidd be impossible. Notice would havo to be given to Parliament.— The Chairman could sec no difficulty in the way.—Mr AVilson pointed out that it would never do for the Board to commit itself to any particular plan without having more data before it than could be contained in a cablegram. There was no great necessity for rushing- the matter in such a style. He would prefer that the judges should take some little time to consider the plans thoroughly.—The Chairman said he would be one of the last men to commit the Board to anything hurriedly, but he thought it would be very unwise on the part of the Board to lose twelve months by not immediately commencing such proceeding's as were possible as soon as the award of the judges became known. —It was finally agreed that the letter drafted by tho Chairman be forwarded to the Agent-General. RETIREMENT OF MEMBERS. The Chairman said that he was one of those members who would retire by effluxion of time before another meeting was held, and he might say that he considered it very questionable if he shoidd continue to be a member of the Board any longer owing to his having on one occasion recently differed from the spirit of a resolution concerning the harbor at Napier earned by the public body that had elected him as their representative. Therefore, as this might be the last occasion on which he would occupy his present seat, he wished to say that he had, during all the time he occupied it, done everything he could in tho_ matter of harbor accommodation for this district. He had written oxplaiiung his views on the question to the body he represented, so that they might decide what action they should take [Left Sitting.]