HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 18, 19 January 1901, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thb Harbour Board met on Friday. Present f'Melsrs. (ohairman), Conn«tfr, -MeLeabf KihgV'Gliff, "Ward, Sar'.en, Hignett, and i a /n ' «. Raports from the Engineer fffljLMXfc Rollo wer« read.

Mr, Rollq (Messrs. Okey and Rollo), reporting oh';t|h«!gbrtekdown tAMjm fe&gibe haa wonted satisfactorily trom 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ofi exami-uatitrn, he fonnd the bolts of the trunk end of the connecting-rod Ead bo'-h been broken insidie the briss. One brass was broken in tWo, and the ether much damaged. Ihe conaoatingrod was slightly wedded -and much and one balance weight was shorp off. The top of • the cylinder ,coyer was broken in several places, the fiang# and studs not being damaged. There was ao. doubt other parts had been strained.- '■ He intimated what 'repairs were necessary. Tlje Engineer, reporting on the same Tjilbjoct, agreed with Mr. Rollo's conclusions. Such a smash appeared to him not to be the result of an accident, but ej consequence of the want of competent management of the machinery. seemed to bim that the break-downs ihat occurred from time to timo to this pumping plant could hare been fore seen and prevented. He recommended ajaaohanic -that-h»kna w-ofat-T i maru as a copfip#tent direction of Opetiatioas, aijd it would be bettflr r he considered, if j only that person csuld attend one or two hours daily. thiiT that kn outsider should interfere' With it'. There was no difficulty ;n vyorking ,tbe. plant satis-< under capable a,ud intelligent management.

jMtv Merchant further reported that &4 did'hot see how the propesal to give thepujjpp a month'# continuous trial, nould be given-efl'ect to, as it must be worked when the Weather was favourable. In calm weather only one ih; every 4 or 5 (days work could be got. 'Sir. Sarten said tha pump neve;' had gone right, and it 1 was evident something was Wrong with it. •Xke Ctuilrm-ui reviewed wbat hnd place since the pump wag erected. The accideuts and delays that had occurred were m»Kt unsatisfactory, arid he had tried to got over tha difficulty by the resolution passed at the last meeting directing a month's trial, but he felt after the resolution was paused tha'. it could noi be carried out. Mr, Sarton said ho<vou!d not kwp on: arguing the point, Time would prpve that evorythwg ho fiiid hs to the pirinp Wss ■ zoritecit.''' Mr. C amot-t said there was, ono point in the Enginesr'a repart he could not a;;coa to, and thit was blaming tho roau foe thu, last accident to thu pump. The Eugiueer hud bean present ou the previous day and all whs going well, as it was immediately _ before tho sudden collapse took place. No first-rate etigineai- would work in the ho'e where the machinery was now placed, as it. was hot fit' for anyone to work its. Blame should not be caßt on those who did not deserve it. The bolts were sj slight as to ba unsafe. It was unfair to bluiae tho man in charge of the pump" for what was not Icia fault. Mr. Cliff contended that oegi-

neer was noSHB; i ' fiea mth th ® " ,c ' andceijßdered^R o * b * d not sufficient I and 'hot wait* Mr. 10110 had told® o (Mr. Oliff) that no me on the ya.ro". The Shgjneisr was not the i^n. iVhat waa wat'^HB waß n supjivis jr to •acord reeulf Hf cgVB of of laud lifted aßi^^BB 01 ' 8 '• Mr. OQnnetP®B nted out that the .cctygnt might Wk\- hara ¥PP f,n,;d when'the <| ' 'ltfr. irigriett' svhPtberlh'o EoaW| had confidence in chair Engineer 1H " 1 " elEcioncy -of hhair i omnVovnni. BB lf the Board haa oaijfidence in MrW^ arch ' nt u wo " ld a earn to ba n^a^e a clean sweep of thfir the-B«»i^a8te(»-^*i ,8n^ ~ Mr* Counolit wouM^P^ r ' u ta^kißg v SH bbs&rTipjM l, not intend to ba ut 88 a matter'of ns Mr. Oonnett had m ad\^e£eF cnoß .& hlB tfoither."~'" '* v w ask the. members of rtß o 1 malflut thar-I: -ha* I *®? 4 m, f® "®; qiienfc references to brother, but Bfcv®«:ittSrsiy-> defendei^l^i" 1 ' when «tMr. Hignett inßißte.Bfc ft 4r ' O nn " netrt I rai-ffeqaifttlya* B t0 h ': B brother, apd 4 hf «*» a % disgrace te tHd art®* Wlieii ~'att' necidfent i ' l «j|PP A j l,e^ ' 'Eugito&fl*' tarned 'lOUcd jviW&lsrni's'd thy* men employed. B Mr. Ward-eon»idered'4!\B s ' racc,t ™ u ' ;R would. - happen. JB°P nofc an * Engineer''wag presfin!;, bu# 1 10 w^.'°( opinion that the presence oM a qualified oogipeer would ba a protect®^ ll for t men, and that influenced hlr vot ® f°*' fine appointment of a meJfchanic at the last meeting. 1 .-■Mr, Oonnet.trepiit!ded the,l® oar dth%fy lie bad voted for the appjintn^ out an

