PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 483, 10 December 1879, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Tun monthly meeting; of the above Board was hold oil Monday last. Present— Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Horner, Balmforth, Milroy, Adams, Gibson* and Fisher. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. A letter was read from Dullill Brothers, enclosing account of £3 ss, for the nondelivery of two bundles o'E spouting, which had to be bought in Hawera at the price claimed ; also from F. Cowem* asking the Board to release him from his present liability on account of rent of leasehold section adjoining the bridge (£2l), artd also to cancel his lease. The following lettel- was read from Mr W 4 Wilson : “I was sorry to see in the report published in the Patea Mail of yoitr last meeting* that you had again refused to grant permission to the Patea Boiling Down Company to erect a wharf at their works Pear the inolith of the Patea River ; and I am assured that had there been a full meeting of the Board, the decision would have been reversed. I would solicit* therefore* that the matter be re-considered. 1 should feel diffident in again makiiig application, were I not convinced that the wotks carried on were for the general good of the district, and the wharf asked for is absolutely necessary for lire economical working of the plant, and consequently for the public good. The idea that the erection of the wharf would injure the harbor works is fallacious as if it should tend to cause an accumulation, which is very doubtful* it is in the Very place where your Board contemplate making a training wall, which will fill Up at the back* and so prevent the current washing in the banks and the Board have the power, On the first sign of injury, to order and compel its removal. If the Harbor Board have not the power to grant the necessary permission, still it is within its province to recommend the application to the Marino Board, or any other authority which has the power. Hoping that the Board will see the justice of what I ask —I am, &c., W Wilson* manager pro tern for Patea Boiling Down Company.” The Harbor-master reported as follows : —There is no alteration in bar and channel since my last report, both keeping good, with the same depth of water on former. The width from breakwater to north spio has improved, being now 152 feet, with a depth of 16 feet at neap, and 18 feet at spring tides at the end of breakwater. No snags have been removed this month, on account of a fresh in the liver, the men being principally engaged clearing away snags and stumps lifted last month, without any expense to the Board. The flagstaff and rigging have been painted. Have received lamps and a supply of oil. The lamps are all that could be desired.—A. Woop.

The Engineer reported as follows : —At present the river is in £ fair condition, and the entrance pretty good. During the month, the southerly winds bought agreat quantity of sand up thqjcoastand covered part of the work about three feet deep, forming at the same time a bank inside the breakwater, and projecting into the river. This rendered the sailing channel rather crooked, but the sand is being gradually washed out again. The work has gone on as usual. The protection at the inner end will be finished during the week ; 300 feet is completed and 120 in progress. This length should be sufficient to preserve the bank, unless the sea gets much rougher as we go out with the outer end. We were unable to do much at the outer end of tho work, as the line wasblocked up with sand and the crane could not get along with the concrete blocks. I lay before you four sets of drawings, and a specification for the training Wall and river deviation. —J. Taombon. '

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Balmforth, and carried, “That the claim of Messrs Duffill Bros,’ to the amount of £2 3s, be paid.” Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried on division, “ That the Secretary make enquiries during the month as to what means, if any 1 * ‘ there are of recovering the rent of Block 21, Carlyle, from the present lessee* before the same be re-sold.” Ayes —Gibson* Horner, Fisher, Milroy, Adams, Balmforth. Noes —Sherwood.

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried, “ That application be made tor an Order in Council) authorising the river deviation and the construction of the training wall, in accordance with the plans now before the Board.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded ,by Mr Adams, “ That copies of Sir John CoOde’a pl&ns for wharf on town side of river be prepared, showing sections) and be forwarded for an Order irt Council.” Art amendment was proposed by Mr Qornei'i seconded by Mr Gibson, “That wharf accomodation for the Boiling Down Company be included in the application at the same time as the Wharf on the town side of the river.” The amendment was put, and a division taken as follows. Ayes—Gibson, Hbrrtef) Balmforth, Adams, Fisher. Noes—Sherwood and Milroy. The amendment then became the original motion* and was put and carried on division, Messrs Gibson, Horner, Fisher, and Balmforth voting for, and Messrs Milvoy* Adams, and Sherwood against; Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Adams, and carried. “ That the whole of the papers connected with tile application of the Boiling Down Company be forwarded to the Government;*’ Proposed by Mr Gibson* seconded by Mr ttorner, “ That the attention of our member be called to a letter of 10th April last, to.the Secretary of Lands enclosing a resolution of the Patea Harbor Board, requesting that the Pilot Reserve may be vested id the Harbor Board j and the answer of the 25th April, stating that the matter had been referred to the Marine Department) since when nothing lias been heard on the subject, and requesting him to do What is necessary to get the land vested in the Board.” An amendment was proposed by Mr Milroy* seconded .by Mr Sherwood, and cafried, “That the words * our membei; ’ be left out and 'Major Atkinsort’ inserted.” A further amendment Was proposed by Mr Sherwockl, seconded by Mr Balmforh, and carried on division, “That the Minister of Lands be communicated with re the application to have the Pilot Reserve vested in the Harbor Board.” Ayes—Horner, Adams, Balmforth, Sherwood; Noes : Gibsoiq Fisher* Milroy. Proposed by Mr Wilfojq seconded by Mr Adams, and carried, “ That an application be made to two or more boat builduis, enquiring the cost of a boat 16 feet longjbuilt of Kauri, copper fastened, landed at the Patea Wharf.” It was decided to tender for ironwork required by the Board for one year, the Engineer to state quality of material likely to he required. Accounts passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.