HARBOUR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1178, 18 October 1882, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

At the fortnightly meeting of the above Board there were present—Messrs C. D. Bennett (in the Chair), Townley, Clayton, Lewis, Whinray, Clarke, Tucker, Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The outgoing correspondence was read and and approved. Letters from the Borough Council were read. Mr J. W. Matthews, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, wrote as follows ■ Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 10th inst., I have the honor to state that I will be prepared to make your Board an advance by way of overdraft not to exceed £3OOO against the revenue of the Board, and such other security as may be mutually agreed upon. The interest on the advance to be payable half-yearly on the 31st March and the 30th September, and the rate per cent, per annum to be subject to the fluctuations of the Bank rates ; the present rate chargeable will be 8 per cent. The Bank reserves to itself the right of calling up the advance, or any unpaid portion thereof, on six months’ notice to your Board in writing, to be given at any time the Bank may think fit.—l have, etc., John W. Matthews. Mr Clarke pointed out that the Board at present had nothing to give as security until the foreshore was handed over. A lenglity discussion ensued, and it was agreed eventually that the offer be accepted, as soon as the Board were in a position to supply Mr Matthews with full particulars as to the extent of foreshore and probable revenue. The breakwater question was the next to crop up, and MrJTuuker asked to have a request made to intending contractors to supply information to the Board as to the nature of the work, the description, and price, &c. A lengthy argument followed, and it was the general opinion that, as our Member put it, contractors as a rule are not such flats as to expose their hands.

The Chairman said he was confident that the information so gathered would be altogether unreliable, and in fact, would be purposely misleading. Eventually Mr Tucker proposed, and Mr Clarke seconded, a motion to the effect that information be obtained by request. To this the chairman moved, as an amendment, that the question be left over until the plans and particulars had been obtained from the Government.

The next question was that of Wharf accommodation, and the various schemes and reports of the Borough Engineer which wore published some time back were again gone over. After consideration it was decided on the motion of Mr Clarke, seconded by Mr Clayton, that the old cuttie wharf be pulled down, and that from the New vVharf to Adair’s an addition should be made and filled in. The Engineer was requested to find plans and specifications for the next meeting. Some conversation then followed relative to Mr Adair’s shed, for which the sum of £BOO was asked. Correspondence which had passed was read, but it was resolved to let matters stand over for the present. It was resolved that the standing orders of the Borough Council be the standing orders of the Harbor Board. The business in connection with Messrs. Common, Shelton, and Co. was left to the Finance Committee. Messrs. Townley and Brown were authorised to sign cheques.