HARBOUR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1020, 11 April 1883, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Board met at 2.45 p.m. on Monday. Present, the y Chairman (Mr Gibson), Messrs Richards, Adams, Aitchison, and Sheild. ■ SPECIAL MEETING, The special meeting was continued in committee and on resuming numerous alterations in the wharf charges were reported. ORDINARY MEETING. Letters were read : Prom the Treasury stating that the sum of £3 5s lid had been paid to the Board’s credit. .. From Mr H. E. P. Adams re leases. ; It was resolved to pay the Crown grant fees as requested. A leiter from Messrs Wilkie and Crawford was held over till the pilot’s report was read. From the Editor of the Patea Mail suggesting that some cheap lithographic plans showing the, positions, of the guide pier and tliat portion of the western pier, proposed to be constructed in Mr Thomson’s report, should be procured and circulated through the county. Members approved of the idea and resolved to enquire as to the probable cost. WHARF LABOURER, The Chairman recommended that the wharf labourer should receive a week’s notice. He explained that he ought to have painted the beacons but they had not been done, and between the pilot and the wharfinger the man had an easy billet. Mr Aitchison remarked that at the time he was engaged men were scarce. The Chairman : There were many odd jobs that he could do if he liked such as removing snags and filling up the depressions in the cattle wharf. There was plenty of work for a good man, Mr Richards thought the wharfinger to blame for not looking after him. The Chairman : There was too much petty officialdom, and he thought it better he should go. Agreed to. pilot’s report. The pilot reported as follows : “The channel is still to the eastward with very good water, the Napier having reported ten feet an hour and a half before high water on Friday morning’s tide. As the tides are still making, it can safety be inferred that there are twelve feet of water at high tide. The channel between the west spit and the breakwater is still narrow, the westerly seas having counteracted the good effect of the recent fresh. There have only been six arrivals and six departures since my last report. In regard to Messrs Wilkie and Crawford’s letter of the 6th inst. stating that in every case they had protected earth by pungahs or papa rock, I beg to state that they had not done so when the case was reported to the Secretary, hut have now commenced protecting with papa rock. Besides the earth washed awaj r from the unprotected embankment near the railway bridge, large quantities of earth were hurled into the river by blasting, and a lump of clay fell into the small boat and split one of the planks, causing her to fill. I have requested Mr Wilkie to repair her. I would advise removal of surf boat from where she is at present moored, and hauled up above high water near wharf as she is likely to sustain damage from blasting going on, and also from freshes ; and I would also advise that she be sold as there is no use for her.” Messrs Wilkie and Crawford’s letter was read. It stated that the embankment was being protected with papa rock. The Chairman said he could bear out the Pilot’s report as, to the unprotected state of the embankment. So much was it affecting the river that the Pilot informed him that the silt had raised the bed of the river a foot at the spot where his boat was moored. Mr Aitchison considered that the attempt at facing had been a very feeble one. Instead of large blocks they were using small pieces about the size of one’s head, and the work did not seem anything like substantial. The Chairman could not help thinking that from the way the railway works were done, there was not the slightest attempt to study the interests of the Port. The Government had done in Patea what they would have never attempted in Lyttelton or Dunedin. Here they seem to throw anything they like into the river. The full scour of the river was on these earthworks, and they would soon bo washed away. Mr Aitchison said that there was not only the scour, they were within reach of the wash of the sea. Mr Adams considered that papa rock was.no protection at all. The Chairman considered that it was disgraceful the way the Railway works were going on. The way the embankment bad been carried across the flat was disgraceful. Mr Adams remarked that if it had been any other place, the Government would have continued the breakwater up_ to the point. They would have to do it eventually. In answer to Mr Aitchison, the Secretary said that the Public Works Department had not taken the slightest notice of a telegram sent by the Chairman complaining of the earth being thrown into the river. Mr Adams said the contractors wore facing with fern trees and papa rock; and that would not stand the wash for any time, Mr Richards thought that there must be something very loose about the Public Works Department. Mr Shield condemned the wav things were going on, and moved, “ That the solicitor to the Board be instructed to take proceedings against Messrs Wilkie and Crawford,Railway contractors, for a breach of Clause 217 of the Harbours Act, 1878, and to take steps to prevent continuing to commit the offence complained of.” Mr Richards seconded. Mr Aitchison thought they had better take