GREYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 December 1901, Page 2

GREYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

The regular meetiag of the Greymouth Harbor Board was held last night. Present—Mesirs Petrie (ehoirmsn), Sussell, Matkieson, M‘ttoctnie, Guinness, Campbell, and Sheedy.

The Finance Committee reported receipt* since last meetiag to bare been £B7 10s id. The eurrent acoonat Harbor Board has a credit of £5, 55115a lOd, and the Deposit Acoonat £6,000. Acsounts amounting to .£3,080 2s were examined and passed for payment. OBiIKVi.VI KIPORT. The Chairman said the first business was the election ef Chairman for the ensuing year. Before retiring he desired to place before members the position of the Board. “ The receipts from revenue from the date of incorporation of the Board to 31st December, 1899, amounted to £187,190, which, with £200,000 of loan money represented the Board's expenditure, .being an average revenue exclasive of loan during the II years of £13,479. As showing the rapid increase be might mention that last year the income was £22,950, and for the current year it will be about £85,200. Of this sum £23,600 has been already received, so that the estimate could not fall much short.

“ The charges for interest and sinking fund on loam, working expenses of the Board, harbor staff, office, incidental, tug service, including ordinary repairs fer the current year, will be about ffl£,ooo, thus leaving an available balance of this year’s revenue of £HJi2OO for expenditure on works. Since the Ist January lari, £15,624 had been spent on works enumerated below South Breakwater—Repairs and Extension £3,255 North Breakwater—Repairs'and Bx tension 2,018 Plant—Material and Repairs ... 3,246 Contracts for supply and delivery ofironbark piles and other timber ... ... ... 2,400 Cobden bridge—liepairs, rent, Ac 362 Lagoon Bridge Repairs and alterations ... 458 Bering for eoal at Dobson ... 843 Tariouo small works _ ... 80 Supervision and eoatiugoncies .. 558 Work done by Railway Bepart- , sent and i et rolling stock... 1,704 Progress payment on aecount of eoitracts for uew engines, boiler and steering gear for tug ... ... ... ••• 600 Tetal £15,524 CASK ASSETS. Karbor Fund Account at Bank New Zealand ... £2,562 fixed deposits 6,000 Cash in Secretary’s hands ... 23 Government subsidy for boring at Dobson ... 250 Grey-Branner Railway and Wharf net earnings from 18th November, 1901 ... 2,800 Endowments of land revenue ... 1,400 Towages M 5, rent £4 19 Special rate on eoal 258

Total cash assets ... £13,314 CASH LUBILITIM. Interest and sinking fund on loans ... ... ... £3,500 Sundry accounts, salaries, etc... 835 Liabilities on account of agreements entered into —Railway Department, Station Mastoi’s Louse, rolling stock and other works 6,430 Subs work—Bore on Brunner Mine lease 130 Diamond drill and boiler ... 1,260 Tug’s engines and boiler and extra 3,145 Lost diamonds, say 400 Total ... _. £14,700 Balance, excess of liabilities over assets £1,186 “In the preceding statement of cadi assets no credit has been taken for timber royalties accrued and uncollected, nor for rents in arrear on coal mine leases in the Cobden district, nor on sections of land in Dobson and surrounding district, which, at reduced rates, amount to about £5,000, Leaving these items out of consideration, the eapk assets and cash liabilities are approximately as stated.

above; but payments on account of the greater portion of the liabilities will ex* tend over a period of fire or six months from the present date, As this is so, an estimate of what the financial position of the Board will probably be on the Ist July next will, perhaps, enable a clearer view to be had of the present position. Of course, there will naturally bo a great deal of conjecture in jsuch an estimate, but, assuming that the revenue for the ensuing »ix month* will be about one half of the present y*ar'* revenue, that the works m progress proceed at the same rat* as now, and that no new works are undertake*, then th* position on Ist July next will be somewhat as follows ESTIMATED EEOBWie UF TO 1/7/02, Credit cash balance in bank and

