ORDINARY MEETING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3746, 18 July 1883, Page 2

ORDINARY MEETING.

The ordinary meeting was then held, at Avhich the same membors as above wero present, also Mr J. H. Vautier. correspondence. Tho following inward correspondence was read:—

From the Marino Department, forwarding twenty-fiva copies of the NeAV Zealand harbor regulations, coming into force on the Ist of July.

From Mr D. Glcndinning, draAving attention to a loss he had incurred in carrying out the breastAVork contract through having had to take over and utilise a quantity of timber which tho Board had on hand.—N» action taken.

From the Collector of Customs, requesting that certain alterations, the cost of which Avould not exceed £10, bd made in the transit shod to enable the landing waiters to test the strength of spirits. From the Marine Department, stating that Captain Edie, of the AVuihora, had reported that there Avas a rock about three miles eastward of tho Napier Bluff, and enquiring Avhether tho Board had any knowledge of the existence of the rock in question.—The engineer reported that tlwre wag no record of any rock in tho position mentioned, and it was agreed to ask the Marino Department to have a search made for it by the Government steamer when sho next visits tin's port. From the Harbor Master, stating that he afforded every facility possible for landing passengers avlio arrive by the large steamers. From the same, reporting the depth of water on tho bar at high water slack to bo 12 feet.

From Mr Spcrry, Property Tax Commissioner, forwarding a return of tho ratable value of property in the Hawko's Bay province as folloivs: — Napier, £700,000; AVairoa, £722,382; AVaipawa, f:2,545,705; Hawke's Bay, -£3,232,514 ;„ otal, £2,390,651. | From Mr Culcheth (cablegram) as folif |lows :—"Boulder embankmentbolow Blufitt | omitted. Papers despatched." |f' »• From Mr Kirker, Napier manager of th| 1 South British Insurance Company, respecting the wreck of the schooner Transit at tho AVcstcrn Spit, and accusing the harbor master of AA'ant of knoAvlcdgo of tho duties pertaining to his office.—Referred to the harbor master for his report.

From the Harbor Master, detailing th« circumstances of the wreck above mentioned, and adding that he did not anticipate any danger to tho schooner, having often seen vessels riding out a heavier sea with perfect safety in this roadstead. • engineer's report. Tho folloAving report from the engineer was read :—

Dredging.—The dredge has been kept at work at the old and neiv breastworks, the material lifted at tho latter place being used for road formation. Tho neAV discharging punt Avill bo launched to-day. In accordanco with the resolution of the Board, I have given notice to the contractors for discharging the ballast punts that their contract Avill terminate on August 18th. Fresh tenders haA'c been invited for the work, and will be laid boforc you to-day.

Quays, &c—Planking has been fixed betAveen tho upper cargo shed and tho front of tho breastwork, as authorised by tho Board.

Tendors have been invited for 400 cubic fcot of rubble and 350 cubic yards of shingle, for covering the southern part of AA r est Quay.

The plans, specifications, &c, of the proposed Iron Pot breastwork (timber of tho dimensions stated by Mr Vautier) aro being prepared, together Avith the necessary sections and data, for transmission to tho Marine Department. / / the new harbor avorks. { j'l .' AVith respect to the proposed new harbor' \f\ works the Chairman intimated that, priori' to receiving tho decision of the judges on |[ the plans, every preparation had been madel for obtaining the necessary power for carry-1 , ing out tho Avork and for raising the money j ! required, and the two bills now on the table | had been drafted—tho ono for a grant of f •.part of the foreshore and land under tidal I water iv HaAA'ke's Bay, and the other conferring borroAving powers. But Mr Culcheth's description of his design was quite a disappointment. It was evident that obtaining a deptli of tAventy feet of water in five years was not worth tho expenditure of a quarter of a million, nor in -.fact -was it -rrhat was required 01' CXpeOtOtl, \lndeed it would be idlo to think of proposing to leA'y a rate to secure a loan for so . inadequate a return for so large an outlay. | Ho had therefore oomo to tho conclusion •$ that it would be useless to proceed this It session with the bills that had been drafted, ! || •and with tho consent of the Board he ti Avished to withdraw the motions of which *-', notice had been given, and substitute others f j to meet tho altered circumstances of the \ case.

