GISBOBNE HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 306, 10 December 1884, Page 2

GISBOBNE HARBOR BOARD.

The Gisborne Harbor Board met last night. Present: Messrs. Townley (in the chair), Lewis, Wilson, Joyce, Hmith, Hepburn, and Graham. The minutes were read and confirmed. Dredge, A letter was read from the Secretary of the Wellington Harbor Board offering to lease their dredge to the Gisborne Harbor Board. It was decided to acknowledge the letter, and state that thepresent Board would cease its existence shortly, and when the new Board was constituted the letter would be again brought up for consideration. Engineer's Report. The Engineer reported :— Proposed Drainage of Waikanae.—As I understand it the object desired is to keep the muddy foreshore of the Waikanae in the neighborhood of the town continually under water. To accomplish this it would be necessary to erect, say two chains above the ford, a drain consisting of two lines of sheet piling with clay between and capped with planking, theiiop of the dam to be 1 foot below ordinary nigh water level, so as to allow ordinary tides to flow over it, Sluices of a to.al width of 18 feet, with the necessary raising gear would be provided in the deepest part of the channel. Length of drain about 180 feet. Cost, £4OO. There appear to be no serious engineering objections to this. The quantity of water flowing into and out of the Waikanae, is not sufficiently large to seriously affect the bar. Drains would not be backed up as the out-falls are generally at high-water mark, and should floodwater from the Waipaoa River Bank into the Waikanae (which very seldom happens), I believe that the stricture discribed above would allow such flood water to pass over it without raising the level sufficiently to endanger property on the bank. At the same time I must remark that the advantages of adopting the above plans are not self-evi-dent. The muddy foreshore itself is probably not more unhealthy than the stagnant lagoon which is proposed to substitute, both wilt become a nuisance unless care is taken to keep out rubbish and sewerage. In fact unless more decisive steps are taken in this direction I should prefer leaving things as at present when the foreshore is washed twice a day by the tide. On the motion of Mr. Hepburn seconded by Mr. Graham is was agreed to allow the matter stand over for the present. Payments, £. d. g. Wharfinger .. ..600 Rent of office .. .. 20 0 0 Petty cash 5 0 0 An account was received from Mr. S. M. in which a charge was made for the use of horses in drawing the fire engine on the night of the Harbor Bill Demonstration. Cr. Graham moved that the account be paid. Cr. Lewis second. Cr. Joyce moved as an amendment, that owing to the Board not having ordered this performance to take place, that the account be not paid. Cr. Townley seconded. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman. Printing and Advertising. The Clerk stated that the contract for printing and advertising would expire at the the end of this month, and wished to know if he would call for fresh tenders. It was agreed to let the contract expire as a new Board would shortly be constituted. Ferry Contract.

The Board decided to keep the ferry contract still going on from month to month. This was all the business.