HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1340, 9 August 1883, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tho above Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday evening last. Present —His Worship the Mayor (E. K. Brown) in the Chair, Messrs Hepburn, Chrisp, Tutchen, Whinray, Townley, Lewis, and Tucker. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed the outgoing correspondence was read. ■’ Outgoing Correspondence, Letter from Mr Nolan re bv-laws ; Wells & Gardiner re wharf contract; Auckland Harbor Board re contract plans. Incoming Correspondence. Wells and Gardiner re wharf contract; Wells and Gardiner re wharf rails. It was here explained by His Worship that Wells and Gardiner wished to substitute kauri timber in lien of blue gum wood for the cattle wharf rails, as this would expedite the work greatly, as the blue gum would 1 have to be obtained from Australia. It was decided to keep the contractor to specification. Report. The Committee appointed to see into the complaint of Messrs Wells and Gardiner, that the plans submitted to them and which they signed in Auckland, did not show the six piles which were seen in the plan now shown, reported that it was advisable that the present plan be adhered to. Mr Chrisp said tho question only amounted to the worth of the six piles. Mr Tutchen explained that a like difficulty arose some time before, and it was then decided that the contractor was bound by the specifications. Mr Whinray said it was but a just inference which the contractors had arrived at, as the piles had not beeu shown on the plan first submitted to them. Mr Lewis moved, and Mr Hepburn seconded, the adoption of the report. Carried. Payments, Wharfinger’s salary, £5 5s ; “ Herald ” printing and advertising account, £3. By-laws. The Clerk here asked that the Board go into Committee, but the Chairman decided to go on as they were. Various alterations and additions were then made In the By-laws, which had been suggested b solicitor to whom they had beeu submitted. Extraordinary Business, The Chairman explained that the con« tractor for the new offices refused to allow any other person to interfere with the present contract by constructing the proposed strong room. He would, therefore, propose that, as the laws compelled them tojg call for tenders for any work over £2O, V tenders be called for the job, and as pos- 1 sibly the present contractor would be the" one accepted, the difficulty would be thus ( overcome. ' Mr Townley said that such an arrangement would place the Board in a false position. Was the objection made on purpose to compel the Board to give him the job ? Let the tenders be called, and then if the present contractor did not get the tender they must wait until he had finished. Mr Tucker wanted to know whether the contractor could prevent the construction of the room by another contractor. He thought it time enough to meet tho “ devil when he was raised.” Mr Lewis did not see why an architect was required, It had beeu decided to let the Engineer draw up plans, and be hoped that the previous resolutions would be adhered to. The Engineer was directed to draw up plane and submit them to the next meeting of the Board. Common, Shelton & Co’s. Claim. A long discussion here ensued upon the above claim as it came out that the Secretary had been advised by the claimants solicitor, Mr Brassey, that his clients based their claim on the Poverty Bay Grants Act, 1871. Eventually, Mr Tucker moved and ▼ Mr Chrisp seconded that a wire be sent to . the Town Clerk of Napier, requesting him ; to send copies of grants bearing a certain date as soon as possible. Carried. Repairs. Mr Townley brought to the notice of the Board the fact that the hose and manual engine required repairing. Ordered to be done at once. Harbor Grant Plans. Mr Tutchen wished that copies of Harbor Grants be sent for so as to see what reserves were marked on the same. Mr Tucker’s Motion re Contracts. Mr Tucker said this motion was identical with the one he had moved in the Borough Council. On the same motion being put it was carried. Mr Lewis’ Motion hr Beacons. Mr Lewis said he wished to invite discussion on this point. Ha had been informed that manters of small crafts had complained of the want of lights on the beacons. z Mr Chrisp explained that the denth of water on the bar varied so much ana frequently that lights were calculated to lead I to much danger and mishap. Mr Whinray agreed with the last speaker. Mr Townley followed in the same line of argument. Mr Lewis exp’ained that be did not intend that the lig ts should be permanent. Mr Uhrif p’s explanation he would withdraw his motion. Relaying Pipes to Engine Shed. The Chairman explained that there was an account of about £5 due to some men for the above work, and as they wanted their money he 'would ask that the account be passed, which was accordingly done.