NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3722, 20 June 1883, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, June 19,

The Board met at 2.30 p.m. Present: — Mr J. D. Ormond (okalrmaii), His Worsllip the Mayor, Messrs J. W. Neal, J. A. Smith, J. H. Vautier, A. Wardrop, J. N". William 3, and H. Williams. CORRESPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was reud: — From tho Hon. J. N. Wilson and Mr W. C. Smith, M.H.R., asking for leave of absence dnring the session of Parliament.— Granted. From the Union S. 3. Company, applying to have the name of James Setter substituted for that of Edward Maloney as master of the Boojum.—Approved. From Mr J. Hutchinson, chiof officer of tho e.s. Waihora, applying for a pilotage exemption certificate. — Granted on the usnal conditions, From the Napier Rowing Club, asking to be allowed to remove their present boat shed to a site nearor town.—Approved, subject to the club undertaking to remove the shed again if required on receiving , three months' notice. From the Harbor Master, reporting the draught of water on tho bar to bo lift. 9in PREPARING FOE HARBOH RATE. A letter was read from tho Hawke's Bay County Council furnishing a statement of the ratable value of the county. The Chairman said the only local body that had refused to supply a similar return to the Board was the Wairoa Council. The clerk of that body had written saying "he was not allowed to furnish tho desired information." Tho Chairman said he had also written to the Government asking for tho ratablo value of the whole provincial district, the counties and ridings. The returns for the separate ridings were not ready, but he had recoived a letter stating that the total . (capital) ratable value of Napier is £829,000 ; County of Hawke's Bay, £4,170,000; County of Wairoa, £722,000; County of Waipawa, £2,566,000. This included Crown and native lands liable to rates. This information ho had obtained in view of the introduction of a Harbor Board Bill into Parliament this session if the decision of the judges on the plans were recoivod in time. JIo intended to give a notice of motion for next mooting in connection with the matter. BRE4STWORK IMPROVEMENTS. The following report from tho engineer was read:— Having been instructed to report upon accommodation for landing passengers' luggngo, &c, from tho coasting steamers, I havo tho honor te report as follows: — I prosume, from tho fact that the Board will shortly bo in possession of the decision of Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr Abernethy TVlth regard to future harbor improvements, that what the Soal'd requires me to report on is the best means of arranging for acpommodation for passengers' luggage, Sec, at fhe present works. I beg, therefore, to 'recommend that the space between the upper cargo shed and the edge of the breastwork be planked, and that the Harbormaster bo instructed to arrange, when berth' ing vessels, that tho berth at this part is available for the passengers' launch on the clays that the steamers arrive. By this arrangemoßt passengers' luggage can be placed in the shed at once, in the event of wot weather. The outlay for the planking will bo only about £3, as the Board have the timber on hand. With regard to improving the landing , flloog tho remainder of the breastwork I would suggest for a width of 12ft from the edge of tho quay the road bo broken up and packed Bolid with large rubble, and tho surface covered with asphalt. The cost of tips would be about £450. Replying to questions, Mr Saundors oxplained that tho site of the proposed platform was near Mr Kinross's store. It would run across the railway line, but movable planking could be put down there. After some discussion the first part of the report was adopted, and the work authorised. TENDERS. The tender of Mr J. T. Ryan (only ono received) for selling tho leases of Harbor Board reserves at U- per cent, on first twolve months' rental was accepted conditionally upon the leases being sold. Tenders wero opened for the supply of 70,0 cubic yards of limestone for metalling the breastwork torn the present hauling place to tho bridge, but none were accepted, the Board agreeing that ifc would he better to use shingle for the purpose. It was ultimately agreed to call for tenders for 400 yards of rubble and 350 yards of shingle. WHARF IN THE IKON TOT. Mr Vautier moved, "That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifi-

cations and call for tenders for a breastwork from the north end of the Iron Pot bridge (in a straight line) to the south end of the cattle wharf—main piles to be 20ft long and 10in by 10in, and sheeting piles 17ft long and sin thick; all of heart of totara— so as to admit vessels drawing 10ft at high water." He explained that the proposed wharf would bo near the Union Company's offices, and it would be a great convenience for the landing of the passengers and their luggage. Owing to the set of the tide there would bo plenty of water there, and small coasters could use tho wharf as well as the Union Company's launches. He had purposely named the dimension of the piles in his motion, because ho held that in some instances they were driven an unnecessary depth, and were unnecessarily large, causing wasteful expenditure. He believed the wharf could be built for £1500 or £1800. Mr J. A. Smith seconded the 7notion, which was warmly supported by Mr Neal. Tho latter gentleman, however, considered it would be premature to invite tenders until the decisions of the judges at London with respect to tho competitive designs for harbor improvements had been received. Mr Dolbel and Mr 11. Williams were favorable to the motion. Mr J. N. Williams moved, as an amendment, that the motion be considered when information as to tho harbor designs selected arrived from England. Mr Wardrop seconded the amendment. The chairman expressed himself in favor of the amendment.

Ultimately Mr J. N. Williams' amendment was lost, and Mr Vautier's motion was carried, he consenting to strike out that part referring to the calling for tenders. Mr Dolbel withdrew his motions referring to the improvement of the "Iron Pot " at the wish of tho majority of the Board, at tlio same time saying he thought his plan would be best, as he proposed to reclaim on both sides of the Pot, and so secure berthage on both sides. ENGINEER'S RErOET. The engineer reported that Mr Glendinning had completed the breastwork contract in a satisfactory manner. Repairs to the roadway were in progress on the western quay, and "a small subsidence of rubble at the western pier-head had been made good. Tho report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. It was agreed to call for fresh tenders for punting to tho outer harbor the stuff raised by the dredges as soon as the present contract had run twelve months. Accounts amounting to £1216 13s 9d were passed for payment.—The Chairman stated that the balance at the bank was £710 lGs Gd, and there was £5000 on fixed deposit. THE HAEBOE BOAED'S BILL. In view of tho possibility of the decision of the English judges on the harbor designs submitted to them arriving , in time for the introduction of a Harbor Board Bill into Parliament this session, Mr Ormond gave notice of the following motions which he will bring forward at the next meeting. He explained that the motions practically formed the skeleton of the bill: — That a bill be prepared and submitted for the sanction of the General Assembly at the present session to authorise the Napier Harbor Board to borrow £250,000, or such Bum as may be required, to construct a harbor at Napier in conformity with the design approved of by Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr Abernethy. That the interest and sinking fund on such loan be secured by a rato on all ratable property within tho Hawko's Bay provincial district—such rate to be assessed in each year so as to produce the amount necessary to provide for tho payment of interest and sinking fund on tho loan raised, after taking into account the amount available from wharfage and port dues, after such dues have provided for the ordinary expenditure of the harbor establishments and the maintenance of the harbor works.

That for the purposes of levying the necessary rate for payment of interest and sinking fund the Hawke's Bay provincial district shall be divided into three or four rating districts, Avith a rate on a sliding scale for each of such districts, proportionate to the contiguity to, and the benefit to be derived from, the harbor. That his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Neal, H. Williams, J. N. Williams, Dolbel, and the mover be appointed a solect committee to prepare a subdivision of tho Hawko's Bay district for rating- purposes, and to recommend the scale for each subdivision. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the mombp.rs representing , TTawkfi's Bay in the General Assembly, with a request that they will assist in securing the passing of a bill so necessary to the welfare and advancement of the district. Tho Board then adjourned.