PATE A HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 287, 16 January 1878, Page 2

PATE A HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the above Board was held at the secretary’s office (Mr Fred Cowern)’, on Monday last. Present :—Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Bridge, Milroy, and Wilson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Correspondence.—Letter from J. Thompson, agreeing to terms of Board, re preparing of plans, &c.,from H. E. P. Adams, applying for permission (on behalf of Patea County Boiling Down Company) to erect a wharf on land leased by them, near the Pilot Station, in order to conveniently ship produce ;• from G. S. Bridge, stating that he did not consider notice calling meeting sufficiently long,: this being the reason wh} r he did not attend last meeting ; from F. McCarthy, asking permission to suh-lease Harbor Board sections held by him, to G. White; telegram from J. Thompson, suggesting that the chairman write to Minister of Public Works, asking approval of plans and specifications, and signature of Governor, as per Act—enclosing letter to him. After the correspondence was gone through, Mr Sherwood rose and informed the Board what lie had done while in Wellington. Although his visit was of a private nature,'still he had ma'de it his business to see to public affairs. On his arrival he bad an interview with Mr Camrthers (En-gineer-in-Chief). That gentleman considered that before commencing the work the Board should provide a crane for the purpose of lifting the concrete blocks which would be used in the next section of the works. The estimated cost of this crane was about £2,000, and MrCarrnthers considered that it would be absolutely necessary to procure it before the commencement of the works could be authorised, Mr Sherwood pointed out that the funds available by the Board were no more than sufficient to complete the first contract, and that if Mr Carrutheis insisted upon the crane being supplied, it would have the effect of retarding the proposed work in a most serious manner. Ultimately this point was Waived Until the next contract was ready. The plans,’ as submitted to the Board, showed 660 feet of “ rubble worn.” Mr Carruthcrs considered that tin’s required considerable modification. The end of the groin should be constructed of concrete blocks, and the top of the groin should be widened from 12 to 20 feet, so as to allow the crane to work. The grade on the seaward side should be altered, and the rubble facing blocks should be embedded in concrete, &c, &c. As apparently good reasons were given for making these alterations, and having in view the great necessity for prompt action, he (Mr Bhenvoo) had, on behalf of the Board, agreed to them. He was the uiujo ivxinooU to tr>ko tins course as he was informed that the alterations would not increase the estimate beyond the means at the disposal of the Board. The plans, as modified, were to be submitted to the Governor for his approval on Saturday,-and might be expected in Carlyle in a few days. He (Mr Sherwood) had managed to have the plans and specifications deposited at Mr Duncan’s office in Wellington, and it would be necessary to make similar arrangements with someone in Auckland. He had attended the Waste Lands' Board to make arrangementsfor disposing of that portion of the Board’s endowments situated in the Wellington provincial district—the result of this he would he able to lay before the Board at its next meeting’. He had found considerable difficulty in dealing with this matter-one of which w r as that there were no plans in Wellington skewing the lands in question. Plans had since been, at bis request, supplied from the office at Carlyle. Arrangements would now have to be made with the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, as, although it might not be advisable to immediately dispose of the land, it was necessary to have clear and definite arrangements made, in order that the Board might thoroughly understand its position. With reference to the application of the Boiling Down Company, the chairman said , he should like to bear an explanation from MrWilson, whom he understood, was one of the promoters. Certainly the application itself did not throw any light on the subject. The Board knew nothing of the lease.

Mr Wilson, in reply, said that application had been made to the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, for the lease for 21 years, of a piece of ground near the Pilot Station, for the purpose specified. The Waste Lands Board had agreed to the application, and the names of the company had been forwarded to the Board, in order to have the lease made out. The object of the wharf was to enable the company to ship their produce at a cheaper rate, as the cartage from the place where it was intended to erect the company’s building, to the proposed new wharf would not be so expensive as bringing- it to the present wharves. He might state that all arrangements were being made for the erection of buildings, &c., to cany on the works, but if the application were not granted, it would, likely put a stop to it. He would, therefore, propose—“ That the Patea County Boiling Down Company be allowed to erect a wharf according to application, subject to such bye-laws as the Board may make regulating wharves within its jurisdiction.” Mr Bridge seconded the resolution, in order that more light could be thrown on the subject. A plan of the proposed work should be sent to the Harbor Board, to show whether it interfered with the navigation of the river. Mr Sherwood said the Board would have to deal generally with wharves very soon, and it would be unwise to grant the appliation. He did not oppose the object of the Boiling Down Company, but he certainly opposed granting application on such meagre information. The Board were entirely in the dark. He believed there was more in the application than appeared on the face of it. He presumed that if the company had gone to any expense, through inducement received from the Waste

Lands Board, they could come on the Board for damages. The Harbor Board should guard against any such contingency, till they saw their way clear. He would propose as an amendment, “That until further information be supplied to the Board, by the Boiling Down Company, re the erection of a wharf near the Heads, the Board must decline to entertain the application.” Mr Milroy seconded the amendment, in order to allow the matter to be discussed at a full meeting of the Board. He did not agree with either tire proposition or amendment, and considered the chairman should have ruled the application out of order. It was a very strange application, as nothing was said about where the wharf was to be erected, and no plan whatever had been furnished to the Board. He had heard it remarked that the lessees of the present wharves were making their fortunes, but he could easily disabuse their minds on that point. If there was ranch to be made, Government would have taken them over long ago,- as, according to terms of lease, they could, by giving valuation at the rate of £l5O, take over both wharves at one months’ notice. The present application was not a matter of public interest, but a private speculation. As soon as sufficient water was got on the bar, a suitable wharf would be erected by the Harbor Board, and they would maintain all wharves themselves. The amendment was carried by 3'to I. Proposed bj r Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Bridge, and carried, “That in answer to Mr McCarthy’s application to sub-lease portions of the hand leased by him from the Harbor Board, he be requested to give the Board every information as regards the t enns and conditions of Mr White’s lease.” The question of selling the reserves here cropped up, and Mr Wilson, who was absent from the last meeting of the Board, was strongly opposed to selling any of the nver frontages, at the present time. He said the Board would make a grievous mistake. In a few years, they would be the mainstay of the harbor. Mr Sherwood said unless the reserves were sold, the proposed works could not bo gone on with. To lease the land, meant getting very little for it, but if it was sold, he believed it would realise a handsome price. Mr Bridge was in favor of retaining the' reserves if it wore possible. Mr Milroy was strongly in favor of selling the reserves. Proposed by Mr Sherwood,- seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried, “ That a committee, consisting of Captain Wiay,'Mf Williamson, and the mover, be appointed for the purpose of enquiring into and reporting oh the advisability or otherwise of taking over the wharves ; committee to report at next meeting.” In answer to a question, the chairman said Mr Thompson would receive £2 2s a day,' ti'l the plans, &c., were completed. It would take about five weeks to do that. The following telegram was read from Mr Thompson, while the Board Was sitting : —“Plans been in a week. Mr Ballance watching result.” Accounts were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.