HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, 14 October 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board was held at Patea on Monday. Present: Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Milroy, Adams, Balmforth, and Newland.

PLANS APPROVED., The Board were informed that the acting' Governor in Council had approved the plans for completing the breakwater on the east side. The effect of the approval is to authorise the extension of the breakwater as recommended in Sir John Goode’s plan. The projected work on the west side had not received approval in Council. The Chairman said : When I was in Wellington, the Department agreed that the plans for the whole works should be sanctioned. Now it seems that the plan for the east side only has been formally approved in Council. What reason the Government have for not approving the projected wall on the other side I don’t know ; but the letter indicates that the Government won’t sanction the work on the west side until the whole work on the

east side is completed. Sir John Coode has written to the Engineer advising tha we may go on with the training wall on the west side until we can raise funds foxcompleting the larger work on the east side. I applied to the Government foxapproval of the whole plans, so that we might proceed with such portions of the work as were most convenient. A timber training wall on the west side, running out about as far as the present breakwater, might be gone on with at a comparatively small cost, until funds are forthcoming for continuing the larger work on the east aide. Sir John Coode recommends us to do this. The Government have a large quantity of piling lying at Wellington. A great deal of it was to have been used in the Patea wharf contract, but an arrangement has been made to use totara instead. I believe there is a chance of getting that timber ; and that would be the main cost of erecting- this training wall. If wo could got the order in Council for this training wall, the timber would be suitable in length, and we might arrange to get it. The matter was left in the hands of the

Ch airman. SEMAPHORE. The Chairman said a semaphore would have to be erected in a line with the breakwater and lighthouse. The position of the semaphore at present did not indicate the course of the channel, and might mislead captains who did not know the river well. A mast and guide post would be placed at the end of the breakwater, and as the Marine Department insists upon a semaphore being used to guide vessels in, the present semaphore must be fixed in a line with the lighthouse, with a travelling beacon on the beach, the three being then in a line with the channel.

RENT POSTPONED. An application was received for postponement of rent due for a lease held by Mr Thomson, engineer, and two associates jointly. The section is near the bridge, north of the Masonic Hotel, and the rent being due in advance, the lessees asked that payment be postponed for a year. Mr Thomson stated that there is a prospect of the section being turned to account, but as the rent fell practically on himself he hoped the Board would now allow credit for a year. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Adams, that credit be allowed for one year, upon substantial guarantee. engineer’s report. Mr Thomson reported: “During the past month the breakwater has been completed. The channel continues good, and the sand is filling in behind the main

work. The contractor for cattle wharf is

making good progress. Some of the necessary, piles have not yet come to hand which'farther delays him.’'

.pilot’s bepobt. Mr Wood reported : “ The south channel has closed up, leaving‘The north and only channel a little southward of the breakwater, with 12 feet at spring tides ; the width from breakwater to north spit, 99ft; depth at end of breakwater, 19ft; and average depth of 17ft in raid-channel at spring tides. Men have been engaged in lifting and clearing away snags. Thirty-seven vessels have crossed the bar since last report, 3 crossing at night.” Chairman : It should be understood the pilot means that there is now only one channel, the out-flow having cleared away the sand between the main channel and a smaller channel northward. The two channels are now one, and the entrance is better than before. The Engineer’s and Pilot’s reports were adopted.

FINISHING THE BREAKWATER. It had been intended to close the contract by formally taking over the breakwater, but the Engineer had been unable to complete a plan showing the work done, and his final report on the work was not ready. After conversation, it was agreed to pay the contractor £159 on account of work done since last meeting, upon the Engineer’s certificate, and to postpone a final settlement till nest meeting, as an interval of six weeks had been specified between the fixing of the last block and the final payment. A majority of members of the Board had inspected the breakwater on the Tuesday preceding the meeting, with a view to taking over the work as a completed contract at an early date. ;

CATTLE WHARF. "' ' A progress payment of £SOO for work done since last meeting was agreed The total amount of contract is about £I7OO. SINKING FUND.

A long conversation ensued as to ways and means for providing a sinking fund upon the loan of £IO,OOO. The Chairman., pointed out that the line of railway had been so laid as to depreciate the value of reserves on the east frontage of the river by cutting them into narrow strips without means of access. Until the Government arranged about giving access to the reserves along the railway line, the Board could not put the land into the market, and could not therefore provide the intended sinking fund. Mr Milroy: We cannot sell without consent of the Land Office, and they cannot sell without the sanction of the- Government, so that the Government would have power to object to our disposing of any laud.

Chairman ; They have adopted our recommendation on every former occasion. After discussion, the Chairman moved : “That in answer to Mr Gray’s letter re sinking fund, he be informed that in consequence of the railway passing through many of the Harbor Board’s reserves, the Board is not enabled to deal with them ; and that the question of a sinking fund will bo taken into consideration after the reserves are disposed of ; and that he be also informed that the location of the line and port station has seriously reduced the value of the reserves since the original estimate was made out.”

Mr Milroy: I don’t think the letter is one word too strong. As the Government have carried this line in defiance of the public and of public opinion, they ought to be informed of the serious damage they have done to the inhabitants of this place. I consider that any action the Board may take as regards a sinking fund, through the Board not being able to comply with the Government’s wish, is entirely the fault of the Government and not of the Board. In defiance of all recommendations, the Government would take the railway right through the centre of a piece of ground that will now be of advantage to no one, but detrimental to

the whole. Resolved that the 'Chairman, Mr Milroy, and Mr Adams be a committee to wait, on the District Engineer as to roads to the Board’s reserves. FRENCH LEAVE. Upon an account for supplying a new mast to a boat belonging to the Board, it was stated that this mast had to be got because the Boiling-down Company had taken the mast and cut it up to make rollers, about a year ago. Agreed that the company be asked to pay for replacing same. The Board adjourned.