HARBOUR BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4610, 5 October 1923, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames Harbour Board was held on Tuesday eevning. There were present Messrs R. Coulter (chairman), D. G. McMillan, E. N. Miller, S. Hetherington, S. Laughlin, A. Bruce, and W. Danby. Mr S. L. Parsons, acting secretary, was also in attendance. LEASE OF FORESHORE. The Thames Quarries Ltd. wrote stating that they would accept a lease of a strip of foreshorje ait. Tararu for seven years without right, of renewal. HARBOUR LIGHTS. The secretary of the Marine Department Wellington, forwarded a copy of a notice tp mariners in regard to a beacon to be erected at the end of the Thames outfall sewer 4,000 feet from the foreshore and two cable lengths southward of Burke Street wharf. MACHINERY. The Under Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington, wrote asking if the Board desired to purchase a 10,000 lb. pressure gauge suitable for a 7%inch hydraulic ram. Several firms wrote drawing attention to the fact that they held the agency for dredging and quarrying machinery.—These were referred to the engineer. FACILITIES AT KOPU. The Turua Ratepayers and Citizens League wrote in reference to the facilities at Kopu wharf. Mr McMillan said that a pontoon was required, and he would like to have the opinion of members:. The chairman .said that the matter had been deferred. If the poll were carried .the work might be included in the Harbour scheme. Mr Laughlin said that something should be done. He moved that the matter be referred to the engineer for a report. Mr. Miller said that he would support anything that would bring traffic to Thames. The chairman said that finance had so far delayed the matter, but perhaps by the time the report was received the Board would be in a better position. The motion was carried. BURKE STREET WHARF. The Board’s engineer, Mr E. F. Adams, reported that the repairs to Burke Street wharf had been completed in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. Fourteen piles have been driven and the braces and headstocks securely fastened to same. Minor repairs have been done to the decking. The cost, as far as he could estimate, was within the £'2oo authorised. He recommended that the good work be continued when funds permitted.—Adopted. FACILITIES AT KOPU WHARF. The wharfinger reported that no timber boats had berthed during the month and little timber; had been shipped by the local mill. He pointed out that the wharf required some repairs, The fence required repairing where the coal hopper had been situa’ed. Nothing had been done at the north. end of the goods shed or in regard to the lighting of same. It was .decided that the foreman be instructed to attend to the matter. AUDITOR’S REPORT. The Board then went into committee to consider the auditor’s report. On resuming t,he meeting the following recommendations of the Board in committee were adopted :— That the action of the chairman in suspending the clerk be approved. That the appointment of the secretary be cancelled. /rhat the insurance company holding the fidelity policy be notified. That the remuneration of the temporary secretary be equal to that cf the late secretary. ' That the appointment of a secretary be discussed at the next meeting. A formal resolution authorising the chairman and the acting secretary to sign cheques was carried. The chairman reported that, the late secretary had offered to do certain work in connection with the straightening up of the Board’is books and the preparation of the annual balance-sheet.—The malt,ter was left in the chairman’s hands t,o arrange. The appointment of Mr S. L. Parsons as returning officer for the loan poll was confirmed. TURUA WHARF. Mr McMillan said that a considerable amount of goods landed at Turua went astray. The Board’s officer had. no authority, nor was he authorised to check or tally goods. The shippers were complaining that there wa,s no check. They suggested, that the sheds be locked. The N.S.S. Co. could be given a key to tihe shed, and a wharfinger appointed to check the goods out of the shed. He thought .that the N.S.S. Co. should contribute towards the salary of the wharfinger. The chairman and. Mr Danby were appointed .to visit Tirana at an early date. The Board’s officer at Turua reported that, during the month three scows had discharged metal over the Turua wharf, and one scow had discharged coal from Westport on the riverbank.