GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 35, 9 January 1884, Page 2

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held last night in the Borough Council Offices, Lowe-street. Present: His Worship the Mayor (T. W. Porter, Esq.), in the chair, and Members Lewis, Tutchen, Joyce, Smith, Hepburn, Townley, Tucker, and Kenny. The minutes oi the previous meeting were then read and confirmed. OUTGOING COBBESrONDENCI. The following letters were then read i—To the Chairman of the Cook County Council, re the re-construction of the Harbor Board | to Mr. H. E. Johnstone, r« wharf charges; to the Secretary of Marine Department, re Gas Company’s wharf; to the wharf contractors, re new wharves ;toF. J. Piesse; to Bank, re signatures to cheques; to Engineer, re wharf extras | to Mr. Thompson, Clerk of Works, calling his attention to wharf works | to Mr, Johnstone, re auditing the Board's accounts, INCOMING COBBE4BONDENCE, The following letters were then read:— From Mr. Piesse, Secretary of the Gas Company, stating that the Company were willing to accept the terms offered by the Board, the rent for the wharf to commence on the completion of the wharf. Mr. Tutchen said he strongly objected to the latter portion of the communication, as the Company might leave the wharf unfinished for any length of time. Mr. Townley said the letter was quite satisfactory (hear, hear). They could do nothing further just now until the grants were received, The Chairman concurred with Mr. Townley. Mr. Tutchen thought the company should pay rent from the day they took over the ground. Mr. Smith moved that the letter be received. Mr. Tutchen wished the letter to be read again, so that Mr. Tucker (who had just entered) might hear the contents. Mr. Tucker agreed with Mr. Tutchen as to the company paying for the wharf immediately on taking the land over. The company had put in a condition very wide of the intention conveyed in the conditions agreed to by the Board. He moved : “ That if the Gas Company chose to accept the conditions offered by the Board, that the rent commence at once.” Mr. Tutchen seconded this motion. Mr. Townley said he thought the Board should hold over the letter until they were in a position to carry out their agreement. Mr. Kenny said the Board scarcely saw the danger of the position. AU that the company had to do was to put a stamp on a letter, and then it became an agreement. He thought it better that the Board should acknowledge the letter, and state that it agreed to all except the latter portion of the company’s letter, and likewise state that the Board would hold the matter over until the grants were confirmed. If Mr. Tucker would embody this in his motion he would support him. Mr. Tucker said he would withdraw hie motion in favor of one from Mr. Kenny. Mr. Kenny then moved, and Mr. Tucker seconded, “That the letter from the Gas Company be acknowledged, and they be informed that the Board cannot assent to tire last paragraph, but will reserve the consideration of the matter until the grants are received.” Carried. The following letter was then read from Mr. S. Locke:— • Napier, December 17, 1883. Sir,—Having been desired by the Municipal Council of Gisborne to communicate with the Government in reference to the foreshore right acquired by the Government on the Kaiti Block, situate at Poverty Bay, I have the honor to forward the following information and remarks regarding the matter, with copy of the Herald’s report of a discussion by the Council on the subject; also, an article in that journal headed " The Kaiti Beach," describing to some extent the position of the transaction.

It has always been known to those at ail acquainted with tire formation of the country in the neighborhood of Gisborne that there is a great scarcity of stone suitable for metal, ling roads, &o. In 1875, the Government then in power directed me, the officer in charge of the district, to acquire without delay any site I should hear of us fit for quarrying purposes. Accordingly, I purchased some twenty or thirty acres Of limestone cliff near Ormond, and obtained by deed, dated July 31, 1875, a right to quarry for ever, two chains above high-water mark, along the sea beach on the Kaiti Block, from the entrance of the Turanganui River to a point indicated in the deed. For this right I gave, on the part of the Government, the sum of £5O. Tlie deed was registered at the Registrar's Office, Napier, and the whole transaction was highly approved of by the Government of the day. When the subdivision of the Kaiti Block came before the Native Lands Court now sitting at Gisborne, the question was raised as to the validity of the transaction, as the Kaiti Block was formed under the 17th clause of the Native Lands Act, 1867, which forbids sales on leasee for over twentyone years. I may state that this point was considered over at the time the arrangements were made | therefore the right to quarry was obtained, and not an actual sale or lease of . the land. This we thought understood by J the Natives at tha time, whatever they may say now | in fact, they wore very anxious to have the matter settled. The whole affair was carried on at a large public meeting, and chiefs whose names aid not appear in the certificate of title signed the deed, io as to show that the whole of the Natives of the district participated in the Act, the desire being to encourage the promotion of a harbor and to make the town appear like other towns in the Colony. I notice, further, that a question arose that all the parties named in the certificate of title did not sign the deed. The reply to that is that it was customary for the Land Court to appoint a certain number of owners, usually not more than ten, to act for the others as trustees, and it was considered that as long as those parties signed a lease, all had been done that was required to make the transaction binding. In this case not only the trustees, but many of the indorsed on the certificate signed, besides outside chiefs, as before stated. I feel that