HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 38, 20 February 1901, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

ANNUAL STATUTORY MEETING. BISECTION OF CHAIRMAN. On the members of the Harbour Board aps' ; ffibliug yesterday the r.halr was taken by Mr (J. Rennell, secretary and returning officer, the following monibers being present: Messrs. Maxwell, Connett, Ward, Sarten, McLean, Cliff, and Hignett, The presiding officer read the result of the late election aod said it, now devolved upon those members present to eleot a chairman for the enyeor.

Mr Hignett said it pave him much pleasure to propose that Mr Maxwell be reelected chairman. During his term of office the condition of the harbour had very considerably improved and the trade and revenue of the port iind very materially increased, He did not sup-' 0032 everyone would agree that the f-rcdit Was dua to Mr Maxwell, but there crald be no doubt but that he had during his chairmanship administered the affairs of tbe Board in a very capable manner. Mr Cliff seconded the I motion and said he agreed with the re- ' marks or tbe proposer. They did not nlways agree on all things but they could always agree to differ. The motion was put and carried unanimously. On taking the chair Mr Maxwell said he thanked the Board veiy much indeed for the honor conferred upon him by reelecting him to theobair, His unopposed return came as a surprise. He had agreed to stand for re-election but was surprised to find himself re-1 fleeted without opposition- He thought Mr Hignett had been too flattering in! his remarks. It was quite true and he! was proud of it that the condition of the harbour had very considerably improved during the time he had the honor to fill the chair but tbe oredit was not due to him alone' but to the whole board and the cordial way in which the members of the Board had worked for the good of the harbour. He felt it a great honor to be reelected after having held the position of chairman so long and he hoped to have a continuance of the support of all the membors of the Board. They could not always be espacted to agree upon everything. Indend it would be unfortunate if they did, but he was glad to feel that he had the support of the members as a whole in fathering the best interests of the I Board.

On the motion of Mr McLean, seconded by Mr Hignott, Mr Oonnett was elected treasurer. KEPORT ON THE HAUBOUB. Mr, Napior Bell, C.E., writing from Strnhan, said he expected to be in Now Zeahnd in about a month from Jinnury 27, and would bs at liberty utter fitting on tha Midland Railway Oomtnisiion, to visit ]S T ow Plymouth. His fee would be sixty guineas plus railway fares, pa'd in advance. In the meantime he strongly advised that the broakwat°r should not be touched in tho manner susjgestel (hole in the wall) until ha had seen the position. Mr, Sarten proposed that tho offtr bo ao.wpted, tha f . a special meeting be called to meet Mr. 8011, and that the Board's. Engine>r attend and confer with Mr. Bell. Mr CW seconded.

Th ■ Chairman said Mr. Marcbant was quite prepared and willing to come, but would rather Mr, Bell be left to himself.

Mr. Ward: Prepared, but not willing.

The Chairman: Yea. As a rule when a consulting engineer was called in the Board's Engineer should be on the spot to assist bim, but in this case Mr. Marchant preferred leaving Mr. Bell to himself, aud he thought his reasons good. Mr. Ward opposed Mr. Marchant being present; they had his opinion, now they wanted Mr. Bell's without any suggested that he was influenced, Mr. Hignett objected to the Board paying for Mr. Bell's opinion. He thought the cost was to be paid by subscription. If the opinion was obtained he considered Mr. Marcbant should be present.

Mr. Connett said the idea of Mr. Marchant, not being present came from Mr. Marchant himself, aud he thought they should get Mr. Ball's independent opinion. It was no reflection on Mr. Merchant to get Mr. Bell's opinion, and he thought while they were about it they should get his opinion on the* whole harbour improvement scheme, as as it would be cheaper than having the ma'ter reported on lat?r. Tim Chairman thought they should dff»r to Mr. Marchant'a wish. It was no rolloction on Mr. Bel', as he was not

•> man likely to bo influenced ono. He thought £SO would be well ••pent in getting at firalifcy" infljthis matter, as the wasto of time continually discussing it was very se'ious.

