HARBOUR COMMITTEE.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 883, 30 September 1854, Page 3

HARBOUR COMMITTEE.

Wednesday, Sept. 27. • Present :—The Chairman, Messrs. O'Neill, Dignan, Lowson, Dilworth, Dingwad, and Williamson. A letter from His Honour the Superintendent was received and read, intimating that the Hum of £IOOO applied for by the Committee for the purpose of constructing a Lighter, would be payable as required in instalments of £2-50. The By-Laws which had been engrossed, according to instructions given, were laid upon the table. They were subsequently read, discussed, signed, and sealed. j A letter was read from Mr. Selmltz, tendering his resignation of the office of Clerk of the Committee but expressing a desire to retain the office of Treasurer as a distinct and separate appointment. Some discussion ensued, wdien it was moved by Mr. Williamson, and seconded by Mr. O'Neill, that Mr. Schultz's resignation be accepted, and that applications be invited from persons competent to fulfil the joint offices of Clerk and Treasurer, applications to be sent in on or before Wednesday, the 4th October, Mr. Dignan was opposed to the motion, which he considered,precipitate. lie thought it was of importance that Mr. Schultz's sureties should be fir-t informed. It would be wrong to relieve an officer from tho responsibility that might attach to his office by accepting his resignation on the spur of the moment. He had no question that all would be found strictly correct in the present instance, but the precedent would be a bad one, and against that lie was anxious to guard. The Harbour Board was yet in its infancy, but it would ere long become a great and important trust. He thought the offices of Clerk and Treasurer should be separated. Large amounts would speedily be involved, and the Committee ought to act in small things as they would in great. Mr, Dignan concluded by moving an amendment to the effect that the Clerk and Treasurerships should be disjoined, Mr. Lawson seconded the amendment, Mr. Williamson urged in reply that the arrangements of the Committee for the control of their finances were of so plain and simple a character as to render the office of Treasurer merely a nominal one. Little security was required, the funds being lodged in the Union Bank of Australia to the credit of the Committee, from whence they could only be withdrawn by cheques signed by the Chairman and one of the Committee. Such a system entailed no risk upon any sureties, the money being paid away under the immediate direction of the Committee, so that the accounts of the retiring treasure could be made up at once, and the books transferred to bis successor. The Act required the accounts to be balanced and audited annually. Messrs. O'Neill and Dilworth severally spoke in favour of the combination of offices, as a means of economising the funds of the Committee and as advantageous in the present position of their affairs. The amendment was negatived. The original motion was carried. The sdary of Clerk and Treasurer was fixed at £l5O per annum. The Engineer read a letter from the City Surveyor, in reply to his own, respecting the discharge ofthe main sewers into the Harbour. The Chairman read a letter from the Chairman of the City Council on the same subject. The Committee adjourned till Wednesday, the 4th proximo, at 2 p.m.