PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 457, 10 September 1879, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

The regular monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Monday last. Present —Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Milroy, Gibson, Bahnforth, and Horner. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed,

Correspondence included Telegram from W. Gray, Wellington, that £2,500 had been forwarded to the Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle, to be placed at the credit of the Board ; letter from Martin Chapman, Wellington, acknowledging receipt of debentures from Board,

The Harbor-master reported as follows : —7 feet water over bar, an average depth of 8 feet in channel, 12 feet at end of breakwater, at neap tides ; 10 feet over bar, an average depth of 11 feet in channel, and 15 feet at end of breakwater, at spring tides; width from breakwater to north spit, 87 feet at neap and spring tides, with a sharp turn to the southward. As the north spit has made considerably to the southward, it brings the entrance and bar a long distance to the southward. I attribute the cause of this to the middle bank between the breakwater and north spit: This bank chocks the scour, and the largest body of water runs to the northward of it, and then takes a southerly direction, instead of along the groin and forcing its way straight to sea. I have employed men and the barge to remove a dangerous piece of wreckage which laid in the channel abreast the end of breakwater. . . . Thirty-seven

vessels have crossed the bar during the month, two of these at night.— Alfred Wood.

The Engineer reported as follows : Since my last report the work has progressed very favorably. The boulders have been more free from sand than for many months back, and consequently a large quantity of them have been obtained. The sand also backed right up to the end of the works, and we were able to cart the stones direct instead of using the truck. The crane has been refitted, and is now stronger than ever, I exploded about a pound of dynamite on the middle bank, but found that it is only quicksand, covered by a quantity of gravel and shingle. By removing the latter, the bank would probably wash away. When the breakwater is extended 50 orSOieet

farther seawards, this bank will not be much in the way, as the river tends to the north the farther the work is carried out. I think, therefore, it would be better to let it remain for a time. An improvement might be made at the upper wharf, by excavating some of the silt at the end and tipping it near the high water line. The road to lower wharf requires some repairs —a few holes want filling in with flax and gravelled over. A plan, of the future position of the flagstaff has been prepared and forwarded to the Marine Department. —J. Thomson.

The following tenders for wharf extension were received—W. H. Balchohir, Kakaramea, £115; T. Johnston, £6olosGd; \V. Aitchison, £SB. Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “ That the tender of Mr Aitchison for wharf extension, for the sum of £SB, be accepted, and that the Engineer be autliuriscd to have a sheep race constructed under the schedule of rates.”

Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “That application be made to the Carlyle Town Board for payment of gravel taken from Harbor Reserves since last settlement.”

Tho application of the Pilot to procure a coil of 2-inch rope was aeoeeded to. Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “ That the Pilot’s application for an increase in salary to £ISG he acceded to.”

- Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “ That the printing on a board of the Wharf Bye-Laws be deferred for the present.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried, “That the Pilot’s explanation of tho account rendered last meeting he deemed fully satisfactory, and that the account be paid.” The sum of £5 was voted to the Secretary for extra work in connection with the debentures. Meeting adjourned.