Patea Harbor Board.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 534, 17 June 1880, Page 2

Patea Harbor Board.

The monthly meeting of Pate# Harbor Board was held on Monday, Present : Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Milroy, Adams, Gibson, Horner, Newland, and Balmforth. THE PLIMSOLL MARK. A letter from the Mamie Department requested the Board to report to Wellington upon the load-line of vessels having the Plimsoll mark, and those not so marked. It was agreed to instruct the harbormaster to report upon vessels visiting this port. BALANCE OF LOAN. A letter from the Postal Department notified that a sum of £5,000, balance of the harbor loan, bad been placed to tho Board’s credit on the 12th May. The Secretary added : “ I have to draw your attention to the fact that it lias been reported to the Treasury, by Mr Auditor Macalister, that your Board had not as yet made any provision for creating a sinking fund for repayment of the loan, as required by law, and I have to request that this matter may at once receive your attention.” The Chairman said : On receiving this £5,000, I placed £3,500 out at interest for three months. I should have preferred to leave tho question open till this meeting, but the letter was.received only a day or two after our last meeting, and wo should have lest a month’s interest. THE WHARF QUESTION. A BREEZY DISCUSSION. ; The following telegrams had been received from the Colonial Treasurer;— Wellington, May 26. Re approval of plans of wharf to be erected on west side of river, the ment are going to build a wharf" nPconnection with the railway station that will give ample accommodation to shipping. Should, however, the Board so desire it, the plans of tho wharf will be submitted for approval, subject to the face line being brought back to Sir J. Coode’s line. Wellington, June 1. Have given orders for order in Council to be got with least possible delay, and would respectfully suggest for the consideration of the Board whether the money they propose to spend upon the wharves would not be more usefully expended in improving the river, as the Government in the course of a few days will call for tenders for the rai 1 way wharf, which the engineers inform me will give ample accommodation to the port.

Chairman : On reading tins first telegram, you will note that it is suggested that the line should be brought back, but they must have made a mistake in Wellington, for the plans we sent down Were constructed on Sir John Goode’s line. Then came the other telegram in which we get a little advice. Mr Adams : There is no order in Council given as yet, I suppose ? Chairman : I have heard nothing of it. Mr Newland : I suppose they are waiting for a reply; to see whether this accommodation the Government are going to supply will answer the eaniepmpo.se. Mr Horner: Is that what the Government mean ? Chairman : It would be difficult to say what particular object the Government * have for humbugging the Harbor Board since last December. 1 should not like to hazard an opinion on that head. There has been a great deal of humbugging about the single issue of this order in Council. Mr Horner: On the face of it, they consider that, as they are making a wharf, we shall not want one on this side, or not such an elaborate one. They practically sa3’ : “ Had 3’ou not better wait and see what the requirements of your port will be?” Mr Adams : I cannot see how you can get to the other wharf. The railway will 011)3’ make a river wharf. Mr Horner: I wanted to get at what they meant. Mr Newland : I think we have pretty well got at it now. Chairman : I think so. Mr Adams: They are going to provide a wharf, but who is to provide a road to it ?

