LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2465, 1 March 1882, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Tuesday afternoon at half-past two o'clock. Present—The Hon. E. Bichardson,

Messrs B. J. S. Barman, Robert Allan, E. G. Wright, H. Allwright, C. W. Turner, P. Cunningham, H. Sawtell, and Hon. J. T. Peacock. Mr Bichardson was voted to the chair. The first business was the election of a chairman to fill the place of the Hon. E. Bichardson, who retired from office by effluxion of time. A letter was read from Mr Macpherson apologising for non-attendance. Mr P. Cunningham proposed Mr Harman as chairman. It was not necessary to refer to Mr Harman's long experience on this and other local Boards to prove his fitness for the office.

Mr Wright seconded the nomination. They must all recognise the very able manner in which Mr Bichardson had performed the duties of chairman since the formation of the Board. Still, the spirit of the constitution of these local bodies recognised that there should be an annual change in the chairmanship, and Mr Harman would, he thought, prove a worthy successor to Mr Bichardson ; therefore he had much pleasure in seconding that gentleman's nomination. There being no other nomination the motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr Bichardson, in retiring from the chair, said before doing so he desired to make only one or two remarks. He was aware that statements reflecting personally upon himself had been made outside, but he did not intend to make any reference to them. The interest which he took in the Lyttelton Harbor dated further back than the creation of the Board. When he was goin? Home in 1862 he was requested by tbe then Superintendent of the province, the late Mr Moorhouse, to collect all the information he could on the subject, and obtain tbe beat possible engineering advice as to what was beat to be done to improve the harbor. Before leaving Christchurcb he obtained some information from Mr Bray, on which Mr George Bobt. Stephenson had sketched out a scheme which was almost identical with the one that had now been carried out. Subsequently, as a member of the Provincial Council, it fell to his lot to procure the services of the two best engineers who bad been in tbe employ of the colony—Messrs. Carruthers and Blaokett —and to obtain their report as to whether any modification conld be made in the original plan, and the recommendations of these gentlemen had been strictly carried out. Since his appointment as chairman in 1877 he had taken as much interest in the Lyttelton Harbor as it was possible for any man to take in any work. He confessed that he would like to have remained in office until the great work of the dock had been finally completed; but the Board bad decided otherwise, and he cheerfully accepted their decision. He was sure the incoming chairman would receive his assurance that he would give him every assistance in his power during his term of office. He would remind the Board that with their full consent he had invited bis Excellency the Governor to perform the ceremony of opening the dock, his Excellency having expressed a wish that this should be so. He had no doubt Mr Harman would see that this matter was properly attended to. In conclusion, he desired to thank the members of the Board for the manner in whioh they had at all times supported him during the five years he had occupied the chair. He had perhaps sometimes run counter to some members of the Board, but he felt sure they would recognise that if he had done so it had only been in the conscientious performance of bis duties.

Mr Harman, in taking the chair, returned thanks for bis election. He was not sensible that he possessed any special claim to the poßt of chairman. He regarded the honor which had been conferred npon him as the Only reward to which a member conld aspire, and be accepted his election as an indication that every other member of the Board could look forward to tbe same honor. He recognised that every other member was as competent as himself to discharge the duties. Mr Cunningham proposed—" That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Hon. E. Richardson for his services during his term of office (five years) as chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board." He did not know to what Mr Bichardson referred when he spoke of outside remarks having been made, but it was impossible for a Board of this kind -to work for five years without a little difference occurring now and then. On an occasion of this kind they should let all such matters drop. Possibly he had rubbed against Mr Bichardson more than any other member of the Board, and therefore this motion would come with good grace from him, and would show that what was called his section of the House —what was now the Government—was at least not small minded. [Laughter, and hear, hear.] Everyone recognised that Mr Richardson bad been a most valuable chairman, and they should not allow this opportunity to pass without placing on record their sense of the valne of his services. Mr Allwright seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr Allan and Mr Wright, and carried unanimously. Mr Richardson briefly acknowledged the vote.

Tho Chair «an t?ien read the usual statement. A letter was read from Mr L. Neville, who had resigned his position as draughtsman and assistant engineer, enolosing a letter from Mr Bell, the engineer of the Board, and asking the Board to eay whether they were satisfied with the manner in which he bad performed his duties. It was decided that the seal of the Board shonld be affixed to Mr Bell's testimonial.

An application from Mr H. Dalley, to bo allowed to remain in temporary occupancy of tbe smithy at the dock was declined. A letter was received from Mr Pilot Galbraitb, asking for an increase of salary. _ It was resolved that his salary should be increased by £25.

The engineer's report was read: Mr Wright moved, and Mr Allan seconded—- " That the dock be surrounded with a chain and movable to prevent accidents." Mr Turner moved—" That the matter be referred to tho harbor improvement committee, with power to aot." The amendment, which was seconded by tbe Hon. Mr Peacock, was put and negativod, and the original motion was carried. Mr Richardson moved—" That the report of tho finance committee, recommending a revised scale of towage rates, be adopted." Mr Turner seconded the motion and explained the extent ot the proposed alterations. a fter Borne discussion the further consideration of the report was deferred until next meeting. Accounts were passed to the amount of £11,291 12s. The Board then adjourned, to meot again at Lyttelton on the 30th March, at 2 p.m.