Leave having been obtained the Chair;man submitted the folloAving resolutions, all of Avhich wero adopted with a feAV modifications:— "» (1) "That the design of Mr Cul- J cheth, which contemplates an expected .';,- depth of twenty feet Avithin five years by j; extension of tho present harbor works at a 11 cost of £250,000 does not in tho opinion of "• j the Board meet the requirements of tho : j HaAvke's Bay district, nor would the bene- * j fits to be derived from such results justify \ in the opinion of tho Board the imposition \ of the rate required for securing a loan for tho construction of such works. The chief ■ grounds on Avhich tho Board comes to the iabove conclusions are: That the works proposed by Mr Culcheth will not when completed provide the necessary depth or accommodation for tho class of ocean steamers bow trading bctweou Great Britain and New Zealand, and that tho district desires to secure works Avhich Avill accomodate such vessels, and is ready to provide for tho expenditure such works will entail." , (2) " The Board regrets that in forward- j (ing* the designs for the consideration of the judges tho sum of £250,000 was named to i I those gentlemen as tho limit of tho cost of ' j the Avorks, and also that the class of vessels ( to bo provided for was not more ■ ■stated." -—<f:;" -*«*»S&£Zp

' ' That with the hope of securing the class of harbor desired, Sir John HawkshaAV and Mr Abernothy be communicated with through the Agent-General, and thanked for the services already rendered to the Board, and that it be explained to them that Mr Ciilcheth's proposals ars not considered sufficient, and ask them to act further for the Board and consider and. adviso Avhethcr either of the designs lately submitted to them for harbor Avorks at Napier, and Avhich, in their opinion, are considored feasible, Avill secure accommodation for steamers of the class of tho lonic, say 27 feet depth of Avater, and, if so, which design Avill securo such results, and at Avhat cost; or if no design securing such results has been submitted vrill they consider Avhethor either of the designs can be altered to effect the object desired by the Board, and if so at Avhat cost; or failing* that, Avill Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr Abernethy prepare a design to proA*idc what is desired, and furnish plans and estimates of the same P" On tho suggestion of Mr A 7 autier it was resolved to alter tho resolution so as to leavo out any mention of the lonio, making that part read " Avill secure accommodation for ocean going steamers and provide a depth of water *-it loav tide of 30 feet." (1). "The Board is further of opinion 4fc. that in communicating with the English engineers it should be stated tlnitit ishopod the existence of the ru-ejudice the consideration of independent Avprks outside." -v,..--•••**-" '•": OTTftSSHoii being taken by several members to the word "outside," as giving too Avide a range, tho AvdMs**" iv tho vicinity of the Napier bluff ivcrc substituted. 't»)- "That the chairman be authorised to cable to tho Agent-General to retain tho designs in England until after the arrival of the next outgoing mail, and to convey by that mail to Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr Abernethy the request of tho Board to re? consider the subject on the basis of tho fore-, going resolutions." It Avas also resolved that the following message bo telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary:—" Kindly oablo at once to the Ageat-General to. retain, & all t*\ '•_* ■' '' | ■■;■;;',,

designs for Napior harbor submitted to judges, to wait arrival of letter by next mail." FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £309 0s Id were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that the balance at the bank was £96 19s 9d, besides £5000 on fixed deposit. TENDERS. The tender of A. AVhito was accepted for discharging material from punts outside 14s 6d, and inside 13s 6d. The tender of Charles Ellison, ns trustee in Hay don's estato, was accepted for the supply of shinglo at 2s per cubic yard, and of metal at 2s Gd per cubic yard. The Board then adjourned.