HOKITIKA HARBOUR BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1930, Page 6

HOKITIKA HARBOUR BOARD

FRIDAY, MAY 16th

The Board met at 4.45 p.m. Present: Messrs M. H. Houston (Chairman), AY. E. Richards, E. AY. Heenan, J. J. Mclntosh, D. Stuart aid Dr Teiclielmann.

'l’he minutes were confirmed and correspondence outward approved.

IN AVAR D CO R RES PONDENCE,

From Mrs Michel acknowledging letter of sympathy.—Received. From Sparks and party applying to hire pile f driving winch.—Received and action of Chairman in granting request was approved. From Statistician acknowledging receipt of statistics.—Received. From Marine Department declining to replace light on Cemetery Hill as it was not considered necessary for oversea shipping.—Received. Mr Heenan stated that the lights ot the Mental Hospital were serving tlie purpose now for local shipping.

From Various forwarding circulars —Received.

From Signalman reporting the bar was good, the channel running straight to sea with a depth of 11 to 12 feet. The fresh had cleared tlie spit on the north wall, making the channel much straighter and better. The scow Moa had grounded on the bank inside the bar and had lloated off next morning without any damage.—Received. Accounts amounting to £56 Ils 3<l were passed for payment. The Chairman reported on his attendance at the Town Planning Conference at Greymouth on behalf ol the Board.—Received and approved a vote of thanks being passed to the Chairman for his representation. The Secretary reported that, the ijmlanpe sheet had been drawn up but had not yet been audited. The general account showed an improvement of £77 for the year while the special loan account showed the expenditure had been £BO over the leceipts. The general account had been drawn on for this £BO, thereby relieving tlie special rates of this amount, which had been paid out of the earnings of the Board.—Received.

It was mentioned in reply to a question that the Borough Council and AVestland County Council each received £52 a year for collecting the wp.a'.)ial rate, while 'other payments in connection therewith amounted to £SB. The total rates received for the year amounted to £1252. Though some members .thought charge made for collection too high, the Chairman said he thought it was by far the most satisfactory both to the Board and the ratepayers, and far in preference to the course formerly pursued of the Board collecting its own rate. A discussion took place on the shoaling of the river at the wharf, and it was resolved to ask the Engineer of the Public AYorkU Department, to come down and confer with the members of. the Board in regard to a suggestion made by .members of using a tractor and scoop on the shingle bank higher up the river with a view to opening up a channel to assist the river to break through and cut a way down alongside the wharf. Members generally recognised that something would have to he done in view of the increasing shallowing of the river on the north bank. .The Board then adjourned and made an inspection of the rivir front at 5.30 p.m.