WAIMAKARIRI HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2703, 6 December 1882, Page 3

WAIMAKARIRI HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting' was held in the Kaiapoi Municipal Chambers on Monday evening. Present —Messrs Parnham (chairman), J. Hursc, C. Smith, E. Moore, E. H. Mathews, and H. J. Day. Mr J. Sims applied for expenses of clearing silt from his wharf. It was stated that the shelf of silt near the wharf had been shovelled into the river, which was objected to by the Board, and the chairman and secretary were requested to see Mr Sims in reference to his letter.

Mr J. O. Hempleman applied to lease reserves 10, 11, and 12, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Day, seconded by Mr Hurse, it was resolved—“ That the channel up the river be staked, and the pilot bo asked to superintend at tlio same, the cost not to exceed .£5.”

Captain Leslie, ketch Falcon, attended, and complained that he had been directed over the bar into a blind channel, and his vessel went ashore on a spit, which caused him serious detention. The channel, he said, ought to be defined with stakes to Lock’s point, and from thence there was not enough water for vessels, and this portion ought to bo dredged. A lengthy discussion ensued. Mr Moore asked if his motion to place the pilot under the control of the Board had been acted upon. Mr Hurse considered it would not be wise to take over that officer unless the whole question could be arranged privately through their member. Mr Day submitted that if there were any complaints against the pilot they ought to be lodged in the proper way, and investigated by the Collector of Customs or the Marine Department. The Chairman said he had received several verbal complaints, and the casualties at the bar were more numerous than in any bygone years.

Sir Mathews contended that if anyth iug was wanting it was the staking, w)nch tlie pilot, if asked, would carry out. Mr Moore said when he was chairman of the Board he received many verbal complaints, and it was time the matter was placed under the control of the Board.

Mr the question was one of no great importance to himself, as he was shortly leaving the town, but he must warn the Board against taking over the responsibility of the pilot service unless it was prepared to raise ill 50 a year, for if the Government induced the Board to take it over it would cease to contribute towards the pilot’s salary. The Chairman pointed out that since ho had taken office ho had authorised the pilot to obtain stakes and incur any reasonable expense in assisting vessels.

Mr Moore suggested that it would be better if there were fewer members interested in this question. Mr Hurse said in this case there would bo no members of the Board at all, as only those interested would care to serve.

The Chairman thought, in courtesy to the Board, those interested might probably refrain from voting. Mr Moore possibly intended to mean that, as Mr Day was a near relative of the pilot, he should abstain from voting. Mr Smith, with all due deference to Mr Moore’s superior wisdom conveyed in the Chairman’s explanation, submitted that Mr Day could vote as he liked.

Mr Hurse observed, as Mr Day was elected by the ratepayers, he had a right to act as he (Mr Day) thought best in their interests.

Mr Moore here remarked that the motion to take over the pilot was carried by the disinterested members, and a further personal discussion was opened. Mr Moore moved Hurse and Wearing form a works committee, with power to expend AILO in placing the dredge in order.” Mr Mathias seconded pro forma. Mr Smith said .£3OO would not put it in order. “ That thing ’’ (the dredge) would never deliver the stuff a yard from itself, as those who were present when the bunting was flying and a great deal of beer was drunk could bear witness. It emptied its buckets on deck, and £SOO at least would have to be spent before an efficient dredging could be done. Mr Moore, in reply, pointed out the Board had power to raise a loan to do the work, and the committee must decide upon the efficiency or otherwise of the present plant. The motion, after a division was asked for, was declared carried unanimously. The Board agreed to a certain lease to Gallagher, May and Co.

The Chairman said having been elected Mayor of Kaiapoi, and as such ex officio a member of the Board, he intended to resign as an .elective member of the Mandeviilo district, to aUow that district to be fuUy represented.