fixed deposits ... '... £8,652 Secretary's Imprest ' ... 25 Grcy-Brunner railway and wharf net earnings to July Ist 10,500 Land endowments— Revenue ~, 1,500 Special rate on coal ... ~, 1,200 Towages, rente, etc., say 200 Total ... ... ... £22,887 ESTIMATED HPBNDXTUSB UP TO 1/7/02. Interest on loans ... ... £6,000 Sinking Fund ... ... ... 500 Departmental expense* w 1,500 Payments on account of agree* meats entered into,,, 10,363 Wages, supervision and material for use on works 5,300 Charges on boring roads and machinery for tug and fixing in position, and for lost diamonds and unforeseen contingencies, gay... 1,000 Total ... ... £24665 Expenses in excess „. £1,678 “The Board of coarse had authority to raise a further loan of £50.000, So far it had not found it necessary to do so, but with such an excess of revenue over expenditure no difficulty should be experienced in getting the money if required. He desired to thank the members of the Board for their uniform courtesy and the officers for their excellent work, Mr Guinness, in a highly eulogistic speech, complimented Mr fetri* upon hie

past administration, and thegrasp he had of the Board’s finaneea. Me conelnded by nominating htta qs Chairman for the issuing teem. Mr Mesas t seconded, and ol the members having spoken favorably to the metion, it was carded Unanimously. Mb Ketnie briefly acknowledged the oompHment paid bine. The ordinary business was then pro* ceeded with. ibm junnoE wosks. The Chairman stated that in conformity with what had been said in the Finance Committee by a member of the Board that the overseer had informed the said member that there were far too many men on, and a were net fit* ted for the work, he would move at next meeting that the Board go into commit* tea to deal with the matter. ooil. nonnra. In oommitteee the. Board considered matters regarding the positions of fore* man for rook borer. On resuming the Chairman brought up the following re* port whiob was adopted S—That the Board eaU for application* in New Eea. leand for a drill master *nd that advertlsa* manta be kept in the payees in the dil* forsnt centres calling for same. The salary to b* AO a weak. tkb iroum'i BHPOEJ. The Engineer reported as follows * “ At the north krsnkwntsl the opening in the staging mads for the Maponrika has been replied, anl we are now repair* ing the burnt portion,

In the Quarry, the platelayers are putting in the Jibes to work the new face. Good progress has been made in the drive. There is about a fortnight** work to do. Powder will be required. The weigh bridge house will be completed in the holidays

The railway line opposite the sawmill has been lifted and packed. Tbe rocket house requires repairs, and it should be removed down the railway lino opposite the signalman’s cottage. Soma time age it was daeided to erect a new flag etaflf and fittings when the weather suited. \£* might now get the necessary aatepial and do the work as time permits.

Sonudings »nd eulvey in ooanselion with tbs proposal nev wharf abort Taiiiui slreo», show that ike tee at the stone hank projsoti ahout=so feel Into the rivet. It would be anadvisable at present to build a wharf on the site," Mr MaUmsou moved, uti Ml Gamp, bell saeonded, that tbe rceket house be repaired ani removal, Carried, Mr Petrie moved, and Mr Mdaehnio seconded, that the flagstaff be put farther •ut, Oaraiofl. Mr Guiuness moved that tbe Engineer be instructed te report on extending tbe wharf toward* tbe bar, alto to have a report oa the adviaableness of making wharves on the lagoons. Mr Mathosoa aeoondeS, and said the lagoon would ultimately he the site. Me bad every oenfllenee that the lagoons would be the 6sst piaee, an! eould be accomplished with very little cost. Carried. - wxtA*jr cease. From the Railway Bapartruant stating that they would he wiUicg ta aupply a moveable erano bar the 'sum of £IOOO. On the jseotien of M* U’Keohnie seconded by Mr Matbisaoa lb was vcsoltvei that Mr Ronayne he a&el be surely plane ef crane suitable, such «rate to be provided with a grab, and Board would get same supplied. HOLIDAYS. Resolved that the usual Board holidays si art on the 34th to the 4th January. STATS COAL MIKES. Mr Guiuness moved that the Minister of Mines be wired to, urging upon him the necessity of complying witn the Board’s request re Point Ilusabeth Goal Co and the Postmaster relative to telephonic communication with Westport. Mr Russell seconded. Carried. «rvu» dmcoikg. Mr Guinness moved that the question of dredging the river stand adjourned, and that the engineer be asked to collect information and report on a sand pump. Mr Mclechnie seconded. Carried.