their solicitor’s advice first. Mr Sheild said that the damage was done, and they should not si,t down and look $t it. They should go straight for them, The Chairman considered the matter so important that ho should have felt quite justified in giving instructions to the solicitor without consulting the Board. The motion was then put and carried unanimously, and the report was adopted. THE pilot’s house. The Committee appointed to inspect the pilot’s house reported : —There is only bedroom and one fireplace in the pilot’s house, and the accommodation generally seems quite insufficient. The Committee recommend that another bedroom be added in-the form of a lean-to, at the back part of the building, and that a chimney bo built to the sitting-room. An outside chimney will be the most suitable, with a register grate added, so that the brick work may be of as small proportions as possible. Mr Aitchison said that the cost would be about £4O. If they had funds it was

highly important that the work should be done, as the house as it stood was not fit for family use. The design of the chimney was an extraordinary affair. It came from New Plymouth, and the bottom of the chimney was more like a small room than a fireplace. The report was adopted, Mr Aitchison agreeing to provide plans and tions gratis. wharfinger’s report; •' The Wharfinger reported that everything at the wharf was in good order. The cash received in March was £64 12s 4d ; outstanding accounts, £54 7s 2d ; due on goods in store, £5 6s ; total, £124 5a 6d. , The report was received. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment :—G D Hamerton, £l7 2s ; S Taplin, 7s 6d ; J Gibson, £2 3s ; Paten Mail ; £l2 4s 6d ; W Back, 18s. ■ railway agitation. The Chairman moved, “ That the County and Borough Councils of Wanganui, Hawera, and Patea be respectfully asked to unite in bringing before the Government the loss and inconvenience caused to the trade of these districts by the slow rate of construction of the WanganuiWaitara Railway, and to endeavour by their united action to urge the completion of the small gap between Hawera and Manutahi by the Government calling for tenders, so that the whole work may be completed within twelve months.” He moved this resolution because, to a great extent, he looked upon the Railway as a feeder to the Harbour. The whole of the Government plans were ready, and the whole work could be completed in about ten months, as the money was available. It was scarcely the correct thing for them to sit quiet and not stir in the matter. Mr Aitchison seconded. Those places with which it was proposed to co-operate were almost equally interested with ourselves. Considering the splendid country through which the line ran, it was a most extraordinary thing the way that gap was allowed to exist. Mr Richards said that the money was voted years ago, but the work was to be done leisure!}’. It had been commenced leisurely, and carried on leisurely and no mistake. The motion was carried unanimously. PLANS FOR THE HARBOUR. The Chairman moved engineer prepare such plans for the construction of the west pier as are necessary to obtain an order in Council, and that the Chairman obtain the Order in Council for the work as early as possible.” He said that having adopted the engineer’s report the next step should be to get an Order in Council for the work, so that when that had been obtained there should be no obstacle when they came to consider the financial part of the position. Everything should be clear to go ahead. Mr Sheild had great pleasure in seconding the motion. It was one of his wishes to be in the Board to promote the advancement of the breakwater and he thought if the matter were brought before the public by degrees in a short time they would feel convinced that in the end the works would be of great advantage. They had the makings of a very fair port, with plenty of water. He should be laughed at if he said they had a better port than Wanganui, but at any rate they had not got the mud flats it had. The pier was part of Sir J. Goode’s plan and would go towards the permanent improvement of the harbour. Mr Aitchison would support the resolution particularly as the work referred to was the exact work required to be done first. It would have to he faced boldly before they could provide for the safety of vessels entering the river. They could not do much withoutthe plans and anOrder in Council. No doubt they would find the means after. Resolution carried. RECONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD. The Chairman moved, “ That our member, Major Atkinson, be asked to prepare, for the consideration and approval of the Board, a rough draft of a bill providing for the reconstruction of the Harbour Board, giving the Board extended powers as River conservators, defining the rating area of the district, providing borrowing powers, mode of rating, &c. ; also to furnish the Board with the value _ for rating purposes of the proposed district.” He saw Major. Atkinson when he was here, and told him that they had no data to go upon ; and he promised to send up a rough draft of a bill. Before the Board could go into the financial part, it would be necessary for the Board to have; the information. ; _ Mr Sheild seconded the resolution,which was adopted without dissent. The Board then adjourned.