HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, 9 August 1881, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board was held on Monday. Present, Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Aitchison, Adams, G. W. Gane, Peacock, also L). Gontts, the newly appointed representative of Government. CHAIRMAN’S RETIREMENT. A telegram was received just before the Board sat, intimating that Mr D. Gontts had been nominated to the Board on behalf of Government. V Mr Gontts produced a telegram to the same effect. Chairman : I think this authorisation by telegram is sufficient, and that the new member can take his seat at the Board. By the same rule, las nominee of the Government must now retire. I cannot help expressing surprise that the Government have not had this matter settled before now. Personally, being the Government nominee, I have to complain of being placed in an anomalous position. The gentleman who acts in the capacity of Government agent in this place made it his business to call at this office and say he did not see how I could expect the Government to nominate me again, and that I was holding the office illegally. I suppose the reason why I could not be nominated again is that I differ politically from the Minister of Marine, who happens to be the gentleman representing this district. If that is a good reason I regret very much, in the interest of local government, that politics should be allowed to interfere in any way whatever. The simple question ought to be, has the nominee done his duty in a proper manner ? If so, it ought not to matter what his political creed may be. I don’t know that I have any right to complain personally, for it appears to be part of a system- —that tfhless you support the Government you cannot be appointed a justice of the peace, that you cannot even be a Government valuer notwithstanding that you may have superior qualifications, and although you may tender for less. We had a striking instance here. A tender was sent in to value the whole County for a sum of £9O, and it was rejected and contracts were given to prominent supporters of Government at a ! total cost of over £2OO. When these offices can be received only on consideration of supporting the present Government, I do not see that I have any reason to complain. It is to be regretted that anything in the nature of politics should debar one from taking part in local affairs. I have made this harbor work a speciality; and if the Government have no other reason, I must assume they have this one, that I have not done my duty and they must appoint another who can do it better. In that case I must give way to the force of a brute power, the absolute power of being able to say so by the I Act. To that power I bow. I can only ! congratulate the old members of the Board on the success of the work, and to say that what has been done cannot be undone. lam much pleased to see that the member for the district is at last awakening to the necessity of introducing a bill. I cannot help regretting that he should have allowed the whple of last session to pass, and have allowed the best part of this session to pass be- j fore introducing a measure in the vital interest of this district. I hope that j measure will pass, and I shall have great pleasure in standing by to see others do what I have been trying to do. I hope in future that I shall again become a member of this Board, not in the manner indicated by the local press nor Ly the quasi local agent of Major Atkinson. I beg now to leave you, and say that I do not intend to be dictated to as to the mode in which I shall come into this Board. The Government agent or the gettleman for whom he works has no business to say that the Town Board should take any particular action. Mr Aitchison: Perhaps a word from me-—-Mr Sherwood: No, I prefer not to hear anything.

Mr Aitchison : It is just possible this Town Board matter may have proceeded from what .was suggested between Mr Adams and myself. Mr Adams: No, the Government knew nothing about the Town Board mutter. Mr Aitchison: This matter was talked over by Mr Adams and myself, as to which should retire to make room for Mr Sherwood on this Board, as to his representing the Town Board in harbor matters. Mr Adams : It emanated, first of all to my knowledge, from the Government agent here, Mr Dale. Mr Sherwood then left the room. Mr Gane: If all the Governments do this sort of thing it can be nothing fresh. Mr Adams : Yes, it is not the question of being fresh. It is whether the thing is for the public good. Mr Gane proposed, and Mr Aitchison seconded, that Mr Gontts take the chair for that occasion. Mr Adams proposed and Mr Coutts seconded Mr Aitchison. Both declined; and eventually Mr Adams was voted to the chair for the time being, as the oldest member present. It was agreed to hold a special meeting on Thursday to appoint a chairman in succession to Mr Sherwood. A resolution was, agreed to respecting the Endowment Bill which Major Atkinson is to introduce into the Lower House to-day (Tuesday). Remainder of report held over.