THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4239, 27 September 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was hold this afternoon j present—Messrs Beeves (in the chair), Tewaley, Davie, Turnbull, Eitchie, M'Neil, and M'Kmnon. The special business before the meeting was to consider the following telegrams, which were read by Mr Sessions, acting-secre-tary

Be Harbor Works plans.—As Mr Blackett holds the position of Colonial Marine Engineer, and by virtue of that office has to advise the Governor as to approval or otherwiso of the plans, it wonld not be fair to place him in the position which J understand it is your Board's wish he should be—namely, as consulting engineer—and coming between Mr Simpson and the Board, 1 do not see how Mr Blackett can take any action till the Board have finally adopted their plan, and then he will at once approve, or otherwise. jhe plans are now here only for advice, and not submitted for approval. Cannot Mr Gillies submit these plans in terms of the ActP—EdwaepJEichakdsow, for Colonial Secretary. The Minister of Paplie Works having read toe me bis reply to a tele* gram from the Board, I think it is right for me to say that Mr Simpson, in my presence, expressed his willingness that Mr Blackett should visit Dunedin if thought necessary. The objection by Government is that he should be adviser to the Board, and also to the Government in sanctioning the plans. The latter, it is held, is all that can be given, on 1 involves ajgeneral expression of concurrence. Bichardson says that Blackett could not go farther unless he had ao; ml control over the works which would be stepping between the Board and its own Engineer, a course which Blackett strongly objects to. Mr Davie said the Board seemed bonnd bylaw to submit their plans to the General Government for approval. Mr Beeves: I was under the impression that that was done long ago and that they were approved.

Mr TswstE? said it seemed to him that they hj id better retrace their steps. He felt at the spe ial meeting on Monday fortnight that they were going too far ahead. The best thing they could now do was to get Mr Simpson hack. The Board should then consider the plans thoroughly, and then let them get other advice. It was premature in soi fling Mr Simpson away in the manner in which they did—there would be nothing solid till something was done in the indication, After further discussion, Mr Buckie siid that as, practically speaking, the Board had, only thrjge months to run—for there was no doubt the Bill now before Parliament would be

oarrkd—lthadjooourwd to Ua wlathor it would not be advisable or competent to kin over ell lau xjrtant work* till tiie saw. Board Was appointed. Their functions ceased la three monthe* tune, and then a new Board on a different basis would have to be appointed. Hr Turnbull gave notice for next meeting—- ** That ra the interests of the whole population of tho Province are affected by the operations of the Board, it is desirable that tW, members should bo elected by tbe whole body of the electors. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Hon. Mr Reynolds, requesting that he will introduce into the Bill now before the Assembly the necessary pow?r to give effect to saute, including machinery to enable the electors to vote by proxy." Mr Ritchie: That requires a little consideration.

: it i* <?oing beyond our how the members should be elected. ' Mr Turnbull ; It gives the people the whole lower fc j elect them, instead of being appointed by half-a-dozen persons. Mr Eitchib said recently he had felt an onus on his shoulders of which’ho would Hie to be relieved.

Mr Turnbull then moved—That the Secretary bo instructed by telegram to submit the plans officially to the Government as suggested iutbfe from the Minister of Public ■Works." Mr M‘Klunon Booonded tho motion, u biiinf 4 step in the right direction. * diroctfou* B** 8 *** 1 Coß *^* r a ■top in the wrong

Mr Turnbull : If the minority is going to grumble, we had better not go on. Mr Ritchie thought Mr Turnbull had ne rlilit to speak in that way. He had known of instances whore the Board voted one way, and' next dsy. turued round to the views of the minority. iSr" moved and Mr • Eitchib seconded That the substance of the following resolution ?mi i , conveyed to the Colonial Secretary;—■ That the Board desires to express its wish that tho Colonial Secretary will agree to depart in the pre. sent instance from the general role, and allow Mr Blackett to coine to Dunedin to report on the whole scheme of harbor reclamation and the method of oirrying out the same.* ” Mr Turnbull withdrew his motion, and the amendment was carried, Mr M'Neil exp easing the opinion that it would not have the desired effect.