Mr Newland : What would be the good of spending a lot of money 7 to cart the shipping goods down to that corner on the town side ? Mr Balmforth : It is a rum idea, until we can ship stock in that corner. Engineer : The wharf on the town side would be 150 feet wide. Mr Newland : Yes, but it is the driving of cattle there while you are unloading a steamer. It can’t be done. Mr Adams :If y 7 ou can’t ship cattle with; a wharf of that size, I don’t know what size y 7 ou require. Mr Balmforth : You would have to get the cattle on to it first. Mr Horner : It would be a continuation of the present road. Mr Newland : The cattle wharf should be away from the general shipping, or the cattle cannot be got on. Mr Milroy : 1 move “That n standing the expression of Govenfnnent opinion re wharves, this Board is still of opinion that increased wharfage accommodation is at present required on the west aide of the Patea riveiv and would again ask the Government to give effect to the former application.”. I think this Board has as good 1 a right to express an opinion as to what is likely to benefit the place as the Government have ; and I think the members living here should be in a position to know just as well what is wanted as thosein Wellington.; The wharf on the other side won’t do for everything. The accommodation for the railway 7 will be somewhat different. Only a certain class of goods will go by rail, and a great many kinds won’t go across to the railway wharf, especially goods going to Wellington by sea. : 'A wharf cn the town side is not onlv a necessity at present, but will bo • a benefit hereafter. - Chairman; I would support this motion, excepting that I don’t agree with the expression, “Notwithstanding the opinion of the Government.” They have not expressed an opinion in the matter. We have a telegram from Major Atkinson, but when we get a telegram from the head of the Marine Department, that is the opinion of the Government. Major Atkinson is the member for Egraont, and does not officially express the opinion of the Marine Department, . Mr Milroy : I look upon an expression of opinion from the Colonial Secretary as the opinion of the Government. >He is a member of the Government. j Chairman ; We have had two sets of plans before the Government. One plan was approved of, and that has evidently got before the Government. Mr Newland: I don’t think there can be any two opinions as to the desirability of wharf accommodation on both sides of the river. I think every member will bear the resolution out in that, But it is still a question as to what extent we will go in laying out our money on the town side.

Chairman : Pardon mo for interrupting you. What wc are asking now is that an order in Council may issue authorising a wharf to be constructed in four sections. Mr Gibson : If the matter were to bo so put to the Government that we don’t contemplate doing the whole of this work, but simply doing it in sections as may be found necessary; that timber, for instance, is not required to go across to the railway side, and also that cattle should be shipped on this side ; if the resolution wore so woided as to show that we arc working in unison with the Government, then I think there would not be the slightest difference of opinion among the members on that point. We are all working for the one object, but don t exactly understand one another. Mr Balmforth : There is no doubt that all the wool and all the produce this side of Manutahi will be carted to the wharf ; and I don’t see why the carts should be compelled to cross the biidge when they can get to the shipping wharf on the town side. I don’t think this wharf proposed by the Board will be in the right place for shipping stock. You can tget the gcncial run of cattle on to it. Chairman ; I would not, as one membci of this Board, send down to the Government and say, in effect, “ Ihe Board is not to be trusted ; therefore we limit our actions in accordance with your approval. I say, on the contrary, that we, as a Board, do the best we can in expending the money on wliarfager. Wc have thought to be as economical as possible all along; and if this order in Council came out, I have no doubt this Board would exercise a wise discretion in expending only so much as would meet the requirements of the case. But I have no doubt it has been so put to the Government that wc are spending the whole of Sir John Goode’s estimate for a complete wharf. „ A-Member; Wbat was the estimate i Engineer : It was £B,OOQ. Chairman : Now I will put it to you, o-cnllcmen, is it likely we are going to vote £B,OOO for a wharf ? It has boon clearly the opinion of members of the Board that our intention was to supply facilities for shipping cattle ; and the Government have no right, nor has Major Atkinson, to assume that this Board is going to expend money to the contrary of what would bo most for the good of the place. I don t thank Major Atkinson for giving us gratuitous advice, because I believe we shall be careful to sec that the money will be expended in a proper manner. We arc being hampered by that advice, and through that order in Council being kept back. It is very unreasonable indeed. The whole question as to the extent of (he wharf will have to be gone into again when yon get the order in .Council. Ministers arc paid high salaries, but it is altogether out of their place to endeavour to direct an independent Board in its proceedings. Let it be said at once that thcic is something contemplated to be done wrong, and then Ministers would have bad a case. But tbero is not. ihe whaif we propose will be a splendid place for shipping cattle. Mr Homer : I bad hoped to-day that were going to discuss this matter entirely independent of parties, I think it is purely a matter of business to us. It struck me that the reasonable part of the matter was that the Government were going to construct a wharf on the railway side. Tenders are called for it within 14 days. Wa shall also want wharf accommodation on the town side ; but shall wc want as much as we should have clone supposing there had been no railway wharf on the other side ? Chairman ; No. Mr Horner : If we get the Order in Council shall we be in a position to erect as much wharfage as we choose ?

