HARBOUR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 15, 29 November 1883, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board took place on Thursday evening in the Borough Council Offices, Lowe Street. Present: His Worship the Mayor (E. K. Brown), in the chair, and Members Townley, Lewis, Tatchen, Kenny, Brown, and Tucker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was then read ; —To Messrs. Wells and Gardiner, re top rails to wharf; to Mr. F. J. Piesse, re Gas Company wharf; to Mr. Seed; to Messrs. Swanson & Co., re slip; to J. W. Nolan, re Johnson’s account, instructing him to take proceedings for recovery of wharf dues; to Messrs. Common, Shelton & Co. as to landing goods ; to H. E. Johnstone ; to Mr. Bennett, wharfinger, re wharf charges ; to Mr. Orr, re tallow tariff; to Mr. Thompson, re his duties as Clerk of Works. INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE, From Mr. Bennett, re landing goods at Common, Shelton, & Co.’s wharf; as follows :—

Nov. 27, 1884. Air. J. Bourke, —Sir.—I wish to give you notice that the ketch “ Lucy James ” took from Common, Shelton and Co.’s wharf, on the 24th inst., 84 bales of wool to the ship “Asterion,” and brought back from the ship “ Lochnagar ” 315 sacks of oats, and landed the same at Common, Shelton and Co.’s wharf.—l am, &c., J. Bennett, Wharfinger, Member Kenny said they had now an official letter to go on, and the sooner Messrs. Common & Co., were proceeded against the better. He moved that the matter be immediately placed in the hands of the solicitor. If the Board did not immediately proceed against them they could not proceed against any other parties. The matter was of the utmost importance to the public, and steps should be taken forthwith to stop the infringement of the Harbor Board by-laws. He therefore moved that the Secretary instruct Mr. Nolan to proceed in the matter, and lay information and prosecute the offenders without delay. Air Townley, in seconding the proposition, said that Messrs. Common & Uo. had persistently defied the Board, and the sooner the Board asserted its position the better (hear, hear). He thought it necessary to place the ■■ matter in the hands of the best possible V solicitor, as the matter was surrounded with legal difficulties, and the Board was bound to see the matter out to its end. Member Kenny said it was probable that the solicitor would find it necessary to prosecute us number of aiders and abbetors, as well us the actual offenders. Member Smith suid that a certain firm was landing 2000 bags of oats, which represented a good sum. They were also loading wool, &c., without paying any wharfage, which would be an injustice to all the public. The Board were there to protect the interests of the public, and it was high time the Board took a stand and had this question settled (hear, hear). Member Lewis said he thought it right that the Board should procure the best legal advice possible and that Mr. Nolan should be instructed to secure the services of counsel to assist him. Member Kenny said he thought the matter might be left to Mr. Nolan. Proposed by Member Lewis, and seconded by Member Tucker, that Mr Nolan be authorised to retain further legal assistance if necessary. —Carried. Fiom Air. Fies.se re the Gas Company*! wharf, forwarding plans, &c., of the same. The Engineer stated that the low-water channel was 120 feet wide at the point where the proposed wharf was to be erected, the wharf to project 20 feet into the stream. Member Kenny said there was a matter in connection with this application which was of the utmost importance to the Board. The Gas Company intended trading in coal ami they must be most careful how they proceeded in the matter of allowing them this wlurf.

Member Smith said it was a question whether the plants might not be left free or a small charge made, but they snould enforce all charges for coal which was to be sold.

Member Townley contended that the Board should not deal with the question before the grants were received. As to charges on the coal, he could not see why the Company should come there and ask for special favors. The Company would not give their gas away, and they must undoubtedly pay the same as other people. He asked the Board to be most cautious as to what steps it was entrapped into, or else they would fall into a snare. Member Smith did not see why they should not grant the application. The idea that the Company wished to trap the Board into anything only had its origin in the mind of Member Townley. Others had been allowed to build jetties for bathing and other purposes. He proposed that the application be favorably considered.

