HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 71, 20 February 1884, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held last night. Present — Councillors Townley (in the chair), Tutchen, Lewis, Kenny, Joyce, Hepburn, and Tucker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from the Marine Department read as follows:— Marine Department. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, and in reply to inform you that the AgentGeneral has been requested to procure information regarding the practical utility of the floating breakwater, a monel of which was shown at the recent Fisheries Exhibition in London.—l have, &c., William Seed. Letter from the Secretary of the Napier Harbor Board. Resolved, that the letter be acknowledged. Letter from the Wharfinger re increase of salary. Mr. Tutchen moved—“ That his salary be increased to £3 per week, in consideration of the extra work.” Mr. Kenny seconded the motion. Mr. Lewis moved, as an amendment—- “ That the salary be £3 3s. per week.” Mr. Joyce thought that if this sort of thing was going on they had better call for fresh tenders. Mr. Tucker moved, as an amendment—- “ That we give an adequate allowance for tne extra lamp and no more.” If they gave any more they would be justly assailed by the other tenderers. Mr. Joyce thought that the tenders were only called for the position until the new wharf was finished. The amendment was withdrawn and the original motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. The following report from the Public Works Committee was then read : — The Public Works Committee of the Harbor Board beg to report as follows :—The Committee (with the exception of Member Joyce), together wi'h the Engineer, inspected the wharves on Saturday, the 9Hi inst., at 3 p.m., when a careful inspection of the whole of tho wharf was made, and, so far as the Committee can judge, the contract appears to

have been completed in a workmanlike manner. In handing over this work to the Board the Committee believe that the structure has been built in a thoroughly sound and substantial manner. The Committee also wish to state that the contractors have, during the building of the wharves, offered every facility to shippers, so that no unnecessary inconvenience has been occasioned. The matters of final payment of extras and penalty are referred to by the Engineer in his repo t. Ttie Committee agree with the Engineer in . on mending certain additions to the stockyard applied for by Mr. E. Cameron, the material to be formed from timber taken fromjthe old stock-yard. J. Townley, Chairman. Report adopted.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Sir, —I have the honor to report as follows ;— Lamp at Wharf- —As those appeared to bo urgently needed, and ready-made lamps could not be got, I have fixed two of the Borough lamps at the wharf as a temporary expedient. New lamps can now be ordered, if it is thought necessary, for tho Harbor Board, and the Borough lamps can be returned when the new ones are ready. Alterations of Stockyard, as authorised by the Public Works Committee on Feb. 9th, have now been completed. They consist of an extension of the race with new gate, wing to lead into race, a new gate in p’aue of sliprails at the entrance of the yard, an additional rail all round the yard, and posts in in two corners to afford refuge in working cattle. The total cost of these alterations has been £8 19s. 6d. exclusive of old timber used. Fenders, as suggested in last report, have been fixed at a cost of £5. Wharfinyer's Office — As instructed at the last meeting, I now furnish plan and specification of a small sledge house suitable for the Wharfinger’s office. Ido not see any advantage in having it on wheels, but if this is considered necessary, it can easily be done. Cost, £lB. Mr. Tutchen wished to know who had authorised the Engineer to take the Borough lamps. Mr. Kenny thought the Engineer had exercised a wise discretion in acting as he had. Mr. Lewis moved “ That the Harbor Board order another lamp for the wharf, and have the use of the present ones until they are wanted.” Mr. Hepburn seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Townley called the attention of the Board to the fact that the Board had not a shilling to spare, even to buy a new lamp. How was it that the lamps they now had were rusting away in the store, simply because they were too poor to light them. It made him very warm to hear members come there every night, and vote away money when they had not a shilling. The lamps had been a useless expense, and he hoped they would never go up again. Mr. Joyce thought the Board should get their own lamps, as the Borough ones would shortly be wanted again. Mr. Tutchen moved, and Mr. Townley seconded, “ That a letter be written to the Borough Council asking them to lend the Harbor Board the lamps until they are wanted.”—Carried. The remainder of the report was adopted. PAYMENTS. Clerk of Works, £2 155.; Wharfinger, £5 55.; Turton, £2 9s. 10.jd.; wharf fenders, £5. wharfinger’s office. The specifications for the same were next read and discussed. It was resolved that the timber should be white pine. It was resolved that tenders be called for the erection of the same, to be in by next Tuesday. RIVER DIKE. Mr. Lewis wished to know whether the Engineer had considered a cheaper scheme for throwing the current across the river, and was answered in the negative. He said a gentleman had spoken to him about two schemes which he was willing to give for no: lung, and which could be done for about £6O or £7O. After some discussion, it was resolved to let the mattei stand over for the present. Mr. Joyce vou 1 suggest that the Engineer sound the river from time to time, and let the Council know how fast it was silting up. TURANGANUI BRIDGE. Mr. Tutchen saw that it was not likely that the Borough Council would get any assistance from the County for this purpose. He would suggest that they call a meeting of the Natives and see what they were willing to do. tie had spoken to Wi Pure, and he (Wi Fere) thought the best place to build the bridge was across the Waimata, in preference to the Turanganui. Mr. Joyce thought the ratepayers were burdened enough already, and the first thing was to hear what the Borough Council had to say about it. He thought they had quite enough 10 do. It was a matter for the County Council, not the Borough. Mr. Townley said wuere there was a river in a borough it should, if possible, be bridged over. The question was, should the Board apply to Government to divert the money to the Taraheru bridge? If so, it would go entirely to the County. Mr. Tucker thought they should endeavor to keep the money, but he did not see how it was to be done. The County were very indifferent about the matter. Mr. Lewis did not think that the Government would sanction any diversion of the money. Mr. Townley thought it had been understood that Messrs. Tucker, Tutchen, and Captain Porter were to interview the Natives and see what they would do. Mr. Tutchen thought the Natives would give £l,OOO worth of land for that purpose. Mr. Townley thought it hopeless to depend on the County Council for anything. He thought Mr. Tucker might get all the information he could, and lay it before the next meeting. Mr. bmith was averse to letting this money be lost. If the money was devoted to a bridge across the Waimata, it would simply be lost, as, when the harbor scheme was begun, they would have to build another one over the Turanganui. He certainly would be averse to the Borough funds being used for the purpose of bridging the Taruiieru for the benefit of those fortunate persons who had property on the Whataupoko. Mr. Joyce though they should not let the money be lost. mr. wilson’s complaint. Mr. Tucker wished to know the nature of Mr. Wilson’s complaint. He thought the reply to Mr. Wilson might be different to that sent. He maintained that any child going to school should be ferryed over free. He Had looked at the Education Act, and found it had nothing to do with the question. It stated that “ every child going to school should be taken over free.” Tnere was no doubt but what Miss Wilson was a child within the meaning of the Act. He did not think they should disconrage any child .going to school, and he thought they should give Mr. Wiiion a different answer. Mr. Kenny thought it a pure question of law. He tliougut the matter migat rest where it was. if Mr. Wilson thougut hi uaself wronged, he could go to his lawyer and seek his remedy. Mr. Joyce aid not see that the letter to Mr. Wilson prevented his seeking a lawful remedy. He could not see that any harm libU been done. Mr. Tucker was doubtful as to whom the onus of proof laid with. He was not quite certain that it was not the duty of the Board to enforce the contract.. If it was not so, it was their duty to do all they could. Mr. Lewis called attention that the discussion was out of order. After a long discussion, Mr. Townley expressed an opinion that any child, of whatever age, whiie allowed to attend school free should be ferryed free. The subject then dropped. The Board then adjourned.