HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 22 September 1900, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thb Harbour Board met met on Friday. Present: Messrs. Maxwell (Chairman), Oonnett, McLean, King, OlifF, ' Ward, Sarten, Hignett, and Ralfe. 6 The Chairman stated that the lathe c ordered to be sold had been disposed of ' for ,£SO. 1 [The Board confirmed the resolution * passed at the previous meeting fixing B the rate at one farthing in the £, and ' Mossrs Ward and King were appointed to initial the rate book.] 1 Messrs, Merryweather wrote for- * warding copy of pamphlet on fire, pro- ( tection of docks, harbours, etc., and ! calling special attention to the " Hat- ' field" pump. The letter was laid on ' the table, The District Railway Engineer wrote 1 stating that he was quite willing to ' meet the necessity for providing a < much larger quantity of stone than was 1 anticipated for the repair of the break- 1 water. He took it for granted that any 1 of the faces could be worked, as this ■ was necessary to get another crane at ' work. He suggested using the Board's 1 5 ton crane, and asked that the fore- 1 man be instructed to lend it when required, With regard to the Board's eDgine running between tho quarry and the breakwater, all that was necessary was to have some definite understanding, and he thought it would be better to have one of the .Department's men stationed at the breakwater to control shunting operations. The question of the Board's foreman haviog a points key was a matter for the Board to decide, A further letter asked for timely notice of the commencement of the additions to the wharf, so that arrangements might be made for protecting the rolling stock. The Chairman reminded the Board that a committee had been appointed at the last meeting to sea into the matte?, and he thought tbe letter was very satisfactory, A deputation from the Borough Council consisting of His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Dockrill), Mr. Brooking (Chairman of the Works Committee), and the Town Clerk, waited on the Board with reference to Currie-street extension. Tho Mayor said that the Council thought it dsfiiiablo that a deputation Fhould wait on the Board who were undor considerable misapprehension. It was impassible for the Counoil to take over the street or accept it m any way until it was fully made up and the width increased to 66 feet, A mistake had been made at the Survey Office some years back, but the present Commissioner was quite satisfied that the street ought to be 66 feet wide, Tho Chairman pointed out that the Board's position in the matter was that Curiie-street had always been looked upon as a publio street, and jthe question was whether the Board would be justified in spending its funds in forming, metalling, and widening a publio street, and then handing it over to the Council. It was not » case of developing the Board's property as the street was not originally for the benefit of the Board either directly or indirectly, and he thought the Board ' had met the matter reasonably. The Mayor replied and some discus- , sion took place in which the legal point of the cisa received much prominence. Eventually it was decided to postpone the matter until Mr. Samuel's return to town. The Board's Solicitor (Mr. Samuel) wrote, stating ho had communicated with the Town Clerk and the eight soil contractor with reference to the pollution of the Herekawa Stream. No night soil had since been deposited on Mr. Honeyfield's property and he was assured no further nuisance would be committed. Me. Samuel wrote, stating that it was impossible for him to give an opinion on the revised bye-laws, as owing to ill-henlth he about making a trip. He had secured Mr. Quilliam'a services in business to which hecoulinot attend and offered, if the Board approved, to place the matter before bim. The Engineer (Mr. Marcbant) reported that the contractor for the wharf extension, Mr. Nowmao, had asked for a progress p .ymont on the material when delivered, and that the Railway Department should be asked to give every facility for carrying on the work. Ho thought the requests were reasonable and that tho customary 50 per cent, should be pud tho contractor.— The Board authorised the progress payment. The district traffic manager, Mr. Buxton, wrote, stating that there appeared to be considerable misapprehension as to the reason for the request for the Board's foreman to deliver up the points key. He explained the Department's regulations, which were very strict and only those engaged in working the trains were allowed to have keys. When the Department under- 1 took the working of the wharf the Board agreed that the Department should control the traffic to and from tha wharf. The Department could not do that if the Board's locomotives and cranes were alio wo 3 to run on the line ' reserved for tho Department without the latter's pei mission. There was bo intention or dtt iro to hampar the Board 1 and the Drpirtment would be glad to arrange for the attendance of one of its. 1 •tall'a", ariy time when it was desired to tin the Board's engineer waggons or 1 cratio on tho inside line of rails. Tue Chairman said the question was ' me of principle. If the key was kept 1 oy the Department the Board wen deprived of the means of maintaining ' 'he work or meet aDy unforseen occurrence] at any time night or day. The Department was merely carriers. 