PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 493, 21 January 1880, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

The annual meeting of the above Board, for receiving the balance-sheet for the past year, was held at noon on Monday. Present—Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Adams, Milroy, and Gibson. The minutes of the last monthly meeting wore read and confirmed. Annual reports were read from the Engineer and Harbor Master. Owing to the Government Auditor not having arrived to audit the accounts, that matter had to bo postponed, It was stated that the Auditor would likely be here by Thursday, and the meeting was accordingly adjourned, to bo called together again by circular. After the conclusion of the above, the ordinary monthly meeting was held. Present— Messrs Sherwood (chairman), Adams, Milroy, Gibson, Balmforth, and Horner. The following letters were read : Marine Department, Wellington, January 2, 1880. To the Chairman Harbor Board. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ult., with which you forward copies of resolutions relative to the wharf sought to be erected by the Patea Boiling Down Co., together with a sketch of the proposed wharf ; and in reply I have to draw your attention to section 156 of “The Harbors Act, 1878,” which requires a plan in duplicate of the whole work to be forwarded. Such plans should therefore he forwarded, and they should indicate the exact site on which it is proposed to erect the wharf, and should show the depth of water in the vicinity at low water spring tides. I have also to request that you will inform me whether the wharf in question is to be erected by the Harbor Board or the Company ; if by the latter, the provisions of section 152 of the Harbors Act will have to be complied with. R. Johnson, Secretary. General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, January 14, 1880. To the Chairman Harbor Board. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ult., respecting the power to lease portion of the Pilot Reserve to the Boiling Down Company, and to enclose herewith copy of the Special Powers and Contracts Act of last session, from which you will learn that the Legislature has authorised the Governor to execute the required lease; vide clause 33 of the Schedule to the Act. H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary. A letter was read from Mr T. W. Fisher, Waitotara, tendering his resignation as a member of the Board, which was accepted with regret. The Engineer reported as follows : During the month the harbor works have gone on very well. The inner extension would have been finished six weeks ago, but for the scarcity of good facing stones. The channel is deep and straight, the freshes having thoroughly scoured it out. The light-house has been re-glazed, red glass being used this time; the light is a

little hotter than formerly. Twelve sheets of drawings have been prepared in connection with the proposed quay, training wall, and bend in the river, and copies have been sent to Wellington. A few repairs were made at the lower wharf—some planks replaced and a drain lengthened.— J. Thomson.

The Harbor Master reported as follows : —The bar and* channel are good and straight, with 9 feel water on bar at neap, and 12 feet at spring tides ; width from break water to north spit, 130 feet at neap and spring tides. At the end of breakwater it has silted up a little, there being 10 feet at neap, and 14 feet at spring tides. There is also an average depth of 13 feet at neap, and 10 feet at spring tides in mid-channel, from breakwater to north spit. Red panes have been put in at lighthouse, which I think is an improvement ; but I have bad no report from masters of vessels as to how it shows from sea. Men and pnnt have been engaged lifting snags at Mnd Point, abreast lower wharf. Having lifted all that eonld be seen, and that were in the way of vi-Nsels, I requested the men to shift down to Wood’s Point, where there are a great many snags to lift. After the men had lelt Mnd Point, more snags and stumps have become visible, owing to the greater scour in the river now. This point is rapidly washing away, making the channel deeper and wider, and consequently snags "have been laid bare that were not visible before. By the scouring away of tin’s point, a great deal of good is likely to be done to the bar. Thirty-four vessels have crossed the bar this month, one out of the number at night.—Alfhkd Wood.

Proposed by Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried, “ That the Engineer furnish the Board with a plan and estimate of punt and appliances for snag raising.”

Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Adams, and carried, “ That a copy oi the letter from Government., re Patea Boiling Down Co. : s wharf at Heads, be forwarded to the Company’s manager.” Proposed by Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Horner, and lost on division, “That this Board will erect wharf according to the plans, when approved of by the Governor-in-Council, tin* [toiling Down Co. making themselves responsible to the Board lor payment of cost when completed-, according to their letter of the 7th October, 1879.” Ayes—Gibson, Balm forth, Horner. Noes Milroy, Adams, Sherwood, Hie Chairman gave his casting vote with the noes. Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Gibson, and carried on division, “That it is the opinion of this Board that the Boiling Down Company should erect their own wharf, in terms of their letter data! 7th October, 187*,).” Ayes —Milroy, Adams, Gibson, Horner. Noes —Balmforth, Sherwood. Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Balmlorth, and carried, “ That so soon as cattle .come forward for slopping, the Engineer bo authorised to have a temporary yard erected, pending the erection of the permanent yards.” Proposed by Mr Adams, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried, “ That the Harbor Board cancel the lease of section 2L, Town of Carlyle.’’ Accounts passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.