THAMES HARBOUR BOARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4932, 29 January 1926, Page 3

THAMES HARBOUR BOARD

MONITM/Y MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames Harbour Board was held on Tuesday evening, Mr R. Coulter- presiding over the' fbltowing: Messrs S. Laughlin, Browib E. Edwardsl, E. N. Miller, F. Hetherington, A. A. Wagstaff, J. W. Danby, and the secretary (Mt F. V. Sanders) and the engineer (Mr< E. F. Adajn& DANGEROUS HOLES. •Much correspondence was read concerning protective measures required at certain holes on portion of the foreshore leased to -Mr H. H. Adams for dredging purposes, ill one of these waterholes: a child was drowned in December, and many requests have been received by the board from Thames bodies, the Mines Department, and the Marine Department that action should be taken to prevent further loss of life. A letter had been sent to the lessee, and he had replied briefly, stating that he would discupsi the matter when next in Thames. Members were of the opinion that no progress was being made, and it was. decided that the lessee be requested to meet the board within a month. Failing this, drastic action in connection with .the lease would be ta.ken. SHIPWRECK RELIEF. The Shipw'rcck Relief Society of New Zealand wrote seeking a donation. —£1 Is voted. COMMERCIAL ASPECT. Mr Danby spoke at length on the advisability of seeking information relative to the prospects of increased '■•evenue for the harbour when the present partial scheme was completed. In his, opinion, if the board set .about it in a business-like way it could make the Thames Ha.rbour the distributing centre for the Valley. At ane time Thames had direct shipment, and this might be developed' again if the problem wats tackled in tlie right way. Petrol ■ storage was a matter that should be looked into, so that the possibility of ha.ving bulk tanks erected by the big companies could be pushed. He suggested that a committee be set up to seek the information and go thoroughly into all the commercial .aspec.ts. The chairman supported, arid suggested that the matter sho>ui'd be thought over by members during the month and discussed at the next board meeting. LOAN WORKS. The engineer, Mr E. F. Adams, reported at length on the progress of the loan work. The timber supply had been unsatisfactory, and the contractor was very much behind time. So far the construction work had been, kept going as fast as possible. The main items of the dredging plant had come to hand and steady progress had been made. The dredge would be completed in about a fortnight. A contract for building a wall had been let to Mr H. Hunt, of A'uckla,nd, who had done certain work since Christmas, but on .the l'sth inst. he went to Auckland and had since notified the board that he had given up' the contract. The engineer reported' that, he had signed notifications to the contractor stating that unless' he resumed work within seven days the board would carry out the work at his expense. The position wias vers unsatisfactory, as the work was being delayed. The report also stated that the deck cover planks of the Turua wharf were badly sprung and required renewing. A few of the butts' needed attention. Word had been received that owing to the recent gale the pontoon at Turua had broken away from some of its piles. The foreman had been notified to take men and secure the pontoon.