1 Was the Board to have the care and control of tha wh:trf or tho Department ? ! He suggested that the Department should tiu notified that for the proper c working of the port the Board should ' x>.vt! fie-a access to tho wharf for tbei) oogin?, crane, otc., but that an arrangement should be made with the Depart- 1 jk lit to ensure the safety of tho public. | Mr. Sarten moved, that a committee j <:onsistiug of Messrs, Oonnett, Ward, C aud the mover, be appointed to see 5 tato and arrange the matter with the Department. The Chairman thereupon moved as uu amendment, that Mr. Buxton be * informed that it ia necessary that the Boird have free access over the whatf . nti all fcimep, but firo willing to makej^

arrangements with the Department. The amendment was carried en a division by 7 to 2. The District Engineer advised the : Board that the timber for the wharf < extension would be inspected on behalf of the Department as asked for by the i Board. The letter is to be acknowledged, and the Department informed that the Board consider the inspection should be made free of cost to the Board. The Chairman drew attention to the necessity of an expert in iron bark timber examining that for the wharf extension, as there was a danger of a spurious article might be sent, and the Board would be paying for a useless article. A letter was read from Mr. D. Berry applying for a lease of the foreshore for the purposed working the ironsand deposits thereon upon the same terms and conditions as those contained in the lease lately held by Messrs. Bill and Webster, which expired in January last. He agreed to deposit £IOO, to be forfeited in the event of his failing to form a bona fide Company, with a capital of at least £IOO,OOO to work the same within 18 months, The lease was not required for speculation purposes, but with the distinct intention of creating a large colonial industry, and on the almost certainty of floating the Company, more especially as a considerable portion of the required capital would be found in the colony, which had not hitherto been the case in approaching English capitalists, Mr. Berry waited on the Board, The Chairman said he had no doubt all the members present knew how the matter stood. Mr. Berry seated that under the conditions of the lease to Hill and Webster they were bound to transfer to the Board's nominee, who would thus have to take' up the same position. Fart of the capital had been raised in the colony, and only a portion would be required on the English market, It would cost him a considerable amount if the project failed, but he had perfect confidence in the success of the undertaking. If the matter was successful he would not receive any money but would take shares. Mr. Sarten moved, and Mr. Cliff seconded, that Mr. Berry's application be granted, and the solicitor instructed to carry out the transfer of the existing lease. Mr. McLean contended that the conditions of the lease not having been fulfilled, the Board would be acting ultra vires in complying with the application. Messrs. King and Hignett, as new members of the Board, urged that they should have an opportunity of carefully considering the terms of the lease, and suggested a special meeting being called to consider the matter. The Chairman also agree in that course. It was arranged to have a special meeting at 7 p.m. to further consider the matter. It wasdecided to offer the Broughamstreet buildings for sale by public anction, to be removed within six weeks of the sale. An order for stones was passed.. The bye-laws, as amended, were considered, and after an informal discussion on a clause heie and there, the Chairman drew attontion to the profitless nature of the discussion. It was then moved that the bye-laws be confirmed. An amendment, proposed by Mr, Cliff, to take them seriatim was 1 st, and the motion carried. On the motion to have 300 copies printed, Mr. King inquired if only one price had been obtained. The Secretary replied in the affirmative, and the motion was carried. Messrs. John Chambers and Son sent in a quotation and specification for Babcock and Wilcox water tube steam boilers. Mr. Cliff explained that it had been sent to the Board by mistake. Messrs. Richmond and Bellringer wrote in reference to their application to have sections 9, 10, and 25, of Mount Eliot Reserve, put up for competition. Their client's intention was to put up a large and suitable hotel on the site (opposite the railway station) if be secured the land, and they asked that the, matter be reconsidered and the sections put up in one lot, weighted with improvement conditions. Mr. McLean moved, and Mr. Connett seconded, that the Board adhere to