HARBOR FINANCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10320, 1 February 1927, Page 3

HARBOR FINANCE

SHOULD WORKS BE REVIEWED? DEBATE BY HARBOR. BOARD. A proposal that a special meeting should be convened to review the harbor construction work already completed. and the financial position in l'elation to the completion of the balance of the- scheme was submitted to the Harbor Board yesterday by Mr. T. Corson, but it was ultimately withdrawn.

In proposing the motion, Mr. Corson pointed out that £SOOO to £OOOO had been lost by the breaking up of the Monowai, and as the work of constructing the breakwater on different lines would be a bigger job than anticipated he considered it was incumbent upon members to inquire carefully into the financial position. The breakwater work at Whareongaonga was likely to be a big job; he said, and so far the slip was the only section completed for the expenditure of £500,000. He wanted to see more of the work finished for the expenditure of that money. The motion was seconded by Mr. Holdsworth, pro forma. Mr. Quirk agreed that it was now opportune to review the financial position, and suggested that the engineer should prepare a brief special report as to the probable cost of tlie completion of the balance of the worKs. To allay the minds of the public and Board he desired t?> assure them that the loss of the Monowaiwas one of the set backs which the Board must face in the future. Mr. Todd considered that such a meeting implied an inquiry and there was no disaster to warrant such an investigation. The chairman (Mr. W. G. Slierratt) stated that as the Boai’d had a statement of the money in hand, the engineer’s statement of progress of the work and its costs and a comparison with the original estimates, he did not know what more members could want. The engineer said that Mr. Corson had made some remarks which he assumed were dii'ected at him. These works could not be prosecuted any faster, he said, as they all have to dove-tail in and they are proceeding according to schedule. ‘‘Are we to assume that the works done are not sufficient?” he asked. “No,” replied Mr. Corson, who stated that he did not want to dispute Mr. Gump bell's figures, but he emphasised that the breakwater might not be a success and there might not be sufficient money to complete the work. The chairman: What have you got in your mind? . “’The quarry job might be bigger than anticipated,” replied Mr. Corson. “Capt. Carson told me “Now you are explaining your action” retorted the chairman. “You’ve heard someone else talking. As far as this end is concerned the works are going on satisfactorily.” Mr. Williams contended that he could not see the necessity of a special meeting as members had all the information obtainable. The Board was held to Whareongaonga and they must push ahead as until the breakwater was built at the quarry the Board could not get an inch of stone. The M'onowai had been lost and they must make the best arrangements to replace lier. He considered that the engineer had satisfactorily answered Mr. Armstrong’s complaints about the facing of the breakwater with large blocks of stone. Mr. Corson then withdrew his motion, and it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Smith, that the Board should make an inspection of the quarry on Monday next.