HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 188, 22 August 1903, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The m mtlily meeting of the Bmi.l j i whs hili oq Friiay. Present: Messrs! Cminstt King, M.Lean, 1 Diogh-, Pi ice, Ward, Porsmm and Mixw;'l. ! Tho minutes were read ard confirmed af'or a 1 -nf? discussion on & complaint by M> McLoin that the chairman hid i Seeded his duty in cot calling th, sommitteo in boundaries together. I The Chairman explained that i I view of the Bill which was to ba infro duced making all members eleetivejand no ebction pending,ha had not thought it wis ito do so. The matter dropped without any resolution bf.ing ciriied. It w s understood, bovtvrr, that ihcommittee would meet befo.o mx me i'inj» of the Board. A let'er was- read from the MaunD?p«tment notifying the appoin'mett if Mr R. W. Hornby as a m im'oer of the Board. Mr Hornby wired that he was unableto actacd the meeting, and apologising for his absence. Messrs Slunk? and S.rns, Limbed, wro'e re new cylinders for locomo ives, and disclaiming all r, sp msioili'.y foche mis'ak», nlio stating shit Krgor cylinders would be sent at rt.duca' rates. Messrs Govetc and Q lilliam, solicitors to the Bjard, forwarded a copy of the propos d Loan Bill, and stating 'ha 1 ; tha Committee's rep >rfc had bof n fo'low-d as clos?ly as possible, and that Mr 0. Samuel, who hid had vary 1 irge expsrience on such mattora, had deVoted a great deal of time to the question in preparing the Bill in its presint form. They pointed out tbafi it was better to nim9 a maximum r-ite of spr c nt, per annum interest, a< although it was £ cent, above 1h > Ocmmittee's es irnate of about 4| pr cut., it was a f iir maximum toi upose as a limit to thi discretion of the Boa'd, and it was as well to prescribe sorni limit,—The letter was recaived. The Commissioner of Grown Lands wiota ?'« Ngimo'.u-road, objecting to tho Board's charge of £36 19s 4d, and ■fating that he wis prepared to resom- , msndasum of .£2O which, inhisopinion, was sufficient for a gool fence in terms ' of the Fencing Ant, without iron post-',

The Chairman said he had had an interview with the Commissioner and the above letter was the outcome. It was rGsolved that tha £2O be accepted. Tha Chief Engineer of Railways wrote statins? that the D-partment was prepared to favourably consider returning an equal quantity of stone from Mount Egmont; for stone now taker from the Board's quarrits.

The Chairman said the Department had also promised that large stones be banded over to the Board for harbour works.

A. later wus also res lvei from thej( Bo ough Engineer ith'-ivu to tae sito ( of th j s p'ic t:l K. I Mr Mvon-i waited upon Boa»d upon boha'.r of tho ctrier Russell, who i was r-cwly fined in'(he B.M. Oour'Ji for removing giavel frrm the beach. After discu-s : on Mr King p r oposid, and Mr Dirglo a conded that Mr Maloie bo head. Mr Mulor.e then read his statement in 'he form cf a loiter to ths Board, let.iiling what had frsken place at the S.M. Court. He suomited that o.i i the fresh evidence i 5 was clear that fc*. | Kii=b 11 wss not on tha beach on ths day in queiticn, and he urgsd that the Board snould not enforce the p r.aUy. Tho Chairman ptated th it only quite recently he personally t ad seen Rus-sell lending up gruvol bilow high wat .■ ra rk, and when to'd by M> Q xil 1 ? m than the Chairman had »en him, Rus •el said he supposed ha had be'tir pay ip. Mr Maloce, theo retired, and the Boxrd want into Commit'ea to discuss the raa'ter, 0;i resuming, Mr Ward moved »ha' the Board take no action in the matter. —Oarred. Roy and Wilsbn wrote on behalf <f the owner of the Kotabi, 'h inking tho HarboU' mi'ttr and fontman for assistince given nhen th" Kotxi i broke away from her m oiicgs. Messrs Weston and Weston wrote eDclomg a compliint from Mr Warwick, the divir, as to his treatment by the foremm ia ordering him off the woiks. A letter from Mr /Warwick wss read p'O'ea ing against the foreman's 'riatmont in r,ot permitting him to have the services of his own att nciunt (Mr Jtme ), and pointing out the ticces ity of a diver having complete control of his goar and its working. The foremm was present and expViin .d th it when the fishing boat i>r ike a-yay, he got all his men to help, and a ked Warwick also to assist, but ihe refused, whsreupon h.-> (.he foreman) i toll the diverto knock off.

