HARBOR BOARD.

Patea Mail, 16 August 1882, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting was held on Monday. Present, Messrs Coutts (in the chair), Adams, Peacock, Aitchison, and Qane. Board’s CLAIM for COMPENSATION. Major Atkinson had telegraphed thus : The Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee informs me that application for compensation for reseres taken must in the first instance be made to Government. Better therefore make application by first mail through me. Bill re reserves will be introduced next week. A later telegram said : Application should be to Minister of Public Works, by letter setting forth amount of claim and reasons for it. Send letter through me. A letter has accordingly been sent to the Public Works department, setting forth the Board’s claim amounting to nearly £4OOO. The Board’s Loan. A circular intimated that Government require the usual return setting forth any loan raised by the Board. River Foreshore. Mr Sherwood having asked the Board to consider the depreciation caused to his lease of foreshore near the railway bridge, by alteration of survey pegs since he leased the land, Mr Humphries now wrote from New Plymouth explaining how the boundary pegs were fixed. He said the land was originally a reserve of three chains along the river bank, and the reserve was afterwards converted into a section and handed over to the Board. Mr Finnerty had lately surveyed the river frontage in as Jong straights as possible, and where his survaj' differed from the original map, there had doubtless been alterations in the river bed in course of years. The three chain section had been lately pegged to prevent future complications. “As to any depreciation to the land, or any injury caused by the alteration of the pegs,” Mr Humphries “ quite failed to see it.”

The Board resolved to forward a copy of the letter to Mr Sherwood.

PILOT'S RESIGNATION.

Mr A. Wood sent in his resignation (as reported in last issue), on the ground that the Board had taken no action in order to protect him as their servant from written statements by the Harbor Board which he complained of as injurious and untrue. The language of his letter was strong. The Chairman said he had not heard of this being a grievance, and he was taken by surprise. He was sorry that Mr Wood had taken this course. Mr Adams thought Mr Wood had brooded over the charges made against him by the S.S. Company, and had worked himself into a healed state of mind. Agreed, after other remarks, that the pilot’s resignation be held over until next meeting of the Board, for further information . The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Wood, expressing the Board’s confidence in him, and asking him to reconsider his resignation. Disputed Lease. Mr H. Bush having again written saying he will pay the rent of brick-yard section leased from the Board, as soon as they can give him a title, the Board appointed the chairman, and Messrs Aitchison and Adams, as a committee to deal with this matter. AMENDING BYE-LAWS. A committee having amended the byelaws in several particulars, the main object being to give effect to the increase of wharfage charges from Is fid to 2s fid per ton ; the Board now confirmed the amendments. The Board also, agreed to adopt the bye-laws used by the Borough Council for the conduct of business. • The pilot’s and wharfinger’s reports were received, and the Board adjourned.