GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 131, 14 May 1884, Page 2

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held last night in the Borough Chambers. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Captain T. W. Porter) in the chair: ana Members Joyce, Hepburn, Tucker, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outgoing correspondence disposed of. INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary read a letter from the London agents of the Priestman’s Dredge Company, which had been received in answer to an enquiry as to the cost of a dredge marked Ain the catalogue. The cost was as follows :— lncluding engine, boiler, jib, foundation, bucket and holding, down bolts, <fco., £389; or for travelling on rails, £B9B. Duplicate bucket, £3O; extra strong grabs, £63 ; packing for shipment, 2| per cent.; delivery to docks, 30s. per ton; approximate weight, 10 tons. Crane will lift 2$ tons weight, and dredge will lift 250 tons per day. The Chairman remarked that this article was quite beyond their means. Mr. Smith thought it was only putting the firm to unnecessary trouble, when the Board had no idea of ordering such a thing. They had no means to buy such a thing. The Chairman said they would have been inclined to go as high as £2OO, as the thing was so necessary, but the price was quite beyond their means. Mr. Tutchen thought the price very reasonable indeed.

Mr. Joyce pointed out the necessity which existed for doing something very shortly, otherwise they would be brought to a standstill, as the silting-up was going on very rapidly. The further consideration of the subject was left over until the Engineer’s report was discussed. the foreshore. The following letter from the Board’s solicitor, in answer to a request for his opinion, was read:— The Harbor Board having now received the grant of the foreshore, has vested in it all the land comprised in the schedule to the Gisborne Harbor Board Act 1882, in trust for harbor purposes and may proceed with any works of reclamation that may appear desirable, and generally exercise complete rights of ownership over the same as against persons interfering with or infringing the said rights.—l am, &c., J. W. Nolan.

Mr. Tutchen said they all knew that much. What the Board really wanted to know was whether they had any control over the foreshore previous to the grants deed being received. They all knew their powers under the grants, but they wanted to know how they were situated previously. That would be something worth knowing. Mr. Townley differed with this view. Whatever might have been their rights previous to this had nothing to do with the present. They now knew their position. The Board was in the same position as a person who had bought a property. They could accept or reject any tennent they choose, and they knew their exact position with respect to Common, Shelton and Co.

The secretary then read the following letter in answer to an inquiry why the proceedings lately commenced against Common, Shelton and Co., had been delayed:—“ I considered it inadvisable to prosecute this case pending the decision of the appeal in Johnston’s case, for although the cases are not exactly on “ all fours,” there are points of similarity between them, on which the judgment on appeal may touch, and so define and strengthen the position of the Board. Johnston’s case is fixed for hearing at an early date, and the decision may be expected at any time, when I shall take immediate legal proceedings against Common, Shelton and Co.—l remain <fcc., J. W. Nolan.”

Mr. Townley said this was nothing whatever to do with the previous question.

After a very lengthy discussion, which was warmly entered into by all members present, Mr. Tucker proposed, and Mr. Joyce seconded, “ That the tenements now encroaching on the foreshore be valued by a valuator appointed by the occupier and a valuator appointed by the Board, who may appoint an umpire, and that the land on which such tenements stand be put up to public auction for a term of fourteen years.” Mr. Smith proposed as an amendment, “ That the term be seven years instead of fourteen.”

The amendment was put and lost, and the proposition carried. The following application was read from Mr. Craig :—“ It is my intention to apply for a site for a small jetty on the foreshore, immediately behind our section running from Gladstone Road to Read’s Quay. I make this formal intimation so as to secure priority in the event of there being other applicants for the same site when the Board is prepared to lease this part of their property.—Yours, <fcc., J. Craig.” The application was held over till the next meeting. engineer’s report. Sir, —As instructed at last meeting, I have prepared a plan of the foreshore on the town side of the river from the w’haif to Bright Street. The scale is two chains to an inch. The structures now existing on the foreshore are shown.

Mr. Ilosic's Proposal.— Having in view the fact that the silting at the wharf is increasing, and the Marine Department will not allow us to erect a groin or dyke to increase the scour, and that the alternative plan proposed by the Marine Department is too expensive to be entertained by the Board, I tb ; Mr. Rosie’s phin should be tried. I think it likely that it would be effectual. No bad effect could be produced on the bar, but deposits will probably be made in the channel below the wharf, which if found objectionable would inquire further harrowing. But I do not think it likely that these deposits would be very extensive, as the ebb current near the wharf is slow, and the success of the plan will depend more on the raking action across the river than on the carrying away of the silt by the current. As to cost, the amount of labor necessary to clear the channel sufficiently can only be ascertained by trial. The cost of the necessary plant would be about £5O. Mr. Lewis proposed, and Mr. Joyce seconded, “ That Mr. Rosie’s scheme for deepening the river be tried at once.” This was carried, Mr. Tutchen being the only member against it.

Notice or Motion, Mr. Joyce gave the following notice of motion, “ That in every case where application be made for any portion of the foreshore the portion applied for shall be put up io public auction.