HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 43, 18 February 1903, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

ANNUjL MEEIING. The annual statutory meeting of the Board was held on Tuesday. Present: Mofbra Con not (chairman), Newton King, McLean, Ward, Price, Maxwell, at;d Dingle. The Secretary read the Returning Officer's report of the latu election of members to tho Board. Mr Dingle was welcomed by the Chairman, and congratulated on his election. Tho Chairman then vacated his seat, and fho Secretary called for nominations for the office of Chairman. Mr Coonett being the only member nominated, was declared d <ly elected Chairman for the year ensuing. On taking his seat ha thanked the members for the honour they had conferred oa him in re-e'ecting him their Chairman. Mr Newton King was electad Treasurer, aud the la'e Works Committer were re-appointßii, ORDINARY BUSINESS. The Engineer, Mr Marchant, wrote as to the method of carrying out the boriogs in tbo harbour. Oq the motion of Mr King, seconded by Mr McLean, it was decided to put down six more bores in order to thoroughly test the bat torn of the harbour, Captain Hood to point out the position, Tho Paymaster-General notified that the land reverue for the Deoember quart-r was £874 lis 7d. An application by the Union Steamship Company for two m n hs ex'eos:on of time for erecting their building in Brougham-stroot was acceded to. Tho Solicitor, Mr Samuel, wrote informing the Board that tha Break-water-road had boen gazetted a Oouoty road, atid would, in future, ba maintained by the County Council. Tho Railway Department's store manager wroti stating that the Dapartment, could not supply any points or crossings. A letter wis reid from Steuarfc and Fenn re ligh'ing wharf. Mr Cennett 83id tho lights w<;re no'-v peifectly .satisfactory an I they should leave well alone.—Letter ordered to lay on the table.

Charles Lsach, chairman of the Inglewocd Farmers UnioD, wrote forwarding a copy of resolution re improvement of barbour. Tho Carrington Road branch also wrote on the sime subject.—To b-j ackno»le3ged. The Secretary of tho Marine Department wrote re new csda signals which had been gazetted.

J. Russtll wrote asking fGr stone. The Chairman said there was no doub". but that a considerable qu mtity of stone would be requited in the course of tim- 1 ,

Mr Maxwell said that while he could cot see that extension was probable, but at tha bame time if anything W'S done all the stona would be required atid the Board had to consider if it was wise to turn the Board's quarries into public quarries. He was opposed to doing so. He movod that the request could not be attended to.

Mr Newton King seconded. Carlied.

Oaptaia Hoed, harbourmaster, wrofc 1 advising the erection of a fog horn on tho wharf.

The Chairman said the Works Committee had the application before it yesterday and had no recommendation to make. Bethought the expenditure should be kopS down in every way, ! The recent foggy weather had been exceptional.

Mr Max sell stid he knew veiy little about fog home, but he thought the Board should be vtry careful about neglecting any recommendation of the harbourmaster. No doubt but that they had got oa in tha past, but the trade of the part was increasing whic v i t.iey were all glad to see and they must, do all in thfir power to mak) provision against accident as far a* they could. He moved that enquiries be made into the whole question of carrying out ths harbourmasters recommendation. Oaly the other day a vessel was off the coast in a decse fog and she was evidently trying to pick up her position. Soeondsd by Mr King, who said it would b.s as well to get all tha information they could.

Tho Harbour Master said only the other day Captain Norbury had been unable to pick up his position except by whistlo cf oce of tho railway locomotive, atid Captain Robsr son had siid had there boon something of the sir', i.e «ould have busnonaoled 'o getin home before he did. "('he motion was carried. The Harbour Master reportsd that during tha past fivo weeks, 45 steamers svere berthed at the wharf, of an aggregate of 39,907 tons. Imports amounted to 3543 ton', and exports to 1451 tons, a total of 4994 tons, including 450 cittle. Oa the 6th and n heavy fog had delayed the Rotoiti by 20 houis, and the Ngapuhi slightly. The dredge had worked 22 days, miking 281 trips, and removing 17040 cubic yards of sand. It had also been employed on boring operations. He submit: ed a plan showing each bora. The Fort man reported on work done. The diver had examined the i below water, aud found them bad, 14 or more requiring to be replaced, , and oae being very bad. It was aljinojt impossible, undsi- ciri cums'ance3 to keep the wharf in re- | piir unless the work was done on Sun- , day's. Four planks were damaged by a railway accident on the 12th, but ha uudeiMtoid the Department would re pair them. He suggested the dredge should ba painted before the rust got t.o great a h >ld. He did not think that from the boring work done it had be.n proved whether the harbour was or was not dredgeable, and ho suggested ] 0 or 12 more bores being made. The coii of boring up to date amounted to £4O. Mr Newton King suggested seodin» down the details as to borirg to the Engineer. Seconded by Mr Maxwell and carried, Several reports of meetings of the Works Committee were read.

The reports were adoptei. The S cretary read a list of articles in stock ntid things required, Oa the ino'ijn of the Chairman, the repori was adopted. Mr Maxwell thought is would be as well to wri'e lo other Boiris to get • information regardi; g the best courso Ito pursne in regard to pile.--. He moved ihat thii harbour authorities in Australia ho writtsu to for information as to th 3 best kind of piles to use. Socondtd by Air Price and carried. Mr Ward thought the wharf must I be kept g'.:od at any cast. The qu sticn of getting tho new pile-; required was, on the motion of Mr Dingle, seconded by Mr Foreman, kfi in the hands of ( the Works Committee. Accounts were passed for payment and the Board adjourned until 2 o'clock' On resuming, it was decided ~o hold tho Board's meutings on tho third Friday in each month, at 11.15 a.m.