Mr. McLean Paid he would like Mr. Sarten to promise if tho Board carried rhn motion that he would not bring tho matter up again after getting the report.

Mr. iSarton said he wns quite prepared to piomise this. This was his hope. Regarding the subset iptions he had been promised he would try arid get them for this, but in any case ho would take Mr. Bell'* report as tinal.

Mr. Ward rnovrd. to strike out that portion of the motion referring to Mr. iHarchiint, but not being seconded the amendment lapsed. After a fow further remarks the motion was put and carried.

Mr, Connott then moved that Mr. 801 l be asked to report on tho whole scheme of karbour improvement, but after a long discussion on a protest by Mr. Hignett, the Board decided, on 'he casting vote ef the Chairman, that notice of motion must be given.

GENERAL IJUSrsESS. ! Mr. Haslnck, of the Breakwater i Hotel, wrote, inquiring if, when tho Bowd erected a windmill for waterpumping, they would be willing to i supply the upper floor of his hotel, and, if fo, at w hat cast. The Engineer reported that early , delivery of the windmill had been premised. He considered the Foreman . and staff could easily erect it. The District Engineer wrote, rela- | fcivc to the large stones taken from the jquaviy. Ho Raid the undertaking was J ihat the Department would supply the |large stones as rapidly aa possible in.' | conjunction with, their own work, bu'; j) to bandcYOf ovory largo stone quarried

was quite out of the question, find would vnoin a moat serious delay to wui-k besides keeping a lot of mon idle. B'ceks of 5 to 7 toits wero required lor facing up, and it whs absolutely necessary to break some of the largest stones to get those. The Inspector had been instructed to do ns little of that as possible. Ho hoped to finish the stone work in 3 or 4- months. After considerable discussion it was resolved to call the attention of the Minister of Railways to the loss the Board wbb sustaining and tho promise that was made that the large stones should be reserved for the use of the Board.

The following replies were received to the Board's circular relative to resist}ing payment of the Valuer-General's oharges: The Waiwakaiho Road Board could not see the utility of resisting payment 39 the Crown had the right of deducting I th* amount from a»y subsidy coming to | local bodies. ' The Elliot Road Board wrote agreeing with the protest. The County Council bad passed a rfr solution endorsing the Board's action. The Stratford Borough Council hr.d already paid the demand but would join in any general prote-t The Waimate Board would co-operate in resisting payment. The Valuation Department acknowleged the receipt of the Board's resolution and in reply stated the amount claimed was in accordance with the Act and regulations thereunder and that there was no option but to enforce the claim. The Valuer-General trusted that on reconsideration the Board would see the fairness of paying tbe amount especially as the Department was engaged in making a revaluation of the greater portion of the area under the Board's jurisdiction and would supply fresh rolls at a moderate cost. The Board resolved, on the motion of Mr Hignett, to reply that it saw no reason to depart from the resolution passed at its last meeting and requests a statement how the account is made up and how the shares are arrived at and to whom charged. An offer was received from Okey it Rollo for one of the spare boilers at £6O, including the bricks.—lt wat agreed that the p'ice of the boiler should be -£IOO and £6 for the brtokg.

Leave of absenoe was granted Mr. Newton Kißg, The Chairman mentioned that a question had arisen as to the piles of the new work where it joined the old. The contractors said there was a difficulty in driving piles at that point, and as they were not needed they proposed the Board should inspect the work, ■with a view to authorising the omission of about four piles. The Secretary was instructed to bring the matter to the attention of the Engineer, who was authorised to wire a direction on the matter to the contractors.

A letter was read from Mr. Weston, on behalf of Mr. J. O'Driscoll, asking that lots 25, 9 to 15, Mount Elliot Reserve, be up for lease at once, as his client wishes for one or more lots, he suggested that stipulations should be made enabling a bidder to have the option of adjoining lots at the sarao price, Mr. Weston waited on the Board, and 6aid that his olient must start! building by April Ist,, and, therefore,' it was necessary for the Board to decide on tho application at that

meeting. In reply to Mr. Hignett, Mr. Weston said the purpose for which the site was required by his client was for an hotel.

