PATEA HARBOUR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 393, 22 January 1879, Page 2

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD.

Thh first meeting of the above Board under the new Harbor Act, was held at • Carlyle on Monday last. Present—Messrs Sherwood, Milroy, Gibson, Horner, and WiSiamson. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Proposed by Mr Williamson, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried— 1 “ That Mr G. E Sherwood b -elected Cuainnm of the Patea Harbour B >afd, under clause 52 of ‘The Harbor Act 1879.”’ The following Report from the Engineer, was read : Harbor Engineer’s Office, Patea. 20 hj January, 1879 Grntltsmkx.—Since last meeting wo have received a.largo dioptric light from Government. As the prisms and leases require protection, I have prepared a drawing of a lighthouse costing about .£01). which would be suitable for it. The height above ground to dan; it -0 ccet, The Pilot and I examined the ground- for a site, and think the top of the cliff in front of the Pilot Station would answer.

I have gone- over the Upper Wharf with a view tomaking somerepair-;,and would recouimend (hat the oater runner he replaced by one G x il inches. the old one being used in the centre. The truck rails would be required to be replaced with 4 x G inch, and the platforms of the wharf, shed, and trucks renewed where re piisite. These repairs would cost above £GO.

The sand spit lias been gradually lowering for some weeks, and the river lias at length forced a second passage, almost, in a straight line seawards. There is a fair prospect of it. becoming deeper as the work progresses. Some months ago £ pointed out to the Board that for nearly one hundred feet of the work where the old low-water line of the river had been, we found it impossible to get the stones down to the clay bottom, and might expect a .settlement there if the scour became great. This took place to a certain extent last week ; the --.and having been washed away, the stones at the toe of the slope sank. !S T o damage was done, except to the pitching at the place The pitching wiil be repaired when wo are sure the stones have reached the bottom, and no further settlement may be expected. Tlie two first concrete blocks were laid last week. I regret to say that we have not received two of the keel pieces for the hopper barge. When Ur Dickson was in Wanganui a fortnight since, the limber merchant assured him that he had delivare I them to the shipper, .and although the steamer has made two trips since, she hj is not brought them up. I lay before yon a cortilica’c for £1)D0 for the Breakwater. The contractor also asks for £101) on account, of material for barge. 1 have, &e„ Jou.v Thomson. Engineer. On tim motion of Mr .Miiruy, seconded by Mr Williamson, it was resolved to call lor teml'-rs lor fixing the new light at the Heads.

0:i the motimi of ?>lr Milroy, seconded by Mr 1 [mvr, i; was resolved, —“Tout r!i j Ivigin.wr, with Mr Gibson am! the ituiVi-r, be empowered to Vive the upper wh irf [iiit in proper repair.” A letter having fee:! read from .Mr far advance of L‘soo on plant, which, en mooniit of alteration of the .site of the breakwater, lie had as yet been unable to use, it was, on the motion of .Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Gibson, resolved, •‘*Tiint in reply in Mr Dickson’s application re advance on plant, the Board rci;ivt I hoy cannot comply with his request.” On motion of Mr Williamson, seconded by .Mr Milroy, a further progress payment of JMl'dO was made to the contractor.

Proposed by Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Williamson, and carried, — '‘Tliat the Pilot ho a-ked to furnish the Board, at its monthly mectimr, with a general report, including the cllMct of the Breakwater upon the- channel and spit. Also depth of water at end of breakwater, and number of vessels inwards and outwards.” A new Secretary being required, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Horner, to advertise for applicants at T35 per year. 'i'lio Following letter re wharf for Boiling Down Company was read ; Cawood Grange. Whcrmakura, ISth January. 1871). To Chairman and Members of the Patea Harbour Hoard. GR.vri.iiracM, man oi Patea Boiling Down Company to ask yum- permission for the said Company' to erect a wharf to low water mark, oppodto their woks on part of section No I ;-J() Pilot, so that it may give them the means of importing coal, timber. &c.. for casks, and exporting tallow and skins, or wool, Pig*, or sheep. Believing. Gentlemen, that by so doing you will be advancing the best interest of our Port, as well as district'and county at large. Always providing that the said Company will pay any wharfage or charges that the Harbor Board may make in any bye-laws regulating the same as though it were in Carlyle. Yours. Ac.. Jas. Nicholson. Proposed by Mr Gibson, s-condcd by Mr Horner, and lost, —That in consideration of (he Boiling Down Company undertaking to pay the cost of the jetty, the Board will instruct their Engineer to prepare plans for the temporary jetty, subject to approval of the Government, and the Bye-laws of the Harbor Board, said jetty when erected to be the sole property of the Harbour Board, the Boiling Down Company to pay tiro same same rates as are, or may be, charged on the Carlyle Wharf, and without any dednelion for labour.” Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Williamson, and carried, “Tliat the. Engineer be specially instructed to see tbrtt the pnnt, now iirpwitly required, be computed without any further delay.” Accounts were passed and the meeting adjourned.