its original resolution. Mr. Sarten moved that the application be acceded to. He was an advocate for progress. Mr. Ward seconded the amendment. It Beemed wrong for the Board to keep the land idle for 12 months. Mr. Connett believed in clearing the whole land, but if a part were let the clearing of the remainder would be interfered with. I The Chairman said he opposed the amendment. The Board' had just reached the time when the land being levelled the Board would got the full market value, and all the land would be taken up, He was convinced it would be urjjusfc and wrong to part with any sections until the whole was cleared. Mr. Hignett considered the Board was in the position of a public trusteo, and should be careful. The Chairman ruled Mr. Sarfcen's amendment out of order. Mr. Sarten thereupon moved that the Board's previous resolution be rescinded, but the Board refused to consent to waive the usual notice for such a motion, Mr. G. J. Newman wroto stating that be had been unable to charter a -ailing vessel to bring the wharf extension timber to New Plymouth, arowners refused to come to this port. He suggested that certified reports of 'the depth of water and other shipping facilities at the port ba distribu'ed, no"; only in New Zealand, but at shippir-; ports in Australia. Mr. Connotfc sjM he had been tali by Mr. Newman lh--.t the loss to bimj would be at les&t £l5O. Ha suggested' hat a better plan than circula'iog information would be to have photographs taken of the breakwater whh three vessels berthed. He thought io would pay the Board to adopt this coins'. Mr Newman i 3 to be thanked for bis letter, and informed that the Board will do what they can to rnnko known ■,he accommodation at the breakwater. The Harbourmaster roportod that (luring August 35 stounors tethed at the whwf, the. aggregate tonnage beini; -

12,686; imports, 1667; exports, 425 ; making a total of 3130 tons of cargo. The weather had been fine with smooth t seas, except from 15th to 18th. The <3 dredge worked 18 days, making 176 f trips, and removing 10,560 cubic yards c of sand, At present the dredge was ' removing the deposit at the south end l: of the wharf to get ready for the ex- c tension, i The Foreman reported that the '1 lagoon work was completed in a satis- t factoiy manner. About 280 tons of ( large stone had been put into the hole t in the stonework at tbe end of the * breakwater, which had almost filled it - up. The crane boiler had been re- <■ paired. He asked for authority to » obtain several new piles which were 1 required. t The Chairman reminded the Board « of the warning he had given. The t piles under the cattle wharf were, he ' said, eaten through, t Authority was given for the new * piles asked for. i Mr. Connett moved that no further i work be done by the sand pump until f a proper boiler had been obtained. i Mr. McLean thought that so long as I tbe dredge was clearing the harbour I there was no need for the sand pump ■ to work, i Mr. Sarten moved an amend- ] ment that the pump be worked 1 for a week and a special meeting of i the Board called to inspect the result. > Mr. Cliff also spoke. The Chairman supported Mr. Oon- i nett's motion. So long as there was < any doubt of the pump answering, he ' was averse to incur extra expense, but ; now there was no doubt of its success i and he was willing to take the course suggested by Mr. Connett. Messrs. Sarten and Ward continued the discussion. MrJ Connett did not wish to pledge the Board to getting another boiler, but rather to let the pump rest for a while, and the work of putting stones over the breakwater be gone on with. The motion was carrried. The Chairman moved that the Engineer be asked to report on the question of a new boiler for the pump. The dredge, he said, would have to be kid up for a while when new bailers were put in, and it was desirable to have the pump available. After some further remarks the Chairman moved partly to the effect tbat the circumstances be reported to the Engineer, and that he be asked whether he considered his attendance necessary. Mr, King said he agreed with Mr. Sarten that before incurring the expense of getting another boiler the pump should have a week's' thorough trial, and if it answered that test & boiler could be obtained, if not there was an end of the matter. The Chairman's motion was carried. Accounts were passod and the Board adjourned till 7 p.m. On resuming, Mr. Berry again attended the Board. The terms and conditions of the lease to Messrs. Hill and Webster were considered and discussed. Eventually it was decided that Mr. Berry's application for the transfer of the lease to him be granted on condition that within eighteen months from the date of such transfer he shall raise a company with a capital of at least £IOO,OOO, and that by January, 1903, buildings, plant or machinery, to the value of £2OOO at least, shall biset up, otherwise the deposit of £IOO to be forfeited. Messrs. Maxwell, Connett, and King were authorised to executo the transfer on behalf of the Board. The Board rose.