The Ohairman explained to Mr. Weston that the Board had a resolution on their minutes declining to let any portion of the reserve until the whole of it was cleared. He also pointed out that the price of the land would have to be fixed at such a rate as would compensate the Board for the value (which was considerable) of the stone given to the Kailway Department. The value put on the land would therefore ba high, and therefore Mr. Weston must expect that if the Board entertained his application it would be only on that basis, Mr. Weston thon withdrew.

The Chairman said that it seemed to him that the only inducement to entertain the application was obtaining the full piece of the land as if tho whole reserve was cleared.

Mr. Connott raised the point a* to whether the Board could deal with tho matter without notice of motion to rescind the previous resolution. After going through the bye-law the Chairman said that as there was no clear rule on tho point in their bye-laws bo would tako a vote on the question of rescinding the previous resolution.

Mr. Cliff moved in that direction. On a show of hands, the Chairman declared that there was not a clear majority of members absent and present. Mr, Cliff called for a division, and Messrs. Connott, Hignett, Maxwell (with two absentees—Messrs. King and Ralph) voting with the noes the resolution w.is declared lest.

Tin Chairman explained that as a member he was distinctly in favour of rewinding the resolution, but as ohnirtnan ho felt bound to act with i-v.'ry carp to pres«rv« the resolutions pas^d.

Mr. Ulirt' moved that Messrs <*>•.. nott, tfignott, Olid', and the Olimnnu be a Committee to as -ess the valuo of the sections.

The motion was seconded by Sir. McLsan, and carried.

On the motion of Mr, Cliff it wiu; decided to ho'd a special meeting on Saturday, 26th insfc., at 11 o'clock, to rescind all previous resolutions and deal with the naat'er.

Tho Foreman reported that the pile driving of the contract work had to be stopped on account of sand on the north side until dredging was again started. He estimated the cost ol erecting a shed for boiles at £ll or .£l2. It was decided that the boilers be protected. Mr. Hollo reported that the sand pump had been put in order, and the engine was run under steam, workit.g satisfactorily. ' Tho Chairman reported that Mr. llillo had an engineer at liberty who j was available for working the sand pump. —lt was decided to erap'cy the man.

The' Harbourmaster reported t.. u at the pkn of ffi'-.tidiisg.-i sliowttl a inMease of ssnd owing to tho dtvtlpt i«ki£ J<;U! w Uk ru'mo foi'Uvu jyojlis,

but as it was now in good repair b# hoped in the next five weeks, should the weather keep favourable, to sb«W u Marked improvement in the depth of water throughout the harbour. a» submitted a Bmall plan shewing the> proposed site for now shelter shed?, waiting roomF, and harbourmaster'* * ofDcp, and be suggested that these* rooms should be built bsfora the winter set in, as at present bit staff had no shelter from the stormy weather during the long lours at night they wer* in attendance en the shipping. He also suggested that a new gridiron should he built on a different site, •• that tbe door and binges and bottom of the dredge could be attended to. Mr. Sarten suggested that to* question of the gridiron be held overtill after Mr. Napier Bell's visit, a* to might not be required in the future. It was decided that the werk of er-

ectirg the rooms and sheds suggested by the Harbourmaster be put ia hand by the foreman as soon as possible after | the completion cf th« contract work*. | Messrs D. Berry <fc Oo.'e tender fop [timber (planking and piles) wis ac« Icepted. Mr. Cocnett reported the result tf an interview which Mr. King and himself had with the Minister of Lanc"g re the harbour road. The arrangement arrived at being that the Board oava the metal, the Government promised .£IOO, the County Council to take over the road and keep it in, order.

On the motion of Mr. Oliff, it mi decided that on condition that th» County Council take over the road they be permitted to remoye the requisite small stone from the quarry Ires of royalty. An order was given for suppkea a* per list. A letter from J. Hooker, alluding to the expense incurred in bringing out the illustrated pamphlet relating totho I harbour, and asking fer an order for M» additiosal thousand copies* iraioritm I to lie en the table.