Wanganui Harbour Board.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 21 February 1891, Page 3

Wanganui Harbour Board.

., — ♦ DAMAGE BY THE FLOOD. The, Harbour JJoard held a special meeting on Wednesday, when there were present-Messrs Parsons (in the chair), Smith, Campbell, Thatcher, and, Summeryilla. DREDGE AND PUNTS. A letter was read from Mr J. Handley, stating the position of the .dredge. He considered her to be in livery precarious condition, and that there most be a hole in her bottom. Mr J. Oerrie, who examined the dredge on Tuesday, veported that be found her with a large hole in her bottom, and in fact so muoh knocked about that he considered she had sustained suoh injuries as to be beyond repair. Her Bides and machinery are intact. Her bottom was foroed up and torn in two directions. There was* a split in the bottom under the boiler whioh could not be repaired without taking out the boiler which would not be possible owing to the boiler being pat in before the deck. He recommended that the machinery be taken out. Mr Smith asked what the value of the machinery and gear were to the Board, Mr Low said it was a valuable piece of maohinery, hut he could not fix a value. Mr Smith also asked the cost of recovering it, but this the Chairman could not answer; also what the whole thing would sell for ? Mr Campbell thought it would not it would not bring much more than £5 as it was. Mr Thatcher thought all the light gear should be got out at once leaving the heavy machinery for farther consideration. Mr Campbell asked what the boiler would weigh. Mr Low said it would be about three tons, but it could not be got up the beach overland . Mr Parson endorsed Mr Thatoher's views. The Harbourmaster said two punts were ashore, one quite good about a mile above the Heads, and aiioth.tr three miles north of the Heads. Seven punts were lost— two Government, three of Mr Denby's, and two of the Board's ; £22 10s was the price fixed on as the value of •aoh punt; Mr Thatcher then pnt his views in the form of a resolution, which was carried. STATS OF THE BITER. A deputation consisting of Messrs Tilley and Stevenson, with regard to the state of the river, waited on %c Board. Mr Tilley acted as spiresman, and asked what the Board could do with regard to landing cargo at the Heads, as the river was so tad that steamers could not get up. He wanted to know about wharfage charges <tc., as owing to freight from the Heads, &c., they could not afford to pay the same wharfage ai the Heads as in town. - The Harbourmastes stated the rivei to be the same as before, except ii one place, where there was a bai 30ft long across it. The Secretary said a resolution fir ing the same rate at the head* as ai t »wn had been passed, viz 3s p« ton. Captain SummervUle thought the;

would have the power of rescinding the motion if required. He would suggest that they forego their charges at the Heads as far as possible. Mr Smith thought if they nude a rebate on the charges so long as the river was impractable, the Harbourmaster to be judge), it would meet the views of the deputation. The Chairman suggested that they reduoe the charge to half. Mr Stevenson said they must maintain trade at all hazards. It was stated tbat the Traffic Manager had refused to reduoe the railway charges. The. Board resolved to see Mr Buxton and endeavour to arrange the matter with him, The deputation then withdrew. — Chronicle.