NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3800, 19 September 1883, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuksday, September 18,

The Board met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), His Worship tho Mayor, the Hon. J. N. Wilson, and Messrs J. W. Neal, J. A. Smith, J. H. Vautier, A. Wardrop, and H. Williams. T1173 JIAEBOn DESIGNS. Among tho outward correspondence there was tho following letter from the Chairman to the Agent-General, Sir F. Dillon Bell:— I have the honor by desire of the Napier Harbor Board to convey to yon the aincero thanks of the Board for the land services rendered hy you in connection with the reference to the .English engineers of tho competition designs for a harbor at Napier. Your cablegram first informed the Board of the decisions come to by the judges, and although some information was obtained from Mr Culcheth, the engineer whose dosign had been awarded the prize, it was not until the receipt of the letter conveying tho judges' decisions and the detailed, report and plan of Mr Culcheth that tho Board fully understood the design that had been approved. lam sorry to be obliged to say that the decision has given great disappointment, and tho unanimous determination of the Board has been not to adopt Mr Culcheth's proposal, not only because it ia thought the results that design might possibly secure are not at all proportionate to the expenditure, but also because the design is founded on what are known hero to bo absolutely fallacious grounds. The whole plan of Mr Culcheth is founded, as stated in his report, on the theory that tho shingle difficulty is chiefly produced from material washed by the waves from tho Napier Bluff. He then so designs his works as to secure the Bluff froni the action of the waves, and concludes he has dealt with tho shingle difficulty. I venture to think that your own acquaintance "with* Hawke's Bay is sufficient to enable you to know, as everybody does here, that the shingle is not produced at the Napier Bluff, but is brought down the Tuki Tuki river, which runs into the bay some eight miles to to the south. Upon realising the ground on which Mr Culcheth based his report and design the Board had no hesitation in coming to the determination I have conveyed to you. It was further resolved to at onco request the Colonial Secretary to cable to you to send back the rest of the designs, and no doubt they will now be on the way. In taking this action the Board felt that it was of no use asking the English engineers to further consider the matter, as it was evident it was impossible for them to realise fho condition of things here, or Mr Culcheth s theory that the shingle difficulty was produced at the Bluff could not havo been approved of. You will no doubt havo obtained irom Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr Abernethy their claim for professional services, and will forward the same in duo course. Tho Board will be obliged if you will kindly inform those gentlemen of tho around on which it has decided not to adopt Mr Culcheth's design. Tho Board will of course carry out its engagement, and pay the sum promised for tlio selected design, and can only regret that a more piacticable proposal was not approve^

COERESPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was read: — From the Colonial Under-Secretary, stating that the Agent-General had been telegraphed to on tho 3rd of September requesting him to return the designs for the papier harbor works. From the Napier Gas Company, asking if the Board would have lamps erected on the breastwork and cattle wharf.—The .secretary was directed to communicate with tho municipal authorities and enquire whether the borough would join with the Harbor Board in the cost of erection and maintenance of one light; ou tho cattle wharf and one on the West -Jprom Mr Thomas Hallott, asking wheTSorthc Board would receive designs for a harbor. Consideration deferred till next meeting. From the Harbor-master, reporting the depth of water on the bar at present to be 12ft 3in. From Mr Henry Harvey, of the p.s. Manaia, asking whether the Board will compensate him for injuries received by him on the 2nd inst., owing to timber and other cargo having been left lying on tho wharf. —The secretary was directed to make further inquiries. From the Marine Department recommending, in view of the recent disaster at Nelson, that all harbor and pilot boats under the Board's control be furnished with a sufficient number of life belts for their crGW . u ,_lt was ordered that tho pilot be instructed that life-belts must always be carried in the pilot boat when going out. ENOIXEEfi's REPORT.

Tho following report from the engineer was read: — . I have the honor to report that during tho last month tho dredge has been employed deepening the berths at the cattle wharf and the latter place being used for road formation. The metalling contract at West Quay is being carried out satisfactorily. I be" , to call your attention to the following extract from the annual report of tho Marino Department, as I consider that if tho recommendation contained therein is carried out it may prove detrimental to the navigation of vessels from tho south, as tho port light cannot be seen southward of the Bluff: — "Napier Bluff Light.—This light is badly placed through being built by tho late Provincial Government alongside the gaol (instead of on tho lighthouse reserve), with tho object of having tho light attended to by the gaol warders, and thus saving tho cast of a regular lightkeepcr. It would bo of much greater use if it were on Capo Kidnapper, and, as that is one of the places selected for a light, I submit that it would be advisable to move tho light in question to that headland, where it Avould be specially serviceable to vessels bound to Napier from the South. Vessels from tho North are guided by Portland Island light, and the port of Napier itself is marked by the harbor light at tho entrance." It was resolved, on tho motion of Mr Smith. "That the Government be informed that the Board have had their notico catted to the recommendation in the report of tho Marino Department to move the Napier Bluff light to Capo Kidnapper, and tliatvthe Board "object to the removal of the light to that place." FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £357 16s Id were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that tho balance at the bank was £289 18s, besides £5000 on fixed deposit. The Board then adjourned.