GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2103, 11 June 1907, Page 3

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD

The adjourned meeting of the Gisborne Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. J. Townley (Chairman), Harris, Hepburn, Lysnar, Clark, Whinray, Sievwright and Captain Tucker. TIMBER CONTRACT.

The .Jarrali Timber Co. wrote offering to supply first-class jarrah timber at 23s 4d per 100 ft., c.i.f. at Gisborne, delivery in four months. The company suggested timber in the round as it would save 2s duty and was a little cheaper. The Chairman, in' reply to a question, said this hardwood did not carry the sap like New Zealand timbers. Captain Tucker favoured the whole limb in preference to square timber. The' Chairman suggested that a definite, quote bo asked for round piles. —Agreed to.

OIL LAUNCH. The tender of Chas. Bailey, junr., of Auckland, to build an oil launch for £470, was accepted. The overseer suggested that towing apparatus be seen to,as it would be convenient at times.—Approved and left in Captain Cumming’s hands.

DENUDING THE FORESHORE. H. Te Kani Pere, writing on behalf of the Native owners of Waiahirore No. 2 block, called the Board’s attention to the fact that carters were taking sand and gravel both from the block and the beach frontage, also from the road, a continuation oi Lowe street passing through the block. This was .detrimental to the land, .and the owners asked the Board to take steps to stop tho practice, by public notification. Mr. Clark was strongly of opinion that the Board should permit no shingle, sand or stone to be removed from the beach. He moved to this effect-

Mr. Wliinray said the Board ha< lealt with the matter before. T<

carry this would necessitate rescinding the previous resolution. He saw no objection to the removal of shingle. Captain Tucker said the Board made themselves ridiculous ill the eyes of everyone, passing resolutions against the beach being denuded and

then shutting their eyes to the fact that the prohibition was totally ignored. Carts could he seen every day, or else see big mounds in the process-of being carted away. They knew that a great deal of the property was allowed to be washed away, thus affecting tho Esplanade. The natural protection should not be interfered' with. First driftwood was taken away. Then came the next pilfering or robbery of sand and shingle. When an owner asked for pro-, tection they should affort it. His' recollection of the permission given was that it merely referred to sand for ballast. This was a totally different thing from removing .gravel and shingle, which should be stopped. | Mr. Sievwright agreed that the Board should st'bp the practice of removing material from €lie beach. j Mr. Lysnar said this was a matter for a general meeting. It was new business and should not- be brought up at this meeting. There was something to be said oil both sides. Below Tow water mark there should no restriction against taking sand and shingle, which was always moving. It was there one day and gone the next. The Chairman: Yes, taken by the carters. •. Mr. Lysnar reiterated, his argument. It was right to stop carters taking stuff abovo'lugli water mark. The Chairman; What earthly

jurisdiction have wo above liigli water mark? Mr. Lysnar wont on to say that the Board should afford facilities for taking shingle tho same as othor ■Boards which made a revenue from royalty. It was only right to utilise the material washed in. Nlr. Mntthowsou said no harm

could be done if tho removal were confined to the area between Greystreet and the groyne. It was necessary that the ships should get ballast.

Mr Harris said it was clangorous to have a resolution allowing sand to he taken away from tho front of private property. Rather than lay the Board open to an action for damages, they should have no resolution on the hooks. Let the carters make their own arrangements. Mr Hepburn said that in the area

referred to, the frontage had beei “made” by the sea to the extent o twetwelvo acres of land. What lint the property-owners to complain of ■ The posts defining the area had heei washed away, and the carters ad mitted they went over the boundary If they wore watched, and a prosecution taken it would he effective.

Mr. Clark was glad to hear the views expressed by the new member, Mr. Harris, and held the same opinion, viz., that the carters should make their own arrangements.

Tho Chairman moved that the restrictions previously imposed bo again

enforced

Captain Tucker said lie did not want to have the Board made liable. He gave uotico to move at next meeting that all permits be withdrawn. This was the safest course. The Chairman withdrew bis motion •iml the matter was adjourned.