THAMES'HARBOUR BOARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4623, 9 November 1923, Page 1

THAMES'HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. . The monthly meeting of the Thames Harbour Board was held at Thames on Tuesday evening; There were present Messrs R. Coulter (chairman), D. G. McMillan, A. A. Wagstaff, J. W. Danby, E. N. Miller, S'. Hetherington, and S. J. Laughlin. Mr Parsons, acting secretary, was in attendance REPORTS. The Board’s officer at Turua re■poit,ed that no vessels except '■.he regular steamer had berthed during the month. Members commented on the fact that no wharfage was due other than from the Northern Company. Mr D. G. McMillan' asked whether wharfage was due on goods from Kopu and Thames. The chairman said he would look into the matter and report at next meeting. The Board’s foreman reported that repairs had been effected at Burke Street wharf, at; Turua wharf, and at Kopu wharf. A buoy at Turua had been removed by some unauthorised person. He had placed the matter in the hands of the police and had replaced the buoy. - The engineer reported on proposed landing facilities at Kopu. The cost of a landing stage as desfgned by him for Turua, but modified to suit the Kopu conditions, would cost £670. He also reported on the state of the wharf. Members stated that it was a question of finance. Mr Miller said that the Board would have to consider what should be done at Kopu. A new wharf was urgently required. Mr Miller said that the Board was not antagonistic to the matter. To keep it before the Board he would move that the report be referred to the local committee and Mr McMillan ,to report to the Board in three months’ time. ENGINEER’S RESIGNATION. The Board’s engineer wrote resigning his position. The chairman said that Mr Adams desired to leave the Board a free hand in appointing an engineer, seeing that; the position had change.! since his appointment. He moved that the local committee interview Mr Adams and make suitable arrangements for his appointment as engineer. POSITION OF SECRETARY. The chairman said that it was now necessary to call applications for the position of secretary. In his opinion it would not be advisable to employ a cheap man. The Board’s work was increasing and a r good man was required. He moved that applications be called for the position of secretary at a salary of £4OO per annum, preference to be given to men with Harbour Board or shipping experience. Mr McMillan suggested that applicants be invited to state salary required. In his opinion they could get. a good man for less salary. The motion was carried, and details were left in the hands of the local committee to consider and report to the Board. HARBOUR SCHEME. The chairman moved that the local committee be empowered to arrange the raising of the Board’s loan. This was seconded by Mr Hetherington, and carried. The chairman moved that the Board’s engineer be asked fo go ahead with whatever work he considered necessary in connection with the scheme, Mr Wagstaff opposed this, contending that it was unbusinesslike fo go ahead with the spending of money until the engineer had been permanently appointed. The chairman said he would not be a party to any unbusinesslike action. Mr Adams was in the Board’s employ until the end of this month and should be asked t,o go ahead with the work of preparing details of his scheme. Mr Wagstaff asked was the loan taken on Mr A/iams’ scheme. The chairman said that it’was on Che scheme outlined by Mr Adams. Mr Wagstaff said that the engineer should be definitely appointed. Mr Laughlin said that the resolution would be a means of saving a month. Mr Danby said that Thames people had the greatest confidence in the scheme and in the engineering advice of Mr Adams. What they desired was the prosecution of the work at the earliest possible moment. The motipn was put and carried unanimously. The chairman moved that the plans and specifications, when completed, be submitted to Mr Blair Mason for his comment. Mr Hetherington supported and seconded the motion, which was then carried unanimously. TURUA VISIT. Mr.McMillan said that at the last meeting a committee was appointed to visit Turua and meet the settlers. He asked the reason why the committee had not done so. The chairman explained that the visit would be made next week.