Mr Price moved, That s'one to the amount of 2000 yards bo granted to the Government on condition that it he retnrned from Mount Egmont within two years, all large stone ovor five tons to be I fo for the use of the Board. Mr King seconded, and the motion was carried, Mr Marcbfint, the Board's Engineer, wrote a6k : ioc information re wharf siding for cev shed, in view of new sidings t;i be pu. in, which the Department had approved of; also regarding the proposed g oin and slip for dredge, A plan in detail was also submitted. The Chairman said the proposal entailed a greator expenditure than the CDmmittes could seo ics way to intu'. Mr King explained thaH his idea, was to eiect thd shed at th<- V. The Engineer wrote t'u ther on the, qu'Stionj aud the Chairman t-u/gastcd leaving the matter ovar ta next mso"ing, This coursa was adopted.

The Chairman then mov;d the r so lutio i of which n'Vioe had been give>', striking a rate of 11 iu the £, whicli was seconded by Mr King and cmied.

The Chairman and Mr Ward were appointed to sign the Bite Book.

A letter was raid from Grant and Company re supply of ropa and oft-r----ing to send t-ample.—A simple to be procured for trial. The Wellington Harbour Boird wrote suggesting tin formation of a

Harbour Botrd Association on tha same lines as the Municipal Assocution.

The Chairman said that there was ~ne question which wanted attention, and that was the free use of the wharf by the Government. It would probably mean £6OO a year to fc> e Board if they p;id as other p op'e did. H>i understood the Government sived 9 i a ton by landing goods here as compared with Wanginui.

On the mo ion of Mr Maxwtdl it was resolved that in the opinion of tha Roard it is desirable to form a Harbour Boards' Association. Moore and Sons wro'e as to the cost < f piles, ard advising th i Board on 'he <osfc of the diff rent class of timber supplied by thiim.

After an informal discussion to action was taken. Messrs J. T. Rowe and others wrote asking that the foretime betwoen the Wa'wiikaiiio and Waitara be put to public competition. Mr F. Sa'way a'so wrote asking for a lease of the sandhills neir B ill Block for a riumbar of years at a fin ill rent il on account cf the large qumticy of furzo.

After soma discussion it was thought desirable that the whole Board should m ike an inspection of tha landed property tf the Board, and it was d x-i kd to hold the matter orer, a sptci 1 meeting of the Board to ba hell in th* meantime to visit the reserves.

Tee Board adjourned for lunch. On resumitg the H.rbourmast r reported that 47 steamers end one s ailing veesol had b..on berthed at thfl wliavf dmi g the mon'li, the aggregate touvi'go am am'" ing to 39,211 fo>: a . Imporru 4359 tout 5 , incluJirg 935 tens railway coal and 034 tors jiiivi.te coalf22oo v dlway ►loepers. Export-; 78(5 on?, 103 cat'lo 106 sheep, making il •ot'il of 5,145 tons. l't:o drudge hvl worked fur wo*- kg using lie gr iii wliil.»the suction pipe *•«« and r rupar, and it had simiv d 2,4(50 cu'ii;: yard* of saii' ! , the deph of w -.t r i>.t ho bert! s being vory much impr-vo-i. The II irbounna-.tor fur.h.u' »eporti"il re th' i-ccideiits <o tin I\k.:pu,a anl thp fi-hisij; sm-'ck Kot Li. Th.< ropurfc ad.'p fcd.