.&sgawer.' ; .!: - -I. Mr.' Sirtaa again rose f -o But wa« callad to oider at j&Lr. suggestion/ .jits' 1 prbV&ted**#*!'' Miv Hignett was always trying to lP r, ' v ? , ' J l '; him speaking,-but il*h« could whafcfae wiebed at the Board's »»Mu h.< would do so elsewhere. ~, ,1, i, The Chairman? -said ttwif U4p ,,,< at all blaming the employes. 1 1,6 cS perießce t'f the, Board iu.Uia P'f* 5 ove the sand pump\w\s yei>y try'»j:l t > a I concerned. At prosout th" Braird did not cmplpv bigU-ckss eugi.»e«rk /t nor ti&¥.4hetn : the^g'e's'cjf Such. J

Mr. Sarten agiia ripse fcu »ddresls the Board but . Mr. Hifflnett atonctt protested. ■ i .. 1 v Mr. Wiitd made a te W Jawe remarks and the subject 1 , dropned. | A tender was received from Reid and Gray for Aha supply,, of a windmili'ifof<£ss. M V' . \ M r . Sajten the windnul v was like, iV The Chairman.: " J t ear. Mr. Surten said it was nanpessaryie be eareful. \ v After some lonjoiiy discu.® ilon " e tender was'accp;-^d. iU , V-. \ j *- ! The 1 •'Valufu ion ' : - jTr warded a elaim for .£323. %>''"■ • The. Ohairnaivn, moved a protesting 'the Semand^L^ explained, how aaj braerVed ' thAt more' mistakes ar>H under the present system tiian. fjl mirlywhen the' work was dqna.byßl Tho worK'waH'nof tha.Boariijihutior ithe Valu^r-Geo^fe Mr { Qoaaett seconded the mflk Tie pointed out that the Board's nfl fyti'oution was one-third of the- endH f 1 Mr, doubted whether' t)H resolution was quite s'rong enouyflj The charge was preposterous and peiß soually he was ioelined to compel th" Government to recover the amount by distress. The Department was evidently trying to " have " tho public. Mr. King urged that the resolution should *■« strouger. It seemed very much like a swindle and lU'httobe shown up. lie advocated r,he other public bodies being asked to join in tha protest.

Mr. McL°an haggos'ed tlia"". a letter be sent to the Ac' tag-Premier on th<? matter. Mr. King: Batter go 1; it written quickly before the Pr< mier comet* bsck. (Liughter), The resolution wan then amended and passed in the following form: — That whilst undrr the former i-ystem, notices of alt<rations were received by the Secretary direct from the p»rtiea concerned, and the rolls altered at once by him, the-present pynfiem- required" r<c«ipt by the Secretary of n«tice of alterations, copying and fir* adding t. fchla Valuer-Genera), and rectipt again for the,latter, and finally alter uion of thjs rolls by the Secretary, which means thau twice the work, in addition to which the Bnrd were required pajy, tho sun of £323 for work which is ' outside their rtquiremon's, and it would be of no advantage to 'hem, th- , Board therefore protest; ag .inst tho charge, and further, that a letter bo sent to the Acting-Premier on tho matter. j It was furtl e? r> solved that a copy of '..ho foregoing resolution be furwarded I t,o all the local bodies in tho district, aod that it be suggested to them that jif tho department attempts to enforce j pivment, combined action b<j taken to ! its s\ I Tho Marino Department forwarded ja copy t.f tht, " liJoi " attached to tiio v«rdi«t hi tho <l:iry in connection willi the rete.it fatality a h . the wliarf. (Jiiairmrn no'hing could b* dono by way of further Mj(i presint Eitenniou Works worn C'linpietod. Wlwu that work was done tha Bond would of course, t«ko r<li nec.-ssary a'ops for protecting the pn'j-