Chairman : Yes. Mr Horner: Till we get the order, wc arc not in a position to discuss the amount of wharfage. Could wc not defer this till our next meeting ? Chairman : I have wanted to get the Order in Council to put before every meeting since last December. The resolution simply asks that the order in Council shall be sent. It is merely a repetition of correspondence since last December. It practically reaffirms the previous request. Mr Gibson : The remarks that have fallen from Mr Horner are worthy of consideration ; that is that the Government have sent up plans for a wharf and have called for tenders by the 28th ; and I don’t think it would bo doing any injury to this side of the river to defer the matter till our next meeting. Chairman : Wc are asking for the order in Council only. Mr Gibson : But there is no doubt that the Government are of opinion that wo are to spend £ B,OOO on wharfage on this side, and it might he the means of causing them to curtail the amount of wharfage on the other side, and so throw the onus of providing wharfage accommodation on to the Board instead of the Government. Mr Balmforth : That is trying to shelve the thing altogether. Mr Adams: We are only asking the Government to give us an order that we may use in a month or in twelve months. Mr Gibson : You are giving them an opportunity of curtailing the work on the other side. Mr Milroy : It seems to me that the Government have made a great mistake, and that if they can only get us to sit still and rob the place and rob the inhabitants for the mere sake of a little personal feeling in the matter they have as to the other side of the river, all will be well. We want a certain thing, and they say “ No ; if we give you that, our ends will be defeated.” Mr Newland: No, I don’t agree with that. You must remember that there would be as much coming from the Waverley and Waitotara districts as from Hawera. : Mr Adams : It would be just as easy to bring the goods on to this side as on the other. Mr Balmforth : The people I represent will mostly cart the stuff, and wifi not cross the bridge if they can help it. I believe there will be a toll put on the bridge eventually. Mr Newland : We may want to send goods to New Plymouth. Mr Gibson then moved, as an amendment, “That the Government having called for tenders for wharfage accommodation, giving a frontage to the river of 540 feet, with deep water, and in connection with the railway works for which tenders are called, it is not desirable to ask for an Older in Council for the whole of Sir John Goode’s plans on the west side, but only for a portion; and that the Board inform the Government what length of wharf they propose to erect on the town side, on Sir John Goode’s plans.” Ho moved this in order that the Board should f not throw any obstacle in the way of the railway works. No doubt there were on .the Board conflicting interests, a question of town and a question of country. Chairman: Yes,T believe that is so. Mr-Gibson : The advice in the telegram, which is rather scoffed at, is not unreasonable advice. Our money should be conserved for expenditure on the breakwater. Mr Balmforth : Mr Gibson does not tell us that on the railway wharf there is to be

no cattle shipping accommodation. Same with Major Atkinson, and it wou’d have 'i.i.ked much better if be bad kept his elcgram in Wellington, and come here himself, so that we could have spoken personally to him. I did not vole for him, and never will. Mr Adams : I don’t see what good it would bo to report the length of wharf to the Government, when our M.11.R. recommends us not to have a wharf at all. Mr Gibson ; No, I don’t say that. Mr Horner ; I cannot agree with Mr Gibson when be says there arc conflicting interests between town and country. I don’t admit it for a moment. What helps the town helps the country, and whal helps the country helps the town. I am going in very strongly to get cattle accommodation.

Chairman : I ace in this movement —I imagine there is more than what appears on the face of it. I see here an attempt to get time to cany out something in connection with this which is not clearly expressed on the face of it. Mr Gibson must admit that it will take one or two months before we can have an order in Council prepared. I am in a position to say that Major Atkinson knows perfectly well that we arc only about to provide accommodation for cattle required for the place, and for shipping cattle. I do know also that the song has been sung in his ears that this Board intended to spend £B,OOO. Let me remind you also that I am the Government representative on the Board. Mr Gibson; Yes, we know that.