Tha Fjivixiari ivpoctud that in giving assistance ta the K -tahi th« dingy had besn considerably tma-he;i up, d imago to tha extant of £G being caiifed.

Mr D'nglo considered that the diver was m'itlad to the services of the assistant h > had ofifideuoe in.

The Pjreman Slid 'hit the diver's as-ia'ant, was not an employee of th • Bo rd, »1 hough he w-s on the dredge is nibs'it ute for another man. In reply to Mr Dingle the foreman slid ha told Warwick 'hat he could cot bavo James' hf lp. Hi did not kaow whu-e Jim 8 ws, but found i-fcerwards be was on the dredge. The Ohairm >n considered that it was expensive to have a diver and nohave him go down on fine days. The forennn coosiderad thit a p rmanent. diver was not necessary and it would be batter to tngago a man when required. Mr Foreman drow attention to the frequent complaints by employees against the f retain and he was not sire that Williams was frea from bkm?. It was time the friction was endel.

The Chairman considered the foremen should not h >ve taken on him6elF to dismiss such an important emp'oyeo as the diver. Tha Chairman and Works Comuiittee shjuld have baeu con'uled. Mr McLean considered thq foreman and harhourmas'ir, so long as th>-y were employe! by the B>»rd, should have pwer to dif'mi-<8 employees, and that if on nq iiiy th se offices wrrj fonml in the Wiong they should be dism'ssed. Mr Diog'e moved, that the div r'n service bo dispensed with. At the sime time h j ;« considered that in thn 'V n r , of'mti-er troub'e b<tween t,he forema i end rhe employees, the Bmrd muht ivo to take action unfavourable to the foreman. Mt- W*rd seconded theraotiio.

Mr M >x va I support -d the ma'iin as a mitter of princip'o of uphoMirg su'ho ity. He was no\ however, nr all sitisfie] with the position of nft'iirs, and urged that the Bourd fhould either do without a diver or appoint an outside man. The motion was cirried, and the 'question of obtaining anotherdiver was I'ibfrirrod till next me>ting, Messrs Wil-on and Gri<y wo v e re allomeiits 12 aod 24, SI u Flio". R* xrve. Th * B laro's solicitors wrote re 'he simp, seating th it they could ni>> «dvis) the Boird to issus b pirate lewes f>r e:c' - i allo'ment, Buggering u surrender of the present le sf s >-nd new 1 'ise* being grtinted for k=cS seition, wi h leave to tra* sfer tl e 1 : ;<se of scion 24 on c seditions set ou h .— Adoped. The Hirbourmastflr reported on the gr.vi'iding of the at 'he br«ak '-.tar and her flowing eft". He alsorcpor'od the accident to the Kotihi Oapt iin Ilooa verbally explained whi' hi> had d jne. j F. Tanner wrote asking for per miss'oM t> exhibit his tub ve-<wl rn 'he' HirWoui' Biud'a ve.—Granted. A c Hi'-ts wovj pi'sod. Mr Maxwell, pursinnt to no'icp, move.l, Tha* the n ov s'ons of the pi'o posed Bi'l for further borrowirg be submitted to, and corsidorfd by th a Boud before any lur'hir st'p3 arp 'ak j vi in ih s matter, He was as'oiished tnfi.d that ins'ead of the Bi 1 beinv pubmittorl to th > Bind it was laid straight an °.y bef r > the ITou«, and h ■ considered tho Bill should ha withdrawn and tL«e matter commenced de novo. Tie Board had no- had an opportuni'y o? considering the ptars. The Chan-man s.«id thi plans', e'c., had been d.-psited a"i all"*the Post Offices iu the h <rbour di-trict. Mr Maxwell con'ended it was not a matter <f<iepoitof pla*'9 but nf proceedings, As, lio - ever, further uc i»n had b: en taken ;-inc r i lie cave his rotite

drawn t <er« w s i;o use in proc ediug

wi'h l.irt motion. Mr Foreman tv-cou'ed the mo'ion. On r t'insion the motion was on 'he caa'ii-f.; vo'u of the chairman,

