MUDDLE ABOUT TARANAKI HARBOUR.

Patea Mail, 26 April 1881, Page 3

MUDDLE ABOUT TARANAKI HARBOUR.

Monday’s meeting of the Taranaki Harbor Board disclosed a queer state of affairs between the engineer, harbor-master, and individual members of the Board. One member charged the engineer with having misled the Board generally as to work done in anticipation of the arrival of the ship Adamant with harbor plant, that he had deceived them as to the price per ton for landing and the quantity* he could put ashore each day ; finally that the arrangements for landing harbor plant by the engineer had broken down, and in respect of the boat which had swamped he had told a falsehood in stating it had received no damage when the member’s own inspection had shown him otherwise. The engineer blamed the harbor master for interfering with his department, and the harbor master would not acknowledge the engineer as his master. The engineer excused himself in some matters by* blaming workmen as inefficient, and stated to the Board lie would not go back to the works unless the harbor master was removed. One member said the harbor master must be out of his senses. Others strongly blamed the engineer. Generally* there is an upset, and committees of inquiry, finance, and for inspection of works, have been appointed. The captain of the Adamant has given notice of claim for unnecessary detention, and cargo which the engineer undertook to land at •is per ton, is being landed under new arrangements at the rate of 10s. The engineer was instructed to survey* for best railway route from New Plymouth to site of harbor, as a basis for drafting Bill to lay before Parliament.