li was resolved that the letter bo t(;knowle(iged,gaml a reply! sent to the j i.lftcc that a contract was l-.-t in ApriH l:wjb, for oxtoii-'iioii of tho wlwrf o i b t'o sid'en, and when computed action will! he Itakea with a viow to prevent similar) ocqurrenooH in future. j T'io Foreman rep rtod that very j little work hid been (Jouo.with thoi sond-pump o-i account of another breakdown. All wharf timber liadj arrived except 8 piles. About 80 tons of largo stone had been tipped over tho wall. j the Harbourmaster imported that.i during tho month of December 37 stoamors aad I scow wero borthod f the

average tonnage boing 16,605 tons Imports wa>e 3206 tons, including-032 tons of private cdal flrid SSO.l.tpus tif railway. Exports wore 140? tons, i making a total of 4613 tons. Shipping had arrived and departed at all states of'the tide, The dredge had 13 days and removed 6660 cubio y&rds of s n<l. At present it was laid up for repairs to pump, boilers, am machinery. It was expected to s'ari about the. .20th inst. The Railway. .Depaiiaifiat ..JKfttfi,. jcomplaining that the plant for the i vfhaj'f ,extension interfered with work!ihj( the-Ships, and ttfa* recently th«» contractor's crano, on _being moved, injured a carriage. They requested that the matter might be attended to, ' -"The -iVjremirrt -esplJCffied" how'ttie aocid'.nt and steps are to be The^JCo apopy of of, the IJarough Council irnssedthe last meeting vijjth rcfer-Surne-street extension.-No action was'takea:. The draw attention to the f >ct. tK .t. the pil€S§ were pot being driven in accordance' with' specification, ] and he urftveii'"that 'E t®l6grara bo'.H ;, nt •fcH>be-:i4ttxtTia?r -drawflig-Irte"n,tte;iiti o'ti thereto.—Mr. King seconded tho motion, which, after a short discussion, pYps carried. Tho Chairman r mentioned it has been bright, to his notice that 'iVisfeeivfi'bf the large sfcCjjfe at the quarry WoifiL' reserved use, as WrShged, the Railway Department 'efiipioyees were blasting the stones for tfse'"on the reclamation works.—lt wat ttwitfrwh' to tfa'if "lihe T S&eH{'!ojf of the Department to. the, destruction* ofxt.he letrge 1 sronbs, vvhiqh ;\vere j required' by the Board'. ' ; >

i a An order, was given/for supplies us per Ifst. rl was decicLcl to call for tenders ,fpr the of tirnbor rfp quired For prese'ni bind future use. |).oTbiaiSp>cial Committee appdinted to discuss the question of ths retention-- of - -She -key- -of:-the • -railway points ai the breakwater re- | ported, recommending that in view the arrangement entered into !'W the Board with the Department in M%.y, 1886, and having received an aasnrar.ee from the Traffic Manager the , Railway, wjll facilitate the 'forking o/thi Board's plant by projviiiing immediate access to the wharf when necessary, tint the key be re- ' urnod to the Department.—The report was adopted.

