PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 425, 14 May 1879, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held at the Secretary’s office, on Monday last. Present —Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Milroy, Adams, Gibson, Horner, and Balmforth. , Mr Fisher, the newly-elected member for Waverley Riding, took his seat. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Marine Department, stating that the Governenmt could not sanction a white light for the light-house, as there was already one of that color at , Wanganui Heads, and mistakes, and perhaps disasters, might occur by granting the request of the Harbor Board ; also asking what date the light would be shown. J. Louis applied for permission to erect a small dwelling house on one of the Harbor Reserves. Not entertained. The following reports were read : Harbour Engineer’s Office, Patea, 12th May, 1879. Gentlemen, —During the past month the channel has preserved a straight course, although most of the time we had very heavy seas. This may be taken as a pretty certain indication that the river will continue to run straight out. Concrete blocks have been laid for. a length of fifty-two feet, and the stone-work has been pushed well ahead. The principal effect of this is that the sand spit has been kept very low, and-consequently during thorough weather there was a heavy wash along way up the river.’ The cement store was endangered, and a considerable portion of the river bank was washed away. We are removing the store and material to a safer place, and I think it will be advisable to continue the stone-work a short distance up the river, to protect the. bank from being farther washed away. Certificate for £3OO for breakwater. John Thomson, 8.E., Engineer to Board.

The Harbor Master (Captain - Wood) re--'ported under date 12th May, that the bar and channel were hi good order. They had every appearance of being of a permanent nature, as no change had taken place since last report, uotwithßtanding.the heavy seas that had been running on the bar for weeks. The north spit waS rapidly lowering. Every concrete block laid down at the b.ieakwater made it easier for vessels entering or leaving the port, as it prevented the strong sot over the groin. At the present time there is 7 feet of water over the bar, an average' depth of 8 feet in channel, and 12 feat at end of breakwater, at neap tides ; 11 feet on bar, 13 feet in channel, and 15 feet at end of breakwater, at spring tides width from breakwater to north spit, 84 feet at neap tides, and 90 feet at spring tides. Twenty-two vessels had crossed the bar last month, four out of the number at night; tonnage, about 1,100. A nest - of snags and stumps existed at Wood’s Point, a little below low-water mark, and tho Harbor Master recommended that they be cleared away, as vessels were liable to run on them in dropping down the river. He also recommended that a boat-shed or boat’s davits be erected for the surf-boat, as logs and drift wood were at any time likely to carry away her moorings. Proposed by Mr Balmfortb, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried, “That the Engineer lay before the Board, at next meeting, plans defining the training wall between the breakwater and the bluff.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried, “ That the protection works at end of breakwater, as recommended by the Engineer, be carried out.” Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Adams, and carried, “ That in every case where rents are in arrear, the Secretary sue for the same forthwith.” Proposed by Mr Balmfortb, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “ That the Chairman, Mr Gibson, and the mover, be a committee to report at next meeting upon the work necessary for placing lower wharf and road in a proper condition for landing and storing goods, and shipping sheep and pigs ; also an estimate of the cost of improvements recommended. ” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Fisher, and carried, “ That Messrs Milroy, Adams, and Gibson, be appointed a committee to arrange with the auctioneer the form and conditions of the sale of the lease of the wharves.” Resolved, “ That immediately upon the adoption of the Bye-laws, the lease of the wharves for 12 months be adversisod.” Accounts passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.