Chairman: I am the Government member, and I have also been elected to this Board in every way that I can be elected. It is within my knowledge that the Government have had a copy of the Harbor Board balance sheet, in which it is shown that the balance in the hands of the Board, after paying for the present contract, will be very small indeed, and out of that wc shall have only a small portion to spend on the wharf; and that is well understood bj' the Government. But here is an attomp to gain time. I say the Board have decided to ask for this order in Council ; and Major Atkinson says he has given instructions to have that order in Council issued. If so, since that order was given the plans for a raihvny wharf have come here, and tenders are called for. So that it is evading the question to say that in asking for this order we are attempting to injure the other side in any way. False issues have been raised on this matter from the first to the present. And this is only another attempt. As to this order lying our hands to any quantity of wharfage, I say it only ties us down to Sir John Goode’s line. The original application was for a wharf in four sections, so that we might take any portion. Mr Newland seconded the amendment. It was then put to the vote. For the amendment—Gibson, Newland, Horner. Against—Balmforth, Adams, Milroy, and Sherwood. The amendment was declared lost. The original motion was then put, and agreed to. The Chairman moved that the resolution be telegraphed to the Minister of the Marine Department. Mr Adams seconded, and it was agreed to. Mr Horner : How is it that you previously communicated with Major Atkinson. Chairman : Because he commenced the communication with me. UAKBOR MASTER’S REPORT. Mr Wood’s monthly icport stated : “ Notwithstanding the heavy sea that has been running in on the bar of late, tiie bar and channel arc still keeping straight and in line of breakwater, with lift on bar and loft in channel at spring tides. Width from breakwater to north spit, 117 ft at neap and spring tide. Most of the snags have been removed from between wharves. Require supply of oil before next meeting of the Board. Twenty-three vessels have crossed thediarbor since last report. One crossed at night.”

engineer's report. Mr Thomson reported for the month : “ The weather has been very unfavorable to the progress of the work. We have been trying to lay a row of foundation concrete blocks at low-water line, spring tides, but on account of the freshes which keep the water-level too high, and the swell caused by the heavy sea, the men have not been able to work more than three or four hours a clay setting blocks. We wifi require a light for the pier-head soon A ship’s large mast head light would do very well. The channel is very good, being quite straight and deep, with a depth abreast of the work of 14 feet at high water. I expect to have the plans of the west breakwater finished before next Board-day ; also those of the guide-wall near the entrance. LOCAL SUPPLIES. Mr Adams moved, “ That fn future, when possible, all material required for the Harbor. Master’s office he precured locally.” Mr Gibson seconded. Mr Milroy : That would be a bad resolution, for local people could put their heads together and charge us what they liked. Passs a motion that it be by tender. Mr Gibson : Mr Milroy has not seen the slightest objection when Mr Mills, of Wellington, has had a monoply in of kerosene oilMr Horner moved an amendment “That in future the oil and all other material required by the Harbor Master shall, as far as possible, be procured by public tender. The Chairman seconded. Mr Adams : If wc want a bottle of ink, it would have to be tendered for. Chairman : It says “ as far as possible ; ” so that you are not addressing yourself to the resolution when you speak of a bottle of ink.

Mr Milroy : As to monopoly by Mr Mills or anyone else, I have been trying to stop monopoly in other things connected with the harbor ; and it is quite time some one else did this dirty work, for which one gets no thanks. Mr Gibson : The amendment is the same as the resolution, except that we shall have tenders called for. I don’t like the remark that those who call for tende;s locally are doing dirty work. I think merchants here are quite as capable and as honest as in other places. Mr Milroy : As soon as any member enters between local tradesmen and monopoly, be has been looked upon as trying to do them a personal injury, and that Mr Gibson knows. Mr Gibson : I must ask for an explanation. Chairman: I cannot call oh any member to explain, if he docs not choose to do so. The amendment was then put and carried. LEASE OF WIIATIF. ;; The Board resolved, in committee, that the time to re-lease the wharf bo for 12 months,'to date from Ist July next. The other business was unimportant.