it is needless to impress upon the Government in the present instance the importance, by all fair means, of maintaining possession of the foreshore here virtually obtained, more particularly considering the scarcity of material for metalling the streets of the rising township of Gisborne; and further, looking to the no-distant prospect, it is to be hoped, of extensive harbor-works being carried on, for which purpose this quarry would be of the greatest consequence. I have the honor to be, Sir, Yours obediently, B. Looxt. The Hon. the Minister for Lands, Wellington. Mr. Kenny moved, and Mr. Tutchen seconded, “ That the letter be acknowledged, and Mr. Locke thanked for his trouble." Carried. The next letter read was as follows :-iGinborne, Bth January, 1888. Bm,—At a special meeting of your Board held last Thursday I was invited to afford some explanation re the wharf and stock-yard plans, to which I respectfully declined to accede, my reason for which was, I considered that any verbal explanation as to the interpretation of the meaning of the original plans and specifications and the work as actually carried out would lead to no good result, and only tend to a conflict of opinion as between myself and your engineer. I shall be only too willing at any time to afford your Board any information as to details, when professionally called upon, which would necessitate a careful consideration of the original plans and specifications, also the full details of all alterations made, embracing quantities and prices for each item. I must take exception to a remark made by your Engineer in reply to a query asked him by the Chairman of the Committee (member Townley)—viz. —As to whether I had not afforded to him, Mr. Reynolds, all necessary information as to the plans and specifications, and as to carrying out the same. I understood Mr. Reynolds to reply, “ That he had asked me several questions, or tried to elicit some information on the subject, but that I declined to do so, or refused the information asked for.”

Now, Sir, Mr. Reynolds took office on the 28rd of September, a week prior to my term of office ceasing, for the express purpose of being initiated in all the details of the work of the office. All plans and specifications in reference to contracts or works in progress were handed over to him, amongst others that of the wharf. These were carefully gone over by us and discussed, and the plans and specifications taken on to the ground, and the site of the new stock-yard laid off by myaelf, assisted by Mr. Reynolds and the overseer. That all necessary information and replies to questions propounded by Mr. Reynolds was given, and answered, It is, I imagine, fully evinced by the following extracts from my report of the 80th September, the last day I held office, and which was submitted for Mr. Reynolds' perusal, before being handed to the secretary, and the following extracts from Mr. Reynold's report ths (Ist) second of October. My own report of 60th September states “ I have carefully gone over the plans and specifications of the works tendered for the construction of the new wharf and stock-yard, and have suggested one or two slight modifications to your Engineer, which I think will be improvements, without adding to the cost. I have also pointed out to Mr. Reynolds the difficulty likely to arise with the contractor, in reference to the alleged discrepancy between the tracing signed by the contractor and the original plaas,” An extract from Mr. Reynolds' report, of the 2nd October, read as follows:—"! have examined the plans and spsolflcatlons of the new wharf and stock-yard, and I find that the work, as at present designed, cannot be carried out substantially and effectually. Certain modifications are necessary (most of which were pointed out to ms by Mr Drummond.) Mr. Reynolds then goes on to state that the contractor values the extras at £35, and that he (Mr, Reynolds) recommended the same as tair and reasonable. I can only state that the whole tenor of Mr. Reynolds' report took me greatly by surprise, as nix mention of any intended extra expenditure had been made when the plans were under consideration. However, it is not at present within my province to criticise this, or any other extra incurred, my object being simply to explain to the Board my reasons for not appearing when called upon, and also in reply to Mr. Reynolds’ allegation that I had refused information when asked to do so. I have the honor to be Sir, Yours As,, J. Drummond, C.E. The Chairman asked whether Mr. Drum. . mond had been invited to communicate with 1 the Board. The Secretary said that a motion was carried, and Mr. Drummond invited to come in, but he refused. The Chairman said the communication gave no information about the matter. The question was whether they wished Mr. Drummond to professionally give any explanation as to these matters. After Mr. Tutchen and Mr. Kenny had expressed an adverse opinion with regard to employing Mr. Drummond, it was resolved, “ That the letter be acknowledged, and Mr. Drummond informed that his services will not be required.”—Carried. Mr. Reynold asked for permission to say a few words as to the letter. The Chairman said he did not see the necessity for raising any discussion upon that point. PAYMENTS. Clerk of Works, £5 10e.; Wharfinger's salary, £5. ss. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Harbor Board Office, Gisborne, July 8,1883. To the Chairman of Gisborne Harbor Board. Sir, —I beg to report that the work on the new wharf contract is progressing well. A slight subsidence has taken place at one comer of the stock-yard, the tide having washed out some of the filling. I should be obliged if the Public Works Committee would inspect this. Luminous Paint.—An authorised at late meeting, I ordered some of the paint for the purpose of painting t.ie beacons on boards to be attached to them. The paint has arrived, and I have ha.ided it over to the Harbormaster to be used for the above purpose. I have, Ac., J. Reynolds, Borough Engineer.

