GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 47, 23 January 1884, Page 3

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Thx usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held last night in the Borough Council offices. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Captain T. W. Porter) in the chair, and Members Townley, Lewis, Tutchen, Joyce, Hepburn. Tucker, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting, together with those of the annual general meeting, were read and confirmed. OUT-GOXNG CORRESPONDENCE. The following out-going correspondence was then read by the Secretary :—Letter to Mr. Drummond, in answer to his previous communication to the Board re wharves ; to Mr. Locke, thanking him for his trouble in the Kaiti affair; to the Secretary of the Gas Company, informing him that the Board coula not agree to the latter clause of his letter, re the Company’s application for Wharves; to the Secretary of the Marine Department, asking for all available information re floating breakwaters; telegram to Mr. Seed re the Harbor Board grants, and also re the plans and permission for Gas Company’s wharf j to Mr. Bennett, re application for surrey to Agnes Donald. XN-COMXNG CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter was read from Captain Bennett Will you kindly allow Captain Thompson to hold a marine survey for us on the ketch Agnes Donald, as the captain wishes to have the same done on account of the vessel not getting alongside the wharf, and sustaining damage. We ask the favor on our own account. The application was refused. The following telegram was then read from Mr. Seed, dated Wellington “ Boating Club apply for approval of plans for addition to boat-shed on foreshore of Taraheru River. Does Board a«ree to extension of shed and approve plans under section 14, “ Harbors Act, 1883,” and, if so, subject to what conditions?” Mr. Lewis thought it advisable that the matter be let stand over for the present. There could be no reason for hurrying, as the boating season was nearly over. The Chairman thought that certain re- * striations should be made part of the conditions of granting the required permission, so that, in the event of the Club not requiring or using the wharf for boating purposes, the Board could step in and resume possession at any time. The Chairman then read the following telegram, which he had received in reply to one sent enquiring as to the delay of, and urging the necessity for, the grants :— “ Have made enquiry of Crown Lands Department as to when foreshore grants will be issued, regret to learn that, although survey ifliade, it is not deemed satisfactory. Lands Department is endeavoring to push matters forward, so that grant may issue as soon as possible. “ W. Seed.” The Chairman said he had telegraphed asking that the sanction to deal with any of the foreshore should be withheld until the Board was in possession of the grants. According to the foregoing, the only thing the Board could do was to look to the Crown Lands Department, and urge them on as much as possible. Mr. Townley thought that the Board should not attempt to deal with the foreshore in any manner whatever until they were in full possession of the grants, otherwise it might have the effect of retarding the same. The boating season was nearly over, and it could not inconvenience the Club in any way. Ordered to stand over. engineer’s report. To the Chairman of the Harbor Board. Sir,-r-I beg to report that the contractors are making good progress and expect to complete the work within the next fortnight. I recommend that a progress payment (the third) be made to the contractor of £420. Storkyard. — Stones and clay, as ordered by the Public Works Committee, have been placed at the corner of the stockyard, and no further subsidence has taken place. Old Timber. — A quantity of old timber, amongst it some heavy puriri, has been removed from the site of the old stockyard to the Borough Reserve. Inquiries have been made as to whether it is for sale. I should advise the Board to sell it at once if good offers are made. I am <fcc., J. Reynolds, Engineer. Mr. Townley said the-slip-rails to the cattle wharf were so badly fitted that it took a great

deal of trouble to move them. He thought if they could not be made to work better it would be advisable to put a gate in their place. Member Tutchen moved “ That the matter be left to the Engineer.” No doubt a gate would be much better than the rails. He did not think a gate would cost more than 30s. There was some good hinges at the Recreation Ground which would answer admirably for this purpose. The Engineer was requested to see to the matter.

Mr. Townley said the river opposite the wharf was silting up and it would be required to erect a small ware on the opposite side of the river with a view of scouring the river in front of the wharf. He would suggest “ That that part of the report which advised the selling of the timber stand over for the present.” Mr. Tutchen thought such a measure as that proposed would endanger the shipping lying at the wharf by causing too strong a current. He would move “ That all the old timber be classed and put up for public ano. tion on Saturday next.” He would be glad to buy some of the piles himself. Mr. Joyce thought it would be advisable to hold over the sale for the present, and the Engineer to be instructed to give his opinion as to the advisability of carrying out the proposed scheme. He would second Mr* Townley’s motion. Mr. Hepburn agreed with Mr. Townley’s proposition. It would be a good thing if there was a strong stream such as Mr. Tutchen was afraid of, as that would undoubtedly effect the purpose sought. On the Chairman putting the motion it was carried. PAYMENTS. The following payments were then passed:— Wells and Gardiner (progress-payment for wharf contract), £420; Clerk of works, £5 10s.; Wharfinger, £5. EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS. Mr. Tutchen said he had noticed in the papers that no lights had been on the wharf on Sunday night. He wished the Wharfinger’s attention called to the fact. The Secretary was instructed to call the attention of the Wharfinger to the same. Mr. Tutchen wished to know what steps had been taken to recover the dues owing by Common, Shelton, and Co.

The Secretary said the case was in abeyance, pending further legal advice. Mr. Joyce said he had been informed that no wharf dues had been collected during the present week. He wished to know what amound (if any) had been collected. The Secretary said he had received no return at present. The Wharfinger paid in once a week—generally on a Tuesday. The Secretary was instructed to see to it in the morning. In answer to a question from Mr. Lewis, the Secretary said the case of Mr. Johnstone re wharf dues would come on in a fortnight’s time. Following some remarks bearing upon the question previously referred to as relating to the necessity for some scouring works for deepening the river opposite the new wharves, The Chairman remarked that he had always noticed years ago that the deepest channel was always on the other side of the river, and it was only within the last few years that there had been any depth of water on this side. The deepest channel was opposite Read’s old wool-shed. Mr. Tutchen said he should oppose anything being constructed opposite the wharf. The Harbor-master’s opinion should be taken, as he knew better than the Engineer. It was finally resolved that the Engineer make all necessary enquiries and report to the Board. Mr. Joyce wished to know whether a floating boom on the other side would not prove efficacious. RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE HARBOR BOARD, On the conclusion of the foregoing business, Mr. Tucker rose and moved, “ That at the termination of the Harbor Board business, all those members interested in the reconstruction scheme be asked to remain, with a view of privately discussing the question.” The Chairman agreed with Mr. Tucker that there had not been any general discussion, and he thought the suggestion a good one. There could be no possible objection to such a course. Mr. Tucker said he wished to elicit the opinion of members on the question. He wished that any differences of opinion might be fought out there privately, so that the Board could be unanimous when before the County Council. He thought this a case where the minority should put their opinions in their pockets and be unanimous. Mr. Joyce did not think it could be supposed for one moment that there was any member on the Board who did not take a lively interest in the question. The members should put their heads together and discuss the question, with a view of coming to a final decision. If it could be shown that the proposed alteration would be for the good of the community, no doubt all would cheerfully agree to it. There could be no objection whatever to the proposed alteration. The motion being agreed to, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned,