HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 69, 21 March 1903, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbour- Board was held on Friday morning. Present* Messrs Ojnnett (chairman), Newton Kin?, K Maxwell, McLeir), Poren ■;>■>. HW!". nl Piice, Captain Hosd, harbourma-ter, was also in attend >n r e. The minutes of the last meeting and sjecial meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence was read regard)'■? rh« faking of ?. road to the latd r(e } acquired for workmen's home', a< d >■■ formil resolution drafted by MrO v tt (Qovettsnd who waiie' >i >o> tho Board io respoct th'roto, w s rried.

The Engineer wrote on the question c f the boriDg operations in the barbour, A plan showing the boring operations wa? hid on the table and examined by s'-yt! members, providing considerable conyersationaldiseussion. The harbourmafter explained the operations. The Marine Board, Hobirt, sent a report on their harbour rffires, giving some valuable information regarding their experience with piles. They favoured stringy bark and blue gum. From the information supplied, the pr'ces paid by tho New Plymouth Board appeared fair and reasonable.

A similar letter was received from the Melbourne Harbour Trus*, and, on the motion of Mr King, the thanks of the Board was given to writers for the valuable information supplied. Mr Maxwell onsidered if the pile' were properly sheathed there was nothing better than ironbark, but, strange to say, it was most susceptible to the toredo.

In reply to Mr Price, the Chairman and te f ara piles would not s'and the strain.

On the motion of the Chairman, the Bard adjourned to hold the atmud meeting.

Thn annual meeting was then held. Mr King, the treasurer, laid the balance-rheet on the table.

Af'ir some discussion the report and balance sheet were adopted.

The Elthara Farmers' Union wrote regarding the re-adjustment of representation.

The chairman said the Board bad done its best at the time to divide the district fairly, but bith population and valuation was altering every year. It was for the Board to say if it would make a readjustment. Mr McLeon thought a readjustment was desirable. Tnera had re>)n an enormous increase in 'valuation at his end of the district.

Mr Maxwell said the Boird had tri.d t« split the difference between valuation and ares, when tha dis'ric's were fo med, there were large arem with very little population, or value, as, compared with the older sottled diatrictp, but all this had changed, and he thought if it was the intention of the Boar! to make any alteration, the present was a good time to do so. Mr King thought this was a matter that required a good deal of consideration, and they should be careful no' to aet hastily, Th«-y must not be'oo ready to m\kn changes in the boundaries of tha distiic'g. Ho suggested postp-ning the question for further consideration, Mr Foreman did not c-nsidpr the present the be*t time to deil with the matter,

After some further remarks it wa«i resolved U rr ply that the Beard could give the matter consideration.

Corrpspondence wss read regarding the establishment and roit of foghorns. Mr King proposed thaS aftfr reading the correspondence, no steps be tiken to proceed with the erection of a foghorn at present. *'r Fireman seconded.

Mr Maxwell referred to the in qnir'es he had made regarding the [matter, and thought the Board should corsidar the question. The chairman said he had apposed thin befor-p, and they must be careful. They been told the electric light would only cvfc 10s a week, but it hid cost nearly £6OO, and if they went on in this way, they would have no money for anything. The motion was put and carried on a division by 5 to 2.

The Engineer of Railways wrote calling attention to the need of the tenewil of certain piles on the wharf, owing to their being bidly eaten by th« wo'in.

The decided to inquire, and take action.

The proprietor of th" Trocadero wits allowed to put down a temporary drain. Tin Board adjourned for lunch, On re»uming it was decided to obtain an automatic tide gunge. The harbourmaster reported th"»t during the month 40 steimp's were berthed of an aggregate of 31,468 tons. Imports were 3424 and exports 890 tons, total 3314 tons. The dredge had made 301 trip,«, removing 18,240 cubic yards of sand and improving the depth of water at the outer end of the wharf.

The Foreman reported that six pilf-s had been partially repaired; that the borings were finished ; and that certain npai's had been effected. The vVo'ks Committee reported having granted the diver leave of absence.— Confirmed,

The Chairman reported that since the b Jance-sheet was issued the overdraft had been reduced by .£l3O to £UO, and that everytbingat thewharf wes in good order. Thft Works Committee furbh?r reported that an old b-?at re sold, and a new small boat, required for u»e on the dredge, be procured ; also that the old boilers from the ■ dredge be valued with a view to sale, Adopted. On the motion of Mr McLean, it was decided to procure samples of piles of different sorts of wood, and drive same at the wharf, keeping a record of the effect on e3ch by the borer, (be kinds of wetod to be jarrah, stringy bark, blue gum, red gum, and iro» btrk from ths Clarence river. On Mr King motion Mr Wallace's tender for supply of timber be accepted In to Mr Price, the actingsecretary stated that the local newspapers had the s»me opportunity of tendering for printing the annual re port as the person who had printed it. Mr Foreman said that with regard tn hie motion relative to fishing at the wharf, he had reconsidered the ma'.t<r, and now thought it would i-e a hardship to stop fishing altogether. He roovi-d that fishing from tbe wharf b forbidden at all times when staauie'R were delivering cargn or pass-ngers, Mr Maxwell advocated prohibiting fishing at all whila vessels were at th» wharf. Mr King slid tha? it was absolutely absurd just b?ciuse a man had a loo=e sinker, as had been the case, that th=> poor boys >rho had practically no other quiet amusement should b.} debarred from fishing. It would be just as logical to siy thit because a gun accidentally went oft and injured someone,' ehooting should be stopped, He

strongly protested against stopping ft-hiug at the wlrerf. Mr McLean contended that the Hatbourmaster had sufficient power to regulate fishing at the wharf. The Oaairman took the same view as the 1- st speaker. I Mr Foreman was not in favour of Stopping boys fishing, but he underjstoid the Hurbonrmaator wished action to be taken in the interest of public jsafety. i After conferring with Mr Maxwell Mr ForemaD, by leave of the Board, j vibhdrew his motion.

Accounts were passed as follows: Oid»a>y J416 6s lid, trust £3O 5s B.i, Ooupans £4767 7s 4d. , ...j lioard rose.