After the law relating to the matter had been read, Member Smith said he saw no reason to alter his proposition. He thought that al) the Board had to do was±p approve of the plans and then forward t'Win to the Marine Dep .rtnient. He could not possibly see any objecJoa to the proceeding. Member Townley said he had only taken Member Smith on his own merits. If this small matter was to stop the Company the sooner they stopped the better (Member Smith : “ Just so.”) The first consideration the Board had to look to was the interest of the public. He did not think anything should be free (hear, hear). They must charge their wharfages. Member Smith said he agreed that the Company should pay wharfage on all things sold at a profit. Member Erown entirely agreed with Member Townley. He did not think it right that anyone, Company or otherwise, should be allowed to land anything free. Member Smith suid the Board evidently misunderstood him. Member Tutchen moved, and Member Kenny seconded the following resolution :— “That a letter be written to the Secretary of the Gas Company, informing Ifim that the Board agrees to the application, providing

the Marine D'apartment approve of the plans, and secondly that the company pay £5 per annum for the foreshore, as shown on the plans, and the usual wharfage on all goods landed and shipped therefrom.” Carried. From Wells and Gardiner, informing the Board that all the timber was on the ground, and asking for 50 per cent, advance on the same.

Member Tutchen pointed out that the quantity had not been stated. Member Townley said the application was rof a most unusual nature. Member Smith said it was usual for Government*to advance 75 per cent. Member Lewis said that it would not be right to grant their application. It was enough to pay for the work as it was done. Member Tutchen said it was usual for

Government to make advances up to 75 per on all work. Townley thought the Board keep strictly to the specification. He thought the Board would not act right to the sureties by making these advances. Member Kenny moved that the Board adhere to the specifications with respect to payments. The letter was a very unbusi-ness-like production. The Board had no right, as custodians of public money, to comply with this request. Member Smith moved that the request be complied with. He did not see that the Board ran any risk. It is usual for Governfment to grant advances in the manner asked. He moved that a progress payment of 50 per cent be made on all the timber landed to Messrs. Wells & Gardiner. There being no seconder to the amendment, the original proposition was put and carried.

engineer’s report. To the Chairman of the Gisborne Harbor Board. Sir,--As directed at your last meeting, I tow report that the cost of painting a sufficient part of the beacons, or boards to be attached to the beacons, with luminous paint, would be under £l. River Survey.—l regret to say that my report on the improvement of the river, ordered at late meeting, is not ready, as swing to the late bad weather I have not finished the survey of the mouth of the river. Wharf Contract.—The contractors commenced pile-driving on the 17th, and the L work has since been actively carried on. Nearly all the timber is on the ground, and V is, with few exceptions, of very good quality. W I recommend a progress-payment (in ac- ' cordance with specification) of £60.—1 have, Ac., R. J. Reynolds, Harbor Board Engineer. Member Kenny proposed, and the Chairman seconded, that the beacons be painted in the manner asked. It was a matter of uome importance.—Carried. The report was then adopted. PAYMENTS. The following'payments were then passed : —Wharfinger, £5 5s ; Thompson, £2 ; Wells k Gardiner, £6O; petty cash, £5; Wells & Gardiner, £69 ss. Member Kenny moved, and Member Smith seconded, that Mr. Nolan be instructed not to take any further proceedings against Mr. Johnstone. —Carried. / LEASING FERRY. The Secretary wished to know whether I the sureties for the old contract should be renewed. He also said that on looking over the Act he found it was necessary to call for fresh tenders for this contract. On the matter being looked into it was found that the former motion on this matter yas contra to the Act. *1 ember Tucker moved that the Act be cornified with and that Mr. Davis be given a month’s notice, and tenders be called for, the contract to begin on the Ist of January. He had no hesitation in saying that providing Mr. Davis’ tender be only a little different from auy other tender he should certrlnly go in favor of his getting the contract. Member Kenny said that the Board was in a dilemma by having passed the last resolution about this matter. He thought

that the difficulty might be got over by k asking Mr. Davis to go on until December. L Member Townley moved, and Member Kenny seconded, that Mr. Davis be asked to carry on the ferry for a month, and then t call for tenders. He did not think the former resolution needed rescinding.—Cartied.

Member Tutchen moved, and Member Kenny seconded, that tenders be called for at once for one year, commencing from the Ist January ; tenders to be in by this day fortnight.—Carried.

EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS. Member Tutchen called attention to the state of the roads leading down to the wharf. The Chairman said the Engineer would no doubt see to it. Member Hepburn called attention to the fact that a great deal of metal would have to be removed in making the new wharf. He wished to know what was to be done with it.

He was informed that it would be used again m making the road good. Member Townley said he thought the Board should again communicate with the Government, urging them to action with respect to harbor grant, and informing them that the Board was at a standstill at present. Member Tutchen wished to know whether it would not be advisable to forward a letter •with the Gas Company’s plans, stating that / the Board approved of them. It was explained that this would be done. | This concluded the business of the Board.