HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 86, 22 March 1902, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

■» i ] The usual monthly meeting of tha Harbour Board was held on Friday., 1 Present: Messrs Connett (chairman), King, Maxwell, McLean, Garten, Cur-, 1 tis, Foreman, and Ward. _ • The harbourmaster was also in, attendaL ce. j Tho f-l'-ciion of Mr Forearm was ro- j ported by the returning ofiu'.or, Mrr Rtnnell. |

Tha Chairman, in welcoming tho j new member, not only congratulated Mr Foreman on liis election, but als>o the district in securing such a com-: petent representative, especially as ho was prominently interested in tho dairying industry, being a director of the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Works Company. Mr Foremau briefly acknowledged the compliment, and expressed his intention of doing his best. A circular w>'S ri«id relative to the testimon al to the Premier, —laid on the table.

Ron. A. J, Cftdman forwarded memorandum rt harbour improvements, and at the same time expressing bis opinion that the Board was the proper authority to do the work (i»l----r&atly published). Mr Samuel forwarded copy of letter from himself to Mr Roy as representing the irou6and syndicate, also submitting fotms of resolutiops necessary to carry out tho proposals.

It was rosolved that the Board sinctiou tha transfer of tho present lease from Mr D. Berry to the Hon. A. J. Cadman.

The B:ard confirmed the resolution passad at the last meeting authorising the surrender of part of the land included in the base to Mr George; also, as to the surrender of the lease to Mr Alexander ; also, as to the surrender of the o'd lease to Mr Berry; and for the grant of a new lease to Mr George. In reply to Mr Ward> Mr King said that Mr Cad man saw no difficulty in the plant b in« on the ground within the time specified. Mr Roy wrote pointing out that his clients should hardly be expected to pay the legal expenses (£lB ss) of clearißg the title, and asking the Board to bear these costs

The Chairman considered that the cos's should ba paid by Mr Roy's clients; hut that if the business went through all right, the Board might grant a refund. Mr King endorsed this view on the groucd that the Beard was deriving no benefit from the transaction. Mr Sartan moved that the costs referied to bj Mr Roy be refunded if the company commenced operations. Mr Pries seconded the motion. After fioaae discussion, Mr Maxwrdl moved that the Board cannot see its way to relievo Mr Alexander from payment- of t.he charges, seeing that he i« dealing with Mr Cadm-in. He did not think it wise for the Board to s*y whar. it would do hereafter, and he considered that the usual course should b3 followed, especially as the Board was deriving no benefit from the transaction, He pointed out that possibly when carrying on th" iroosatid w rks petroleum might be discovered, and Mr Alexander would hive a valuable asset.

Messrs Price and Ward spoke, The amendment was carried, and on its bscoming the substantive motion, Mr King moved that the Board cannot recommend foregoing any of the charges other than £5 in connection with Mr Alexander's lease. He considered that it was decidedly to the Board's interest to get rid of that lease. •- Amendment lost. The original motion was then put, and, on a division, carried.

Messrs Stewart and Penn wrote relative to the a'rival of thi electric lighting plant. The Chairman announced that the installation was expected to be completed in a few days. Ho also mentioned that tha riilway officials raised the question of whether wharfage on lighting plants was to bt collected. - L ft in abeyance. E. Turnbull npplied for the position of electrician. - Not required.

Mr. Marchant wrote relative to shed for electric lighting boilers, and pointing out that a new shed was required ; alse that the wires must be laid underground. With reference to the windmill he suggested that- as Rsid and Gray had suffered considerable loeh the question of settlement of account should bot be pushed to extremities. As to the old mixing bouse hd advised that it should not be dismantled. Repairs to the breakwater might be made with be-ich gravel but the concrete should be mixed in a proportion of not less than 1 to 5.

The Chairman explained the necessity for a new shed for tho lighting I plant, and state that the locality where it was now placed was most suitable. A letter was read from the purchasers of one of the Board's concrete mixers at the prico of £25 and stating | that the one chosen had not been sent, a damaged one being shipped instead. A request was made that the one selected should be forwarded. The Chairman said he had directed iho secretary to write and state that on ! return of the mixer already sent, the one spt'cili.id would bj forwarded. Wallace and Company wrote with reference to piles supplied to the Boa;d through Metsrs. D. B-rry and O.unpiny, and stating that the piles were all first-class timber (blue gum and shotted gum) aud samu as in use at other ports. Sooner than have the piles returned they offered a reduction of (id per foot.—Not accepted. Shanks and Comply wrote offering to sell the Board a hoisting engine.— No action. ,

E. Williams, the wharf foreman, ap plied for au increase of his present £3 a week,

Mr. Maxwell moved that an increase of 10s be granted.—Carried.