Messrs 'lcLxin, F ••eTsn, Dingle au<* Mavwo'l v t'ng >vith tho ay»B. ivl • Maxwell 'hen moved, "That tho Chairman, Mr J. B. O iniiet , ' ) bo ivqnto tho po-ition 011 *h< B-.iard, sriin;.- n>« has exce-d «1 hi-* duy ■iii-i (.light ~1 'he Bo>rd in taking tie uir.v ■< rmiahl t li'-erly • f laving a Bi 1, piMviill 'k; f ol . fm-'h r bo'ro»»!iu' pawei'o Bo>H, dr.-.f eil, pi- s nttd »o thJlr.uand re id with ut. fi tsulimi' '•< g the Bill, ou i h'i provi>inrg of die name to tS-e Burd. Th.ttha :evolution p'sa-*d at tho last raoA'in? of >h .Bj .nl, v'z ; " Chs.t th-< s'pps hj tuk'iii by i.!'6vß i ti'il 'o lmv < a B II b ought beforn t-ho Han o of Kep™ fonti tivps, etc.," only indina'ed t>o C' tioi' l in'ou'ion of th« Bo rd, a nl d'-.es n;it ii any wsy fuioii-iri<e tho Oh utriaii io hive a Bill draft d in 11 mamiHi' to Riii" his par'ieuhr fancv, nr-d to h ivo TTi uki n.i'il r .id 'u h m 1; tho Buti' h :ving r.n • pp.a'tuoity if reviewing

Ii was recolvad that M->" Williamson be asked to pay ilia am .uiS. The question < f r moval of gravel from tho besch was discussed, and, on tho motion of Mr Price, it was re solvi d to invito tenders for supply i.f igiavel fforn 'IIO beach to tho new 'y<nd» for a po'io* of nix mrm-bs. Tlvo P","o;Vi..i C .unn/u*o'j lopn'tc.! Ito the iff ok iu cjiibideraa )'.) 0? oaVaiu 1-go.l diffieultie, tho luasoa bo uilowtd to run out,—Adoptud,

t.h c ov'sio s ivl p p"! of uich B I! IJ ptvi-!ly m !;> Sli'l »n <*iut «-d, cc ••.tilt-. a pr v'ne n fo- h rrowiojj at ;:-t oi i r . ::Oit Up to fi p t C.)".'-., Uiaok'i- wliica never Iwd tho sanction

or co aider i ion i.f the Board.' He co: si«l re i tlri Charm in in exc-eJiog his duty l ad c mmit ed gross erroii, , If 'he Bill was si the member* i o-aid h iv.i been ask-.'d to meet on the ov>?ni jz cf the last meotiig. . Mr King: Whit! dr.fti aB II in* , roupi Jof uOu:s? Tho id -a is absurd, Mr Maxwe'l contended 'hat the Bard shou'd be tho operative body

a d not (he chiirmm, He considered h,t tho chairmin'd action would do more to s veil the opposition to the Bill 'lmnacytl.irg -Isp. The Chairman: Then it won't be uecessary for you to go round the country again. Mr M txwfll: No. It *m evident In clniimin thought be was riding tli" h ; gh horsi and relying on hie hi jority. Mr MfL an seconded the motion with regr. t, but in the hope the Oha'r<m would B.iti 'hi (-rior of his ways and apologise. (Laugt t*r.) It was a in st ixiraoidinary situition and the • haTmau's action wjb cot only

irregular, but unconstitutional and a gait, at all precedent in publio bodies.. Ihe Oh iirman reminded the Board Intlhe matter was under considers* ■i n of 'ha members for at least a m n' h b f>re the resolution was passed. It wis opon to the B ,; aid at tba* time i.j uppoiut a committer to carry cut the resolution, but they did not, and ths lesponsibility restid with him. He laid the resolution beforo the Board's solicitors, who on the Board's behalf pf.caedtd to carry it out and engaged Mr Samuel's assistance in drafting the Bi 1. In reply to Mr McLean there w s r,o intention or effort to throw a hurd- n of £160,000 on the ratepayers, f r all th t was done was to give the electors the opportunity of stying whether or not they approved of the proposed extecsion. Alt that hid been dono was awnrdmg to the advice of the Board's solicitors. He was surprised that Mr Maxwell ehould complain of his (tl.e speikerV) ac'ioa considering ih* gross mis-statements Mr Maxwell bad made while going round the coun-

try. . Mr Maxwell pro'ested against the ehiirmtn's statement,

Tne Chairman: Then I ciU on you to prove your stotcmen's and I Btn r-ady to stike XSOO that you cuj't do so. Mr Price considcrod the chairman < ".ction had b3i>n p rfec'ly regular and he oondemned Mr Maxwell's aotien over the matter. Mr Foremm moved as an amendmint, tint this Board expresses extreme regret that the chairman has not carried out the instructions given at the last Board meeting, namely, that the provisions of tbe Empowering BUI now before Parliament should be draf'ed strictly in accordance with th 6 recommendations of the Special Committee's report of 19ib June. Mr Maxwell said he was prepired to accept the amendment aa be did not wish toffo to 6Xtremi3. Mr Foreman criticised the ofausM of the Biil, and contended that the reccmm mdations cf the committee bad not in their ontirety been incirporated in tha Bill," No doubt this might be Hu ito log 1! ad vie and probably other a ivi< e, bat lie that if a departure from the recommendations wa« necf ssiry the Board should have been consulted, There were persistent rumours that portions of the district were to be omitted from the operation of the Bill. He did not know who was responsible for this rumour, but ic wi s alleged to como from those who were to know all ab:ut it. The Oh.iirmm pointed oat that it was a master of course fur the old loan to be pud eff, and t,n it.it was distinctly laid down in the Hill '-hat the burden was not to exceed tiat allowed at preset, He contended that "about 4J

per o»nt. I* would include £5, Mr Uii'glo t.upported the amendment, oonsidering that the Brard, of which he was a member, should have bean consulted, instead of this then wm a Bill before the Hou6p, about the provisions of which he knew nothing. In r>'p)y to Mr the Chairman slated that the Bill was no', drafted before tin resolution whs paaed, and hat i;e had consulted Mr King on the untter. Mr Dng-.i pr itemed ugaust being ignored, an! for tlat leaou would rote for tho mn;n'mailt. Mr King admit'ed that perhups ha was mow to bl ra) thin the Uhiirtmn. He originate! the notion tint had been akei', and expUinrd that it wag in order to g-t th« Bill b fore Pirl ament in the «»«ly d*y j of the session, so tb«t ltuhould not b.) killed through pres ure of other matters. Tney had been s raightforw.rd in what hid been done, and had not gone about making (uis-8i ttem»n'B like certain gentlemen —esp-cially M'' Max •wi 11. Ha court n led tint about surely inoluded 5 per ce it., bs tin n solution did not state " i ot ex *e d " Mr M,x-vell withdraw his mo'ion in fav ur of tho amendment. Mr McL> is cjDhitV. rid it was very kind of Mr King to tike the blame < ff the Chairm-ui'd i-h'. ul lerp, but th»t did ~06 re)it-va him ot responsibility. Mr Ward e.)i:sidereJ the charge of ru-hmg : ho Bi 1 through cime with illgrate from those who were doirg all in ih ie power to block the