NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3760, 3 August 1883, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

This Day,

A special meeting of the Board was Jicld at 10.30 a.m. Present: Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), and Messrs Philip Dolbel, J. W. Neat, J. A. Smith, J. H. Vautier, A. Wardrop, and 11. AVilliams.

The Chairman said the meeting had been called to officially receive the report of Mr Culcheth respecting his designs for a harbor at Napier. At the "last meeting of the Board certain resolutions were come to which had not yet been acted upon. Since tho meeting ho (the Chairman) had thought the matter over, and, having also consulted other members of the Board, he believed there was a general desire that the English judges should not bo communicated with aa was at first arranged, but rather that the Board should wait for tho report of tho judges before any further action is.taken. That report would be shortly in their hands, and in courtesy to the judges, as well as for other considerations, it would be better to postpone doing anything in tho meantime. A reply had been received from the Agent-General to the cable sent him in which he stated that the plans not approved of had been detained in England, but Mr Culcheth's had been forwarded via, 'Frisco on July 12th. It would therefore arrive here about the 20th of August, Tho Board at the last meeting also expressed au opinion, which virtually meant that it be conveyed to the judges, that, subject to tho conditions being favorable, preference should be given to a scheme for a breakwater at tho Bluff. Now, it struck him (the Chairman) that a good course would bo for the Board's engineer to communicate with tho harbor engineer at Timaru with the view to obtaining a report and drawings of tho breakwater there, so a.s to ascertain if matters weroinoreunfavorable than atNapier. These particulars could bo brought under the notice of the judges, and -would strongly support the view of tho members, ho believed. If tho Board agreed to the matters now laid beforo them it would be necessary to authorise him, as their chairman, to defer carrying out tho resolution passed at last, meeting in reference to communicating with the judges. It would be better from all points of view to defer the matter. They had a year before them now in which to mature matters before a bill could bo introduced into the House. Mr Dolbel agreed that it was best to wait for tho report of the judges beforo taking any further action. Ho thought, however, that the Board should get all the plans returned and tho members inspect them. There might be among the thirtynine designs one better suitod to tho place than that chosen. Mr AVilliams thought all the plans shouldV be sent for. " The Chairman said the question required a groat deal of thought. If this course were adopted it siinjily mcaut taking the the matter out of the hands of the English Engineers. His (Mr Ormond's) opinion was that the Board wanted the judges' official position and sanction to enable them to carry tho matter through. Mr Williams said there was a probability that the English judges, having selected one plan already, would be adverse to recommending any other. The Chairman said that was the difficulty, and it was one that would tell against them in the money market as well as with tho Government. Mr Williams was of opinion that it would be as well to take the plans out of the hands of the present judges, thanking- them for their trouble, aud let the Board try some New Zealand engineers for au opinion on them. The Chairman remarked that that was a matter for future consideration, and members could think over it in the meantime. Mr Williams concurred. There might possibly he "something said in the report concerning the Bluff schemes, and reasons given as to why none of them had been adopted. Mr Vautier moved, " That tho chairman delay any action in communicating with the English engineers until after the re> ceipt of their report on the designs for a Napier harbor, and the consideration of the same by the Board, and that in the i'i'i'rim the Timaru Harbor Board authorities be comniunioatod with and asked to furnish a plan and report showing the progress of the Tirnani breakwater and the j "The wis seconded by Mr Wil- | lis in- an I carried. The Board then adjourned, it being understood that as so:>n as the report of the English judges arrives the members should be called together again.