HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 651, 4 June 1878, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

;,' A^ei!^:|pieeting',dl v |heiHarß6r Board; ijivas fielct-JMs tlio Harbor IChambenß:;|j TherfcU wire; ) prescnt-j-Mr.. SiimpterSpiiairmaH), fhe'; Hj. J7* and Slirmiski. "'4"~' * "^sSS; The meeting had been called for the" purpose of consulting with the Engineer (Mr. M'Gregor) and tho Harbormaster (Captain gcwell) as to several matters in connection, with jhe_J3reakwater % Mtor "Engineer iibt pitting in an appearance, and no explanation as to his non-attendance being forth"coihih?7 some dissahsfact3bn~~wiis" "expressed by ge.TOral.. members. 'lt .was: eventually..decicTe'd. 'to let" tho" matter stand over. . Some littio discussion, then took place as to whether or not the Board should proceed witli any other business. The Chairman said he thought the Board might take, into _ a telegram from Mr. Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, stating his inability at present .to. meet .-a .Committee of the Board appointed to confer with him with reference to tho proposed tariff on the Breakwater line. ' -'

It will.be remembered that at. tho last, meeting of the . Board a..letter was read from the Commissioner of Railways forwarding for tho approval of tho Board, in terms of the agreement with the Board, a tariff of charges proposed to be made on the''Breakwater line.'- The-charges proposed to be made being practically, the. same as those at present in force, the Board declined to agree to tho tariff, and formed a Committee to interview Mr.' Conyers with the'view of Obtaining very considerable reductions. Mr. Conyers now- telegraphs that ho will .not . bo. able to come to Oamaru for some .considerable time, and" saying that it is very desirable that the tariff on the Breakwater line should be. settled without delay. Some discussion took place upon the matter, during which the advisablity of terminating, the agroeuici t with the Government and taking the l\nc out of their hands was freely discussed ; but it was pointed out that lief ore taking such strong measures it would be better for the Board to make every effort to come to an amicable agreement. After the | mat tor had been pretty freely discussed, _ Mr. Steward moved, and Mr. Shrimski seconded, " That the Board having considered the tariff now submitted, and compared the same with that presently, existing, finds that the rates now proposed i are substantially the.same as those obtaining hitherto, "while the circumstances have greatly altered since the tariff was lixed in ,1875. The railway department lias no longer., to pay the haulage charge then paid to Messrs. Walkem and Beyman, while the freight • and tr-aflic on tho lino has largely increased. Tho Board is assured that-a return of receipts and expenditure from the Breakwater line will show a largo profit to the Government over working expenses, and submits that, as the line was not constructed at tho Government cost, little more than will suffice to recoup working expenses should be required to be earned by the lino; it will therefore bo apparent to_ the Government that the proposed tariff is I considerably too high. .Tho.Board further .desires to point out that it has just reduced its own tariff of landing and shipping charges to the lowest possible figures, the reductions made being, in some instances, fully 33 per cent. The Board therefore trusts that the Government will assist in reducing "the cost of importing goods and exporting produce at the port, so that the district may. derive that benefit from the construction of the harbor works which is at present denied to it; and to this end asks that the tariff now submitted be reduced by 33J- per cent. That the foregoing resolution' be forwarded to Mr. Conyers, and that he be requested to favor the Board with a reply in time for Friday's meeting." The motion was carried unanimously. The application of Mr. John Williamson, lighthouse-keeper, for a months' leave of absence on the score of ill-health, and to enable him to obtain medical advice, was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr. Henry Aitken, pointing out that, by the Board's now tariff, timber was charged more per ton than general merchandise. It was decided to reply that the Board regrets that it is unable at present to make any further reduction in the rates of charges upon any-description of goods than has already been made.