HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 607, 12 April 1878, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of tlie Harbor Board was held this morning, at the Harbor Chambers. Thgre were present—Messrs, Sumpter (Chairman), Rcid, Shnruski, Headland, and Meek. . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. RAILWAY TARIFF. The report of the Sub-Committee appointed to deal with the letter from the Timaru Chamber of Commeice in reference to the present unfair nature of the railway tariff was road. (The resolution passed by the Committee has already been published by us.)— The report was adopted after some consideration, REPAIRS OF RAILWAY BRIDGES, BREAKWATER LINE. The following letter was read : "Resident Engineer's CUfice, " Christchurch, April 4, IS7S. "Sir, —With reierenceto our conversation respecting the work required to bridges on the Breakwater line, I have t]«e honour to state, by direction of the Commissioner of Railways, that he considers that clause No. 3 of the agreement with the Harbor Board applies only to ordiuary maintenance of the line generally, and that it was not for a moment contemplated, when entering into that agreement, that ths Railway Department was to undertake renewal of structures, such as is now required to the last bridge on the line,—=l have, &c. " J. llenry Lowe, "Resident Engineer. "Thomas Forrester, Esq., . ' 1 Secretary Oamaru Harbor Board," The Committee reported that they had given orders for the timber required for the repair of one of the bridges on the line. The Chairman and Mr. Shritnski had inspected the bridge, and had urged the carrying out of the proposed work, as it was absolutely report of the Committee was adopted. After some discussion, during which the opinion was unanimously expressed that the duty of keeping the line in repa'ir, according to the agreement between the Government and the Board, devolved entirely upon the Government, the following resolution, proposed by Mr, Heid, seoonded by Mr. Shrimski, was passed, "That the Govern- ' ment be informed that, although the Board : in this instance deemed it absolutely necessary to at once put the bridge referred to in ■ repair, in order to prevent danger to life and . property, it desires to point out that the Board holds quite a different opinion to that expressed in the memorandum from the ' Resident Engineer, dated 4th April, IS7B, ' as to the interpretation of clause 3 of the ' agreement between the Government and the Board, and considers) that as the bridges, etc , were put in order by the Board, when handing over the line, all other expenses 5 should be borne by the Government whilst ; it remained under its control." ■ . ENTKRING VESSELS. A letter was received from the Sub- [ Collector of Customs, drawing attention to the fact of some small vessels discharging their cargo before entering at the Customs, and asking that the Harbor Master might be instructed to make inquiries of masters of vessels as to whether they had entered at the Customs before permitting them to uuload. It was decided to reply that the matter was outside the duties of the Board, and that they declined to iutorfere. A COMi'LAINT. A letter was read from Mr. Amos, foreman of the railway locomotives, asking that those persons living in tents on the Board's property, between the gasworks and the lagoon, might be ordered oif the land, and stating that the larceny of coal from the railway premises, etc., by these persons was of frequont occurrence. A complaint was also received from the Sub Inspector of Police on the same subject. The secretary was instructed to take the necessary steps to comply with the request. BILLS OF LADING. The following letter was read, and referred to the Standing Committee for report : | "Oamaru, 2nd April, IS7S. "Geutlemen, —VVe beg respectfully to call your attention to the difficulty that is at ' present experienced by merchants and shippers in getting bills of lading signed by masters of vessels trading from this port, through the system adopted by you in forwarding cargo by boats, ami would request that when vessels are so loading a boat note, , being a full and complete complete copy of , the railway cauda with each truck, should be forwarded iq duplicate with each boat, as captains refuse to sign bills of lading without holding the mate's receipts. Trusting that this matter may have your immediate j attention, we are, gentlemen, yours, etc., "P. Ouy.VIN'dtlAJH AND. Co. ''Anperson AND. Co. Hay Asn Bark, "I"). S- Montagu, For N.Z.L. & M.A. Co. "Hasskll, Son, and Co, " Connell, an J) Clowbs. " CHARGES ON TIMBER. The following letter was read, and it was decided to forward it to the Government:— " T. Forrester, Esq. " Sir, —I understood that it had been formerly arranged between the Harbor Board and the Government that the charge for unslingirtg timber would bo reduced to IJd per 100 ft instead of the iniquitous imposition of 3d per 100 ft; Pleaso inform mo whether such i 3 the case or whether they (the Government) can continue to extort this charge contrary to the arrangement with the Board. " Yours , "H. Aitken." ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the ainouqt qf 1,2310 13s Id, were passed for payment. The Secretary read the draft balance sheets and abstracts of accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1878 which were ordered to be forwarded to the auditor. TItE LAGOON. The Secretary stated that tenders had received for leasing the lagoon. The Board then adjourned.