Hi, Worjbtp wuhed the Public Works Committee to inspect the matter mentioned in the report. WHAEF EXTRAS. The question as to the raising of the wharf deck wss then discussed. The Chairman said the matter had to stand over until the completion of the contract. Mr. Kenny said the question as to whether the deck of the wharf was to be raised, had not been settled. If this was decided the question as to whether it was an extra, or hot, could still be left open until completion of contract. The Secretary said a resolution had been passed at the last meeting authorising the raising of the deck of the wharf. The Chairman said that being so, there was nothing before the Board. The subject then dropped. XXTKAOBimtABX BUSINESS. Mr, Joyce rose to call attention to the manner in which the proceedings were reported in the Herald newspaper. The public Was wilfully misinformed of what took place, At one time no notice whatever was taken of the tem«rks of Certain members, and at other times they were totally misrepresented, Such journals had ne right to the public supnort, Inasmuch as they only misled by ouch garbled accounts. He had no objection whatever to fair or severe criticisms and comment, but gross personalities wen indulged in. The public Were entirely misled by such accounts as the one complained of in December last, If reporters were permitted to be there they should be compelled to report fairly and justly. He had been abused for some reason, and he had no doubt but what it was because he was not a subscriber to the paper. It might have been noticed that he had not spoken at all that night, and it was for fear that should he open his mouth he would be misrepresented. The papers were the ohly medium by which the public were made acquainted With what took place at that Board, and when the re. pons were untruthful the public were led astray, and the papers were very bad public servants, and should not be tolerated. There should be no cringing one way or the other, but *ll should betruthful and fair, otherwise they should not be allowed there. The Chairman said the Board had no power to exclude the reporters, and could not inter, fen with what thev laid. Mr. Tueker said, for his part, he wished the reporters would report literally. A* a rule the reporter! were very fair and correct. Of course, mistakes would be certain to occur occasionally, but, so bag as they did not ' wilfully misrepresent facts, he thought members should take no notice. He thought the proper plan would be to communicate with ■ the offending journal, and not to bring the 1 matter there. As a rule reporters put the truth very fairly before the public. No one had more reason than himself to complain of certain omissions and misrepresentations, and he had suffered considerably by the usual tactics adopted, such as " the speaker now ' became inaudible,” and ench like, but ha i thought it better to take no notice, and to j « bide his time.” i Mr. Joyce did not agree with Mr. Tucker. 1 He thought when any member of that Board t was misrepresented it affected the whole t Board, and should be dealt with as such. t Mr. Tucker did not tor a moment wish to 1 say that the reporters were to be permitted to 1 report falsely. t The Chairman said he must ask them to desist from further discussion on the subject, t as there was nothing whatever tabled. t Mr. Tutchen wished to be allowed a few 1 words. He must say for himself that he owed i reporters a debt of gratitude for the manner < in which they made him speak English. They t expressed his meaning for him when he failed < to do so himself- t ILO4TINO BBEAXWATXBS. I The Chairman said there was a matter he 1 wished to bring forward for the information ‘ of the Board with respect to floating breakwaters. He wished a letter written to the : Marine Department, asking for information * on the subject. The information might prove * very useful to the Beard, and would not cost , anything. f Mr. Smith said the matter had been mooted J in a conversation after the last meeting. He * cordially agreed with the matter. Mr. Tutchen said he had conversed with ■ I man who had seen these breakwaters in active ’ operation in Canada, and he said they proved ‘ most efficacious. 8 Mr. Kenny said Captain Perriman had in- * formed him, in the course of conversation re- v lating to this subject, that although the break- * waters might answer for a while, yet the cost 8 of maintaining them would prove most ruinous. They would require a number of per- - manent moorings, which would cost £2OO ? each, and they would be constantly out of re. " pair. 8 It was resolved to write the Government v for particulars. 9 wauir oma, J Mr. Joyce said he thought it would be - 1 better to build e smell office for the use of the 8 wharfinger. At present they were indebted 0 to Mr. Bennett for ths use of an office. He ° would move, " That a small office be erected ” on the wharf.” v Mr. Tutohan, whilst agreeing with Mr. ‘ Joyoe as to the requirement, thought it would I bo bettor to wait until the new wharf was ? finished, when they could build an office and ‘ waiting-room al the same time. The latter * was much needed. He would move, •' That ! the erection of a wharf.offioe and wafting- * room stand over until the completion of the * new wharf." • Mr. Lewis seconded thia amendment, which was carried. f This concluded the business of the evening, 1 and the meeting adjourned. '