HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 42, 21 February 1900, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

,f -—• The annual m'e'.ing of the Harbour o Board took place on Tuesday. Present: d Messrs. Maxwell (Chairman), Connett, * McLean, King, Cliff, Bellringer, d Sarten, Hignett, Kalfe. On the motion of Mr. Bellringer, ® seconded by Mr. Cliff, Mr. Maxwell t, was re-elected chairman, aod expressed it his thanks for the honour conferred *> upon him. s The ordinary business of the Board was then proceeded with. £ Mr. Marchant (the Engineer) wrote, ;s stating that he did not think it possible s. to prepare plans for extension of wharf '- and have specifications ready to invite a tenders for the February meeting; also, subsequently, forwarding contract d plan, and advising that specification would be sent. t A reply was read from the Customs ;, Department, stating that there was no h authority for a rebate on the duty.—On S the motion of the Chairman, seconded by :t Mr. Hignett, it was decided that the Department be again written to pointg ing out that the engine was part of the 0 pumping plant admitted at 5 per cent., and claiming that as the plant was ,s useless without the engine, the latter P should ba admitted at the 5 per cent. j A question was raised as to the pay- _ ment of the Is a day extra to tbe .. engineer of the dredge while he had e been working on the wharf.—lt was : - agreed that the arrangement made to this effect should be carried out. n Mr. T. 0. Kelsey submitted an estie mate for supply of acetylene gas at the " wharf, amounting to J165. —After ; some discussion, it was decided that in ', view of the electric light being available - in the near future the Board are not 1 disposed to incur the expense of acetylene gas. 3 The Harbourmaster reported that * during January 36 steamers were 5 bertfyed at the wharf, the aggregate 3 tonnage amounting tc; ] 5,837 tons, i The imports were 2037 tons and exports 1380 tons, making a total of J 3417 tons. The dredgo removed : 25,680 cubic yards of sand, and the J average depth of the harbour was im- > proving throughout the whole area. > Large rope fenders had been placed as ' a protection to each corner and the face ' of the end of the whurf. The Foreman reported that the hole i in the wa 1 for the pump plant was ■ c almost completed, and tire pipes conr l nested along the wall. The Clifvirm m s'a'itd tbat the dredgo 1 had benn put on the gridiron and > thoroughly overhauled. The Special Committee appointed to rtiakp arrangements with tho Railway I Department relative $q removal of earth from Mt. Eioti reported" that having received a telegram from the Genera! Manager that 77,672 cubic yards or ] earth would f>£ required, and that one- ( . half of this (or fttW yards) !ivr,uld be taken from tho board's reserve, thoy had decided to to tho proposal of the Department as to , (quarrying stone, and their decision had|i

been duly notified.—The Committee's action was confirmed. Mr. Marchant, tbe Board's Engineer, attended, and submitted the plans and specification for extension of the wharf. —The Chairman suggested, that the formal coDseut of the Marino Department should be obtained.—After some discussion, Mr. Bellringer moved that j a copy of the plan and specification be forwarded to the Department for their approval, and that the Engineer provide for a contract schedule of prices being inserted in the tenders; also that tenders be v calledior and opened at the next meeting of.the Board.—Carried. Sanction was given for such repairs to the cattle wharf as might be deemed necessary by tbe EDgiueer. At the request, of Captain Hood, the Chairman brought to the notice of the Board the election of the harbourmaster as second lieutenant in the Volunteer Company recently formed, and mentioned that before accepting or declining the offer Captain Hood wished to know the opinion of the Board.—The matter wasfully discussed, and it was decided, with regret, that it was not advisablo for the harbourmaster to accept the appointment. The action of the Chairman in author-1 ; ising the chairman of the County Count cil to take 200 yards of spoil from the | quarry at 6d per yard was confirmed, i and permission given to exceed that quantity on the same terms; the stone removed to bo under the supervision of ' the Foreman. Accounts amounting to .£5742 14s 6d (including coupons) were passed. The Board rose at 12.40, ~ -. i