NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3778, 24 August 1883, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Special Meeting.

A special meeting of the Napier Harbor Board Avas held this afternoon at 2.30, to consider the judges' report and the designs for a harbor for Napier. The following Avere present:—Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), His AVorship the Mayor, Messrs Philip Dolhcl, J. G. Kinross, J. AY- Neal, J. H. Vauticr, A. Wai-drop, and 11. Williams. The Chairman said tho report of tho judges (as the members of the Board would have already noticed, it Inning been published in the ncAvspapcrs) Avas very brief, and coiiA'cyed no information further than that the bonus had been aAvarded to Mr the judges' report, hoAvever, came the very lengthy report of Mr Culchcth, with elaborate estimates, tho Avhole forming quite a book. Ho did not think it Avould suit any good purpose to road Mr Culcheth's report at the present meeting, as it Avould take some considerable time for members to study its provisions thoroughly. He (the chairman) had gone carefully 'through the report, and was disappointed to find that results had been given Avhich anyono possessed of local knowledge of the subject must know Avere different from the facts of the caso The report Avas divided into five parts, and in the second part dealing Avith the question of shingle he noticed that tho proposals of Mr Culchcth for dealing with this difficulty Averc based upon the fallacious impression that the shingle came from the Bluff, and not from tho Tuki Tuki river. The Avholo plan Avas built upon this theory, Avhich any person resident in the district, and Avithout the least engineering knowledge, know to bo a ridiculous one. It seemed to him (Mr Ormond), therefore, that Mr Culcheth's designs Avere out of tho question. Mr Dolbel and Mr Vauticr thought tho English judges could knoAV nothing about the shingle difficulty, living as they did 16,000 miles from the place. It would bo money throAvn aAvay to adopt Mr Culcheth's plans, Avhich wore evidently prepared on a false basis.

Mr Williams concurred Avith the pi _\dous speakers. The meagre report of the judges Avas far from satisfactory, and shoAved that even they apparently had some doubts about the success of tho scheme. Tho engineers had evidently labored under tho impression that Avhat Avas wanted was an improA-emcnt of the present works, and nothing else. After some further discussion, it Avas resolved to confirm the Board's resolution of July 17th to the effect that Mr Culcheth's proposals are not sufficient for the requirements of the place, and that the English/ judges be notified thereof.

It Avas also decided, on the motion of Mr Williams, seconded by His Worship the Mayor, that the judges be requested to send out at once all tho remaining competitive plans that were submitted to them.

[Left sitting.]