Requisitions as applied for by the harbourmaster were smctiorifd. The Chairman reminded the Board that at the last meating he took exception to the way i,< which rfquescs for utores came in. He mentioned tlm

case of a recant requisition for cement, which, alter making ipquiriuH, w,s obtained at a s.ving of £ll 13s 4d. Again coal had ben obtained at a saving of 18s 3d a ton.

This, he considered, showed tha nece'sity of all orders coming brforo

tho Board. Ho did not say that the Board lwd been p-iying more than was right previously, but the saving effected I showed what could be done by carefully keeping watch ovtjr expandituie, and getting lioods direst where possible. The Harbour-m ;nter reported that durins? the month 37 sceamors aud ono sailing vessel had been berthed at the wharf, of an aggregate tonnage cf 31,304 toiiS. Imports wore 2531 tons, aud exports 876. The dreiign had worked for 19 days, removing 1116 yards of sand, and bad been laid up for the past fortnight for (.v.-rlmilinij, repairs,) jand painting. With careful attention j tho hopper might hold out for 18'

months, but he fugg that the Bond iiliould, dariug the ensuing 12 months, call lor tenders for a new hopper and putting iu n«w boilers. He estimated the cost at .£450. The foreman reported on the work dcuo during the moath, mcliding repiiiv; t > tho lireakwater, 1170 tons r,f stj'ie having been shifted over ihs | wali. He st.ited that the diver's dress j was n'-ariy worn out. Also t'jat the , smd pump bad been cleaned and stored. Tha crane had been mended, and rails 'laid, the shelter shed enlarged, ar.d I other woik done. Mr King said that the dress referred to was perished, rotten, and unfit for

use. _ i The Chairman concurred, adding tbat , the dress was not safe for use, _ , Mr Sarten inquired what reliance _ could bo placed on the foreman's sta'ernont ad to ths quantity of btone tipp.d over the breakwatsr, was do.' , weighed. _ i Mr King said the same ques'ion hud struck him. He considered thu weigh- ] bridge should be put in order so tha'. the stone might bo weighed. , 'J be quarry foreman, who was engaged by the Hoard's foreman at 9s a day, on the understanding that b* should reciivo an additional Is per day if he suited, applied for an iocronse. After some diaoussion, in which the request was unfavourably tegarded, it was pointed out that the foreman had committed the Board to ths increase, which was under the ciicumstauc-s agreed to. The Works Committed reported on the arrangements they had made for a shed for the dynamo plant; also tbat i had been decided to sell the dredge pipe as it lay fur 4s per foot, They tecommended tint regulations should be drawn up lelative (o tbe storage of ■ gunpowder. ' Tho Chairman txpliined that thi- ) powder was stored at Mikotahi free of charge, aud the Board's employees | were frequently cilled off their work ! at a moment's notice to open the store, i He considered that this work should be paid for. j The report was adopted and it w»s 3 referred to the cammitte to make a f rerommennation a* to charges, etc. | When the consideration of aecounta came up, e Mr King brought up a matter re-

latingtoa load of timber brought to the whaif by a scow. From inquiriet made he found that the timbor wa* some which hid bean ordered thirteen months ago for the cattle wharf. Th>' harbourmaster had refused to take delivery, as the timber should not he taken ovar without tbe consent of the chairman. Subsequently the timber (some £207 18s worth) was landed, and Mr King asked by whose authority this was done.

Captiin Hood faid that tha scow had come to the harbour, and he reftuml t" take delivery until hfi ob'ain?d further authority, and telephonoi to the secretary. Mr Bennell, jun., had loik-d •-.he mifcr.er up, and found tha,f. timber bad been ordered, and informed Cap tain Hood to this effect. The latter thpreupon concluded the matter was alright, and accepted delivery of the timber, Mr King slid he had given Mr Rennell, junior, to undtrs'nnd that the timber should not be taken over without tho chairman's consent, and he could not understand why, on discovering the order in th« bnoks, which was given some thirteen months ago, he had not consulted him .(Mr King). Finally it was decided to take delivery, and the total accounts, i amounting to £948 16s 9d were passed. It was decided to employ Mr Stewart , to inspect and pass the new electric light plant at the wharf. The Harbour-msster was authorised to maks arrangements for the worki'p of t.he plan'.. Is was decided to rofcify Mr Bern that tho Boatd wished tlw condemned piloa at tho what f removed. The Bjard then proceeded with the discussion of improvements to thharbour.