HARBOUR BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1085, 12 September 1883, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Board met on Monday afternoon. Present—-Chairman (Mr Gibson), and Messrs R. A. Adams, J. Sheild, W, Aitchison, Josiah Richards, and C. Symes. CORRESPONDENCE. From Railway Department, stating that the Board will not be required to supply plant or appliances for working the wharf; also, that the Department cannot hand over to the Board any portion of the charges for labour.

From the same in reference to the Board’s charge of wharfage, Is 6d ; labour, 6d, stating that the Department reserves the right to levy charges for haulage, storage, and weighing; and as it supplies all labour for working the wharf, it can only regard the Board’s charge ns one of two shillings per ton for wharfage. All goods received or delivered locally and not carried by rail will bo subject to a charge of ninepence per ton for handling, plus percent, for collection. On goods received or forwarded by rail a charge of 2£ per cent, only will be made. From the District Engineer, stating that he had been authorised to construct a stone wall from the erid of the present one to the railway point higher up the river, a distance of about 350 feet. Other correspondence of minor importance was read. THE OLD WHARF. Mr Adams asked what steps had been taken as regards allowing goods to be Banded at the old wharf. The Chairman said if consignees desired goods to be discharged at the old wharf there was nothing to prevent them. They would have to pay the wharfage to the secretary, and find their own labour. Mr Aitchison thought it might sometimes be a convenience to discharge cargo at the Board’s wharf. There was no other place for shipping stock at present. THE STONE WALL. The letter from the District Engineer suggested that the work which was required for railway protection should be done through the Board, the cost being borne by the Public Works Department, provided it comes within the sum authorised. , Mr Stewart wrote: “ I will appoint an inspector to supervise the work when in progress. Before the Harbour Board accepts any tender it will be necessary that it be submitted to me, in order to see if it is within the amount authorised. I should also wish to see the specifications, &c, when the Board has it, before tenders are called for. The work, if exactly the same character as the former wall, will suit.” Mr Adams : That’s a windfall. Mr Richards: They will not be able to do it so cheaply as the former wall. There is no road. Chairman : What we have to do is to get the plans from our Engineer and submit them before calling for tenders. I have intimated that the Board would undertake the work. Mr Adams moved—“ That the action of the chairman in re railway protective works be approved of, and that the matter be placed in the hands of the Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the work, and to call for tenders for the same, to be in by the next meeting of the Board.” Mr Sheild seconded the motion, which was carried. wharfinger’s report.

The late Wharfinger reported as follows ; In this, my final report, I have to inform yon that your wharves, yards, and working plant are in good working order, tear and wear excepted, I have handed all my books over to the Secretary ; also a list of all the moveables belonging to the Board. I have given the Secretary a statement of the imports and exports since I have been in the service of the Board; likewise, a detailed balance-sheet. As to your boats, the small boat I cleaned thoroughly, and put in one of the sheds. The whale boat is moored at high water mark between the two wharves; surfboat is lying at the upper wharf in the same condition as when brought in after the accident. In my balance-sheet there are two items W Dale, £3 7s 4d, and C F Barker, £1 3s 6d, which lam unable to collect. I am well aware that I am personally liable for these accounts and will settle them if the Board should so decide, bnt as I did all I could to obtain payment, I hope the Board will consider the matter and relievo me of

them. In conclusion I would like very much that you would give me a certificate as to my character during the time I have been in the service of the Board. The secretary said that he had found evciytliing in first-class order. There had not been the slightest hitch in the accounts and every thing had been worked up to the last day. Chairman said lie was not one of the best tempered men, but he had never had occasion to growl at their whar finger. He believed that he had never charged a sixpence too much or too little, Mr Adams corroborated. In his experience he. had never had any dispute since Mr Imrie had been connected with the wharf. Ho bad great pleasure in moving that the report he adopted. This was seconded and carried, the Chairman stating that ho would be pleased to give a certificate of character as requested. pilot’s report.

The Pilot reported : The bar is very good at present, straight out with about ten feet of water at high water. The channel at the outer end of the breakwater has opened out to about 80 feet, giving plenty of room for steamers to come in with moderate weather. The big snag we were not able to lift. It carried the chains when the punt was lashed down to it, but we have cut most ot the roots off, and hope to lift it next tides. There- have been only four arrivals and four departures since my last. Everything is in good working order at the station. Report received. PAVING STONES.

Application from the Borough Council to take stones from the Heads to make crossings with. Mr Symes said that if the stones were close to the river it was not advisable to shift many of them. Mr Aitchison said that by allowing the Borough Council to take the stones, the Board’s revenue would be helped a little. People took the stone whether the Board liked it or not. He had reason to know that a considerable quantity had been taken since the Public Works had been going on in the district, and the Board had never received a shilling. There was usually plenty of small stone at the Heads. Chairman considered that the quantity of stone was very limited especially on the west side where their next work would be and it should therefore be conserved. For the few crossings required it would be cheaper for the Borough Council to get wood. In Hawera they had wooden crossings and they were far preferable to boulder stones. What with the cost of carting and breaking stones the Council would find the wooden pavement cheaper and far more comfortable.

Mr Aitchison thought they might let the Borough Council choose what they would have. The question was would the Board grant the stone or not. The applicants did not mention upon which side they wished to get the stone, and they might be able to punt it up the river in the same way as the Public Works Department, or those working for them had done.

Mr Symes contended that if the stones were close to the channel it would do damage to remove them. He could not sanction the removal of the stone without the Engineer s report. Mr Adams proposed that the application be granted. Chairman thought it was the duty of every member of the Board to furnish information if they knew stone was being taken.

Mr Aitchison : The contractors are away out of the district. Chairman: If Mr Johnston is alluded to he can be got at. Mr Aitchison: If we abandon the west side we cannot allow stone to be taken from the east side. All the stone will be required for the wall to be constructed. After further discussion the motion was withdrawn, and the following, proposed by Mr Sheild, seconded by Mr Richards, was carried Borough Council’s application be declined, as the Board considers that the removal of stone would be injurious to further breakwater improvements.” After passing the accounts the Board went into committee and subsequently adjourned. •