The Advertising-Committee reported having'selected'six photographs, three by Mr. Collis and the remainder by Mr. White, for the pamphlet relative te the harbiur; also, that they had accepted Mr. Hpoker's Render of £22 10s for printing a thousand copies of the book. The JSnginoei: reported in connection with this matter that he had been unable to obtain an approximate quotation from the Ohristchurch Press 0 mpany, but recommended that Mr. Hooker's tender be accepted, Mr. Hookers having v promised that 'shoulH his teaser be accepted he wou'd get the Ohristchurch Press Company to reproduce tfce illustrations. . The Committee's report was adopted and their action confiriß# ( |._ „-3-JM>~Eas]L_9t§<:B Site Committee re ported recommending that the Board be to exchange with the Government the land at the corner of Brougham and Gill-streets, if required, for the Prison Reserve at Moliuoh so fir as it would go towards the value, Hnd the balance by land elsewhere to ?ie approved by the Board. 1 XW report "was'adopted. | %/PbnTwbt. dre.w attention to the j B"gitudinal walings or bracss of the | ■mr? extoosion not baiiig shea'ed with R'ipar in 'he same way as the piles. | Be—matter " was referred to the En- j ■a ttent ion was drawn by the ChairrJk'to the action of the Railway Dopjjment in gelation to its use of the K«rd's water at thft breakwater. He coßdered that as the Board had spent a Bisidnrable sum over the »»ater

sufHy that.it was jr&posterous for the I'iiilßiy officials to cut off, as they hud uccißpnally dont l , tho aupp'y of water tothMshippirii> in order to sa'isfy their own ■' qui leinence.' The Department moremer had disputed an* account of 10s (Mrged for the supply. MwUonnotb pointed out that it wouliilnot be to the interest of the rßoirtlSfo pliuo.obstacles in the way of tie UliarCment,' sis it was' essential, esppciftly when shipping dairy produce, that 11> engines should be supplied withouifcelay evan if the shipping had to waittohcufortwo for'their supply." A fterloma discussion, it was decided to infoil the Department that after the Slstfcst.j the charge for water for the sranilind locomotives would be £1 per moo ft, a conditioa of the supply being 'halthtre should be no waste. Mr. Suliii inquired if any reply hnd been iec.led from Mr. Napier B 11, and W'S anlw i.red in the. negative, the

5-.crnb.rv 4plaining that be had been uaab'e to Acer fain that gentleman's wheicabouß Ju cenaectioQ with this matter, (Mr. Msrchnnt) , wrote expr« jug his ph-aeuro at the ueti hi of thi^,-.,, u | j n commucicat n» wii h Mr. Nu >• j;, ]] ag t 0 jf r g ar eß ' s sch'-me, as s .'o lillality might now be hoped fjr ii thereto, if tin; Bunrd Joi-iv: thxo arrange with Mr. lie!I to repw ; s;, B sohemf, ho lef' it •o th t B '-a" whether or not Jim (Mr. M,'V- h/i\ hhould attend him j or no'. 1 Aoco'ii.ts ai|.mutirig to.-X9IG lis 1 1 Oh v.-e 1 e passed I i id OiTiirmJl pursuant to notiro, j movsJ t.mt a tArate r.coimt be kfpt | of all ioeom'j Biij revenue froin thoi j harbour nsoi velmd that the amount! t rco ived from lah kom-c>< bo placed, I lialt-yw.r.y to fund account i lie hri fly staterlfcj reasons, contend- ] i' i! -' 't w--;s the prSw-stop to take. j Mr. Oliff iu sea^j,,., | ps ed »a i.pinili ttiitfc tho laub air] joii;.".!'- V) uiauisuijits.if v.'ithoat tho J.-iiii ><f'e»>l»w:ii«(itbvenuo • 'j W l '* ' v ', a! ? v - ou \ oppose the. motion j ■pis bo coPKidered ovry ofiocome jew li- ard K:,/i w- r ..,pu u -d. ]«do-l peudenr. <-f too t«c th«r, the ondow-l • u,-nr, revenue Imd lw aVB <?ene to the! (fjui eral fu.i.S, tite WiU had got tho j ; j ex.tfi.sion of tha w ai f to j, ok tlo> u ( »»p iriaot mat,,.. Jf { j w 1 J man's pioposal woto u T ; C u ti 0 o xti;a-' ,Lion works would )_■ ' f definitely. { »\ M.V. OoßMtt Vith tha Inst:

