HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, 19 July 1882, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting was held on Monday. • Present, Messrs Coutts fin the chair), Adams, Aitchison, Horner, Peacock, and Newland. “ At Your Own Risk.” The chairman of the N.Z. Marine Underwriters’ Association, Auckland, wrote asking whether the pilot at this port is authorised by the Board, in signalling to vessels to “ Come in at your own risk,” The Pilot wrote acknowledging receipt of letter from Secretary, with instruction not to depart from bar or danger signals contained in Harbor Regulations. Silt at Railway Wharf. The Public Works Department having been notified of silt accumulating along the newly-finished railway wharf, a reply was received that the District Engineer will watch any changes that may take place in the river. Wharfinger’s Position. Mr Imrie applied for an increase of salary, having been one year in the Board’s employ. Agreed to give an increase of £2l, making his salary £l3l a year. On the Pilot’s recommendation, the Board agreed to appoint Mr Imrie as deputy harbor-master, in order to invest him with necessary authority in working river traffic at the wharf. The Missing Polygraph.' Mr Sherwood wrote that the polygraph enquired about was ordered while he was chairman, for use in the Board’s work while he was in Wellington ; that the article proved to be useless, and he believed is was left in Wellington ; that he had previously said he would pay for it if the Board declined to so, although it was got for the Board’s work and for no other purpose ; and that he will return the polygraph to the Board if it can be found In Wellington on his next visit. Proposed by Mr Peacock, seconded by Mr Newland, and carried, , “ That in the opinion of the Harbor Board, Mr Sherwood be asked to return the polygraph, or pay into the Board the sum expended.” Repairs to Breakwater &cThe Pilot reported that the protection wall recently built requires a little repair; also that the rubble work under the top layer of concrete on breakwaler required blocking up. Resolved that the Chairman be authorised to employ sufficient labor to reinstate the subsidence in the breakwater. Throwing up Lease, Mr H. Bush having stated that he would throw up his lease of brickfield section in consequence of delays in getting boundary peg fixed, it was now resolved, on the motion of the chairman, that ho be asked to surrender his lease of sub-section 8 of section 131. A letter was also received from Mr Barton, on behalf of Mr Bush, informing the Board that he would throw up his lease. Accounts. The following were passed for .payment :—Chairman’s travelling expenses to New Plymouth in connection with irregularity as to leases; also going to Wellington on same matter, and on petition for compensation to Board ; also legal opinion from Mr Fitzherbert ; total Ll3 10s 6d. J. Gibson, oil &c,, LBls ; York and Cornfoot, timber 12s 7d. Boundary Pegs. A letter from Mr Sherwood pointed out that his boundary pegs of suburban section 76, leased from the Board, have been altered since the lease, thereby depreciating the value. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Adams, seconded by Mr Horner, that a copy of above letter be forwarded to the Chief Surveyor, N.P., and that Mr Sherwood’s communication be taken into consideration when the Chief Surveyor reports on it. Damage from Storm Water.

On the motion of the Chairman, resolved that the Patea Borough Council be informed that a large quantity of sand is being washed into the river at lower end

of Bed ford-street by storm-water, and that they take the necessary steps to prevent the same. Pilot’s Report. Mr Wood, pilot, reported to the Harbor Board on Monday that during the stormy weather of late, very heavy seas have been running in on the bar, bringing the bar and channel considerably to the eastward of the end of wall. Depth on bar is II feet at springs, with average depth of 15 feet along breakwater ; the width from wall to west spit is 112 feet. Two pieces of dangerous wreckage (as notified to the Secretary) are on the edge of the channel, east side ; and being just abreast of the entrance over the bar, where the channel takes a curve, they arc dangerous to any steamer running close to the east bank, probably causing loss of propeller, or perhaps knocking a holejn a wooden vessel. Sixteen vessels crossed the bar during the month ; one at night. The Compensation ClaimThe Chairman reported the steps he had taken as to to irregularity of leases ; and detailed what he did while in Wellington to forward the petition for land compensation. He gave evidence before the Waste Lands Committee ; and being asked whether £3,800 was not a large value to put on only nine acres of suburban land at ' Patea, he replied that the Beard had sold land in the vicinity three or four years ago at £SO to £7O an acre. Being personally known to some members of the Com mittee, they had promised to do what they could in the matter.