THAMES HARBOUR BOARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4573, 8 June 1923, Page 4

THAMES HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting pf the Thames Harbour Board was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Mr RCoulter (chairman), D. G. McMillan, A. Bruce, A. A« Wagstaff, J. W. Danby, E. N. Miller, S. Hetherington, and S. J. Laughlin. Mr D. Donaldson was granted leave of absence. The Marine Department, Welling; ton, wrote notifying that Mr Albert Bruce had been appointed a member of the Board.

The Returning Officer, Thames, reported that the number of votes recorded for t,he proposal was 1459, and the number of votes against the proposal was 2493, informal 77. The deputy returning officer, Te Arolia, wrote notifying that in the Piako County the number of votes recorded was : A. A. Wagstaff, 343 ; H. O. Cooper, 117.

The Town Clerk, Thames, wrote notifying that Messrs J. W. Danby and E. N. Miller had been elected members of the Board.

The Town Clerk, Te Arpha, wrote notifying that Mr R. Coulter had been re-elected unopposed as representative for the Te Arpha Boioug-i Council.

The Town Clerk, Waihi wrote notifying that Mr D. Donaldson had been elected to represent the Waihi Borough. . Mr H. T. G. McElroy, returning officer for the Thames,| Ohinemuri, and Hauraki Plains Counties, wrote notifying that the following votes were received by the respective candidates: S. J. Laughlin 442, D, G. McMillan 429, J. McCormick 399, C. W. Harris 396. informal 22. Messrs S. - r - Laughlin and D. G, McMillan weie therefore declared elected.

The Captain Beaumont Salvus Life Jacket Co. wrote stating that they were in a position to supply Salvus jackets if required—Received. The .Board’s officer at Kopu wrote applying for a rise in wages he now has to switch the port ligflft on. and off. Members said that the work of this officer had decreased and they were not agreeable to granting a risin wages. ’ FINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS. The following motions,, discussed in committee, were passed in open meeting That the. chairman’s honorarium should be £75 per annum. That the clerk be paid £25 for his services rendered in connection with the loan proposal. That accounts totalling nearly £5OO be paid. TURUA METAL. 1;i the monthly report of the Board’s officer at Turua mention was made of the landing of metal over the wharf. No damage had been done as the unloading had been handled carefully. Mr Danby said that the Board should take a firm stand. Metal paid no wharfages, and the Board’s property might be considerably damaged. Mr McMillan suggested that longitudinal planking be laid down for cart tracks. Mr Danby said the metal should always be swept, off the wharf, as it was this that caused the damage. \ The report was adopted, together with the recommendations. DANGEROUS LANDING. The secretary, Turua Ratepayers’ -Association, wrote drawing attention to the dangerous landing at Kopu Wharf for passengers travelling by launch. The association recommended that a landing similar to the one at Turua should be erected. Mr McMillan said that the landing was positively dangerous. The pontoon at Turua was a great success, and anything the Board could do would be appreciated. Mr Laughlin supported the previous speaker and advocated a floating pontoon. Mr Danby suggested that members should visit and inspect the wharf. There was also the matter; of the rails on the wharf to be considered and inspected. : The Clerk explained the position in regard to the rails. The dairy company had removed their rails, but had given permission later to have them relaid. This was done by the Board’s workmen. The Board owned the rails on the wharf. The Power, Board and Gibbons, Ltd., owned the other rails. Mr McMillan suggested that the Board’s engineer prepare estimates for a pontoon at Kopu. Mr Coulter, suggested that a tour of inspection of the Board’s works should be made on July 4, the day following the next usual meeting, weather permitting, and he moved in that direction.—Carried.