HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 792, 25 October 1878, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

4. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held at the Harbor Chambers torday. There were present;—Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Steward, Reid, Meek, Lemon. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The report of the Standing Committee was read and adopted after some discussion, and the recommendations agreed to. Amongst the recommendations of the Committee was one that the charges on wool should be reduced to 6d per bale '; that a shilling extra be charged for boating outwards only, and two shillings inwards ; that the Secretary be instructed to procure the necessary materials at the lowest possible cost for the establishment of telephonic communication with the Breakwater, and that tenders be obtained for fitting up the apparatus ; that a number of photographs of the Breakwater be obtained from Messrs. Ferrier and Rock, to be sent to other ports. The Standing Committee was empowered to obtain assistance to enable the Secretary to bring up a report upon the working of the port. A letter was read from Mr. James Mills, asking that a reduction should be made in the warp dues charged to the Waitaki, on which vessel the same charges were made for each trip, while other vessels lying at the wharf for a fortnight had only paid trifling dues. The writer also pointed out the necessity of making some reductions on the charges on general cargo in order to compete with the' railways, stating that the owners pi the Waitaki were prepared to make liberal reductions. Mr. Mills also attended in person t.o urge the matter upon the Board.

li was decided that the vest side of the Nornumby Wharf should be set aside as a steamers' berth, to which regular traders shouldhayetheprecedenpe,andothersteamers to be next entitled to the berth ; and that the Macandrew Wharf should be devoted solely to the use of sailing vessels, except -when ordered otherwise by the Standing Committee.

After hearing Mr. Mills, and discussing the matter at some length, it was resolved that the rates should in future be altered so that vessels making more than one trip to the port in one week should pay half rates only on the second trip, a.nd that for any other trips no warp dues to be charged. Some discussion took place upon the other matter referred to in Mr. Mills' letter—the reduction of charges on general merchandise. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of

Mi-Steward, seconded by Mr. Reid, "That the rate should be reduced, from the Ist November, from 3s 3d to 2s per ton. it was decided that the Engineer should call for tenders for the extension of Breakwater to the full distance from the shore, with power to determine the ;contract on the completion of 200 feet wall and wharf; also tenders for the supply of 1500 tons of cement. Accounts to the amount of L 2665 17s 5d were passed for payment, and the Board rose.