MOTUEKA WHARF BOARD.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 41, 3 January 1902, Page 5

MOTUEKA WHARF BOARD.

The initial meeting of the above Board was held at the Council Chamber last evening. Eresent : Messrs llm-sthouse, (Mayor of Motueka), Bate (representing the Motueka riding of the Waimea Council),. and.Beuke (representing the Moutere riling). The first business was the election of Chairman for which position Mr Hursthouse was selected on the proposition of Mr Beuke, seconded by Mr Bate. Mr Beuke, in proposing Mr Hursthouse, said it was necessary that the chairman should be within close proximiey to the-wharf, and they could not than elect him. referred to the fact "ayor of the Borough he office till the end of March. If, at the end of’ that period, another person filled the position of Mayor, and they had no confidence in him, they could elect another member to fill the office. The Chairman said the first move would be to ascertain their credit balance from the Nelson Harbor Board. He had reason to believe that if a letter was sent requesting the Board to place the amount available to their credit the application would be acceded to. Mr Beuke remarked that he had intended to move to that effect. At present they did not know their position. He proposed that the Chairman write to the Nelson Harbor Board, asking for a statement of accounts, and that the credit balance be lodged in the Bank of New Zealand, Motueka, to the credit of the Motileka Wharf Board. Seconded by Mr Bate and carried

The chairman said they had an efficient wharfinger in Mr Moffatt, who reived a salary of <£lo a month with .a e house. He considered the pay in-

riicient and had tabled a motion when a member of the Nelson Board that the wage be increased, but owing to recent legislation he had been unable to carry out liis intentions. Mr Moffatt held a responsible position and was also competent to keep the accounts, which were audited by the Government officer. He also attended to the lights, for which he was paid a small sum. He also mentioned that Motueka was the only place in the colony which did not receive a government grant for lights. Mr Hursthouse suggested that they should appoint the wharfinger Secretary of the Board, with an increased salary and that he should open a set of Books and keep the necessary accounts: also that they should hold their meetings at the wharf. The question of paying salaries and incidental expenses was discussed and it was resolved on the motion of Mr Beuke, seconded by Mr Bate, That the Nelson Harbor Board be requested to pay all liabilities to the end of the year. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Bate, that the Board meet at the wharf at two o’clock p.m., on the first Monday in each month and that the •hairman procure the necessary stationery and seal for- the Board,

The chairman referred to the rush of business at the wharf during the busy season. The work was altogether too for °ne man to attend to and ;.o the Board should authoress to engage assistance when A man , should be appointed for the season with instructions to devote his spare time to im-i-oving the channel and doing odd v)S. Messrs Bate and Beuke agreed that assistance was necessary,, the former remarking that at times there was scarcely room to turn around. Ultimately the chairman was empowered to confer with Mr Moffatt on the matter, which would be gone into more, fully at tbe next meeting of the Board.

Several questions,IFsuch 1 F such as the ap poiutment of treasurer, members to sign cheques, travelling expenses, etc., were discussed and it was decided to deal with them at the next meeting, when the position of the Board would be more clearly understood. The meeting then adjourned.