<peaker/-'JThe wharf, bVsaid, must be widened thirty feet. He considered the ' proposal could not 'have boen brought forward at a more inopportune time. A committee "was si t up 1 some tjnde to reduce freights, etc., with a'\view to induce trade to the I port, ;bui what was the use of getting toora,trade unless proper accommodation was provided to cope with it? This should be looked upon as a work of the first importance instead of locking up revenue till 1909. It would even bo tetter .to py. .ojl'. the..overdrafts than] take the course proposedby the motion | which, however, was net one that was (onceived on business lines. No doubt that kind of p.olicy was brought forward on the e.ve of a new election as being one likely to catch the ratepayers who did not thorpughly how matters stood, but it was- a wrong course to take, and he should protest all he could against its adoption.

Mr. Ward intimated that he also should oppose the motion, as lie was convinced the Board could do far more good by using the money than by lockitig it lip. Mr. Ralfe considered the limo for such a step was not appropriate, as the Board wanted all it could get. If he needed to build a house he should not .consider it tho best policy to keep the money in hid pocket instead of spending it on tho house. Nor did he think, it right for the present Board to bind their Buccessars in the way proposed. Mr. McLean also expressed hid dissent from the proposal. Mr, Hignett favoured postponing the matter (murmurs of dissent). If forced to vote he should support the motion.,

'Mr,. Sarten would support thomotioi}, as he considered the iei-s revenue the Board had, the bott >r they would b«. able to look after it. IL'he Uhaiwnan r in. xepiy, said. ho had. received quite a surprise as, for otico in his carear,oi) ttjeßo/ird,he had Sir.ten's I §e rp-, pudiatfd Connett's , insinuation that the motion, had -any: .reference te | the forthcoming election, and reminded the Board he badrfinsj* hrowjhfcit for-' Ward three montW back'.'' He would not call for a division- but would take a vote and if defeated "hbpsd to revive the question again*' The motion was then put.and lost. ; Mr. Sarten moved that the resolutions of the Board of September, 1899, and August, 1900, be rescinded and the application of Messrs. Richmond and Bellringer be acceded to. After seme discussion the motion was withdrawn.

; Leave was given for Mr. Sirten's motion relative to the provision of an accommodation room on the wharf to stand over till after the completion of the present works. Mr. Ward in moving pursuant to notice that the secretary's salary be increased said that at the last meeting he proposed an augmentation of £25, but having since gone into the matter ho considered that as an aot of justice tho increase should be £SO, and he therefore moved for that, amount. The Board were, he said, nil well aware of and fully recognised the merits of the secretary as a business man. He quoted a large number of statistics which ho said he had obtained from fche_ secretary sfTowmg\Jhif7a~frha the reduotion that had been made iu Mr. Rennell's salary. If the Board did not see their way clear to vote a £SO increase in salary he was quite willing that the amount should be halved and one moiety added to the salary, while the other was assigned to remuneration for rate collection.

| Tho Chairman said they all knew ihis opinion of the Secretary, and ho I did not think they could get a butter, iti! wuK always most careful, accurate, and methodical in his work. At th« j same timo he suggested tli-it the motion should, bo withdrawn, as it was tho last meeting of tho Hoard, and he did nor thir.k that if the, increase was granted it'would 1»3 so nice to receive as later 08. Mr. Ward wished the matter settled at that mooting and not handed over to the new Board to deal with. The present members knew all about the Secretary's service*, and were in u better position to judge of the justice of, an increase t.hria a new Bond. Jlr.. King declined to go into the merits of the ca-e which ho considered was one for the incoming Bond. Mr. McLean took the ume view. While acknowledging that tho [Secretary bad given satisfaction,'he reminded the Board of the action he had thought it his duty to take in bringing about a reduction, as he tnought the Secretary was receiving too much aa compared with others iu a similar position. He thought the present salary of .£3OO a year was a very good one. but he wouid not object te an increase An additional £25 was neither here nor there. It might, however, happen that the new members might take the same course that he did and consider it their duty to reduce the amount, and it was well to avoid such a position. The motion was then withdrawn. A vote of thanks was accorded to tho Chairman and tho Botrd dissolved.