HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 198, 23 June 1903, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

iXn Harbour Bard met on Friday, Jane 19th. Present: Mesars J. B. Gannett (churmin), N. King, G. Mactw, B. Pace, B. Dingl?, J. W. Forenan, B. Maxwell, and J. Ward. Mr F. W. Marchant, 0.K., waa also in ath tendance. ■, M«sis Campbell, Ehran fried and *■ Go. notified the return of the diving "•" gear hired fiom the Board, and apsloi * j£*gjsed for the delay. A discussion took place upon a letter frcm tbe Qanaral Manager of Railways with respect to the removal of > gravel from the beach, protesting ■gainst gravel being token for tie silt water baths. The Board recognised tbe jmtica of the Department's protest against the removal of stone which might imperil the rtilway. The supply of 650 yards of shingle to the Department was confirmed. Mr Tanner, late diver to the Board, I wrpts protesting against his dismissal. Messts Weston and Weston also wrote rC on behalf of Tanner, asking that he should be reinstated or his notice extended. A farther letter was read from Tanner asking for a testimonial. Tbe Chairman made a short explanation and it was decidtd that no further action be taken. It wts dtcided to offer 0. G. Warwick the position of diver at 10j per day, and 10s extra whej engaged in diving; to do such work as he is directed, wHsn not diving. Messrs Gove'.t and Quilliam wrote suggesting that the Board s'aould impower the chairman to give consents to mortgages on bihalf of tbe Beard. A resolution to that effect was passed. j The Auckland Harbiur Board wrote j inviting tbe co-operation of tbe Board { in obtaining an Act of Parliament; authorising the payment of an honora>iom to the chairman of Harbour Boards.—On the motion of the Chairman the Beard sffirmed a fo:m?r resolution dec'ining to co-oparate. An amendment by Mr Price, seconded by r Mr Ward, agreeing to ce-cperate was rijecfed on the casting vo e of the Oaatrman. Messrs Diogle, Price, Ward . and Foreman voted in favour of the uneedmen*. A claim from the Borough Engineer for £3l Is 4d for removal of earth frcm Ariki-s'-reet to enable tha priptiator of the Trocadero to erect a verandah, led to a discussion on the question of the Board's responsibility ' in the matter. Tbe opinion of Mr Samuel was read. The Chaiim n moved, that the Council ba referred to a formsr resolution of tbe Board asking the Council to state what proportion of the cost they desired the Board to pay.—Carried.

The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce wrote enclosing resolution „, pissed 'y the Chamber urging the need cf extension of the harbour.— Beceived. Me&ra Kyngdon and Oo wrote asking perov'ssiou to make a shingle depot at the breakwater.—The application waa refused. Tbe whole question was referred to the. Works Committee. Applications ware ma ie by the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company and the Government Insuranoa Depirtm'nt Jor the Board's risk.—lt was atated that it waa costing the Board £52 a year for insurance. Mr Price moved that the Board renew the existing policy. Mr Foreman seconded. McLean moved an anrndment That the Board take its own risk. Mr Maxwell seconded. Tbe amendment was defeated on the easting vote of the chairman, and the original motion was carritd. Tfee Board adjourned, On resuming at 1.30 p.m. the Board went into commit: ee to eoasider an application for a lease of the foreshore from the Waiwakaiho to the Waitara Biver. Consideration was deferred _ until the next meeting of the Board, in order that tbe Hon. A. J. Oadman might 'have an opportunity of being present it being thought that tbe B»rd should not do anything to prejudice tbe efforts he has made at great expense to establish the iron indus-iy. The Harbourmaster reported that doting tbe five weeks ended June 17th 47 stearaits and one sailing vessel were berthed at the wharf, tbe aggregate grow tonnsga being 39,533 tone. Imports amounted to 5001 tonp, including 555 tor.s of priva'e coal, 940 tons of railway coal, and 8925 railway sleepers. Exports wore 809 tons, making 5811 tons of cxrgo handled. The dredge worked 22 day, making 298 trips, and removing 17,880 cubic yards (26,820 tors) of pand. A survey made on June 15th thawed a marked improvement in the depth of water throughout the area, although thera had been several heavy 'accumulations of sand during the last few months. The Foreman reported on work done daring the list month. At the wharf \ two piles have been prepared for driving and two driven. Two new walings and one chafing piece have been put in. The boat his been thoroughly repaired and p inted. Sxteen loads of stone have been put over the breakwater, end about four loads picked up from the inside and put on the outside, and two email breaks have b>on repaired. Tbe roid fence through the reserve has been completed. A slight break on the dredge has been r paired. Beventcen lengths of sand pipe h d been tiken down for the Borough Council nrd other minor matters attended to. Tbe diva's gear had been returned in good order, but a length of hose had be?n kept back and inferior eent in its place. Mr F. W, Marchant, 0.K., reported ' that he bad inspected the works and found evtrjthiDg in a generally satisfactory condition. Th 9 working of the dredge since the new boilers were set he described *s pirticu'srly satisfactory. He made fcuggesiotis with regard to tbe mode of extension if p ison labour i-i employed, to avoid tbe delay

wbiih was experienced when prisoners! were formerly emp'oyed oa the woiks. Io answer to the Chairman, Mr Marchant said he could cot r« collect the exact reiscns given why prison labour coald rot quarry Urge s'onf p, bat he was quite clear that with prison labour the largest stone was under five tons, while with free labour they got them up to 15 tons out of tha game quarry. ro j^ r With regard to tha respsctive cost of prison atd free libour, the Chairman said that the costtf hying trarawa)was charg'd to the work d.no by priron | lttbcur, while wfceu fnso hbjur vai;{ employed thia was charged to a s.-ep-;r..te accsnnt. The accounts woro m t kep', BO that tte relative cost conlj tot 'or accurately gauged. Mr Ward endorsed the Ch.irimn's lemaiks. Mr Fore mm thought prison lab:ur * abou'd quarry H*on« and place ir. oa truikF, the rts 1 ; b.ir>g done- by fiee Mr l>iu 6 W nibiied to htar about tug'

wharf, which he heird was not. in a satisfactory state. Sir Vu-chant said the structure was in a fairly good condition, and was beirg maintained as well as possible by replacing decaying piles. Tha wharf was, however, too snail, and the trade was car.iei on under disadvantage, while its was slow and expensive work to repair it while vessel.-) were there. Mr Diogle asked about the dredge, Mr Marchant said she was a parfect'y wonderful little vessel, but far tc3 small, and difficulty was experienced with dredging tilt. Tbe Board was going on, as it wer.-, from hand to inou'b, with no reserve power, In reply to further questions, Mr Marchant said the wharf was too small for the existing trade. He knew no wharf on which so much trade was done in proportion to size and cost. The sind pump should not be sold, as i would com) in for a more powerful dredge. Mr Dingle a'kd what an extension of tbe wharf would cos 1- . Mr Marchant said unless the breakwater was extended, any extension would hive to be in the direction of the cattle yards, and the berths dredged, but the Board had not sufficient dredging power. Accounts were passed, and the Bnrd then proceeded to consider the report of tbe Special Committee on harbour extension.