Harbor Board.

Patea Mail, 10 May 1881, Page 3

Harbor Board.

A special meeting of the Board was held yesterday, to consider ways and means, and deal with land reserves Present ; Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Horner, Aitchison, Gane,* Peacock, and Adams. FINANCIAL POSITION. Chairman : I have convened this meeting by circular because it seems imperatively necessary that we should do all in our power tc carry out the Board’s engagements with the Government. There has been an unnecessarily long delay in returning the plans from Wellington, so that we might deal with the reserves which are affected by the railway. The Government have not only taken the land necessary for the construction of the line, but a considerable area in addition ; and by the large quantity of land taken and by the way the line runs through, they have to a large extent deprived the land of its value. We are now in a position to deal with the balance, such as it is. There was an attempt made to get an exchange of land made for the land taken. We asked for Ferry Reserve in exchange, but it Appears that cannot be done without legislation. Ten thousand pounds were borrowed on the security of the Board’s endowments, but the nature of those endowments has been considerably altered by the action of the Government in taking the railway on the other side after we had been told it was to come on this side. It was pointed out by this Board, by the County Council, and by residents of the place, that the Harbor Board would be a serious loser by the locating of the railway on the other side. We had every rea-

son to believe the line Avould come on this side, and Mr Macandrew promised the same thing when Minister of Public Works. The GoA'ernment ignored these recommendations, and the land fronting the river is not nearly so valuable as it Avas before the railway work began. If the railway had come on this side, the frontage betAveen the bridge and the wharves would have been exceedingly valuable. Notwithstanding all these obstructions and unnecessary delay, I think Ave can devise ways and means for paying the interest and sinking fund on the £IO,OOO. I cannot ignore this fact, that there is a strong attempt being made to treat the borrowing of the £IO,OOO as a political matter, and not one of local self-government. That attempt is so far successful that an investigation must be held. I have been careful to avoid anything like politics in connection Avith the Board. It has been my duty

at Wellington to explain tlie position and requirements of the Board, but I have done nothing farther. I have to complain that my action has been made use of as a stepping stone in the direction of politics. The honorable gentleman who represents this district has, by his own action, introduced that feature into the transaction of borrowing. He having made that statement so frequent!}', I intend to use every opportunity to get a strict investigation. I consider I should not be worthy of my position on the Board if I had, for any political motive, offered to receive any sum of money for this Board. A proposal to do such a thing is very dishonorable. I told him so at the time, and I still think so. I wish to assure you that whatever course this Board may take the Board has nothing to fear from that investigation. The loan was borrowed upon a strict inquiry made by representatives of both Houses. A great deal is being made out of this, while in other places hundreds of thousands of pounds are being expended where there appears not the remotest possibility of any good being done. These sums are being spent without noise and without inquiry. Here we have demonstrated by the expenditure of a small sum of money that very great good can be done. But when a question of ways and means arises in connection Avith this Board, the thing is put down as treachery. Ever since I have been Chairman of this Board, and even pre\ r ious to that, on harbour matters, there has been a -Series of traps laid with a deliberate intention, and proofs will be forthcoming at no distant date. DISPOSING OF RESERVES. The Chairman then pointed out the situation and extent of the reserves available for selling or leasing, to raise funds immediately. Ten sections are available, and the Board went into committee to determine how these should be offered, and fixing upset prices. The Board decided to dispose of all the reserves except the one occupied by Mr White, bricbmakcr, the reserves to be partly leased and partly sold ; the sales and leases to be by public auction.

Mr Adams : Now that we are raising money to pay off pressing liabilities, how do you mean to raise funds in the future ? Chairman : We shall bo clearing off present liabilities, and Major Atkinson will then have a clear course of three months to got a bill through Parliament. PARCELS DELIVERY. In reference to a letter from Government asking co-operation in working a proposed system of cheap parcels delivery under 14 pounds weight, the Board agreed to let the subject stand over for a month. The letter suggested a uniform wharfage rate of 2d for parcels of this class. BYE-LAWS. Thursday was fixed for a special meeting to revise the Board’s bye-laws regulating the use of the wharves, with the object of removing recent grievances respecting charges for wharfage. A report on the Board’s financial position and the Pilot’s report, are held over. The Board adjourned.