GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1202, 15 November 1882, Page 2

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

A Mketing of the Gisborne Harbor Board was held at the Borough Council Chambers. Present: Messrs C. D. Bennett, J. Tutchen, H. Lewis, J. Clayton, J. Townley, J. Whinray, W. Clarke, and W. H. Tucker. The Minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Outgoing Correspondence was then read. The following letter was read from Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. with reference to the lease of their premises, at present occupied by them, situate on the foreshore. The Chairman Gisborne Harbor Board, Dear Sir, —Referring to the stamped agreement between the Gisborne Borough Council and ourselves, by which we sell our interest in our buildings and site to the Council for £B5O, and a lease of same for a term of 21 years, which agreement, we understand, has been handed you for completion, we now beg to request that you will confirm this agreement as to yourselves, and we shall be glad to hear that you will hand us over a cheque for £B5O as soon as the grant for the foreshore arrives, and at the same time that you will execute a lease in our favor of the block agreed upon for the term of 21 years. Awaiting your reply, we are, &c,, Common, Shelton, & Co.

The following telegram was received from the Commissioner of Marine Department, Wellington “ The Honorable Minister has authorised the request contained in Sir Bourke's letter of the 7th October to be acceded to, and has referred the matter to the Lands Department for a grant to be prepared.” The Clerk of the Board, Mr Bourke, said that it might be six months before the grants were obtained, or the question could be dealt with as Mr Matthews, the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, declined to advance any money until he saw the grants. The monetary question involved a sum of £B5O. Mr Tutchen said that the Committee appointed by the Board waited on Mr Matthews and had placed the matter before him, but as Mr Bourke had just informed the Board, that gentleman had declined to do anything without seeing his May perfectly clear. Mr Shelton, of Common, Shelton and Co., here asked leave of the Board to say a few words on the subject. Permission having been granted, Mr Shelton explained the exact position in which his firm stood with reference to the matter, and was of opinion that the present financial difficulties should not be put forward as a matter of difficulty to his firm being placed in a proper position in this matter. Mr Tutchen moved—“ That the Harbor Board confirm the agreement made with Common, Shelton and Co. in re wharf and store.” Mr Townley said that the deed in question placed the Harbor Board in a very peculiar position. There had been moveable property which had been placed on this site, and it now turned out that the ground had been ceded to the Queen. It now turned out that the Harbor Board came into possession of the property in question at once. This, he was of opinion was a fact, after reading the Act and studying the deed. There could be no doubt that immediately after the Harbor Board was formed they were masters of the situation, and the property became vested in them. It could not therefore be expected that the Borough Council would carry out any matters outside their province. He was surprised at what Mr Tutchen had said on this subject, and he (Mr Townley), could not see his way with the deed in question before them to spend the money of the

Board. He would therefore move ’’That a Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Mr C. D. Bennett, Messrs Tucker, Lewis and Whinray, be appointed to go fully into the question on behalf of the Harbor Board, and report at the next meeting, ” He considered that Mr Shelton had put the matter very clearly before the Board, and had done so in a business-like manner, and taking a very thorough business view of the situation they were at present placed in, he, for one, did not consider that they had any right to repudiate any transactions which nad been effected by the Borough Council. He would therefore move the motion standing in his name.

Mr Tucker would like to say a few, words on the subject. He was of opinion that some people had been endeavouring te compel the Board by outside pressure to do exactly what Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. wanted, After carefully considering the question, although he must admit that at one time he did not see it in this light, he must admit that the question should be carefully looked into, and the interests of Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. considered. He would certainly support Mr Townley’s motion, and thought the Committee proposed to be appointed would be quite capable of taking very careful evidence on the subject, ancl report to the Board at their next meeting.

Mr Whinray considered that the Borough Council had been misled right through in this matter, and so far as he was concerned the question was one of a most astounding character.

' The Chairman Mr Bennett, said that it did | not matter whether the Borough Council had 'or had not been misled in this matter. An agreement had been entered into between : the Borough Council and Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., and he considered they were bound in law and in honor to carry out ' that agreement. It was not a personal matter so far as he was concerned, because it would suit him all to pieces to see Messrs I Common, Shelton and Co. go further up the I street, but their claim for £B5O was simply nonsense. He, for one, considered that the : Harbor Board should confirm what the I Borough Council had done. He was of ’ opinion that the Harbor Board Bill for Gisi borne had been passed on the understanding 1 that such should be the case. Mr Tutchen said that it appeared to him j that they appeared to him to sign an agree- ; ment one day and repudiate it the next. i Mr Lewis would call attention to the fact ! that the Harbor Board and the Borough i Council were two separate and distinct I bodies. j Mr Tutchen : Nevertheless we are bound I to carry out the agreement. i Mr Clayton considered the matter should I be looked into at once, as he considered that i Common, Shelton and Co. had deceived them, i Mr Bennett said that it was distinctly understood that the title was not guaranteed. After some further discussion the amendi ment was carried, LEASING THE WHARF, Mr Townley moved, and Mr Tutchen sei conded, that the wharves be worked by the j Harbor Board for 12 months, and that they 1 be kept under the Board’s own control. Mr Whinray considered they should call ! for offers for working the wharf. Several members spoke on the sub ject, and Mr Whinray moved, and Mr Clayton se- < conded that a call for offers be made for a j competent man to work the wharf. Mr Tutchen said he was of the sama j opinion. Mr Townley also spoke on the sub* i ject, . . Mr Whinray moved, and Mr Lewis seconded an amendment to the effect that ap- ! plications for a competent person to work ! the wharf be advertised for. The amendment was lost. j Mr Bennett moved, Mr Lewis seconded, I and it was carried, that Messrs Tucker, I Clarke, and thejniover draw up an agreement I to be signed by the wharfinger, THE FERRY. It was moved by Mr Tucker, seconded by Mr Clarke, and carried, that tenders be vailed for working the ferry. wharf” extension. A motion to the effect that this question should be adjourned, was carried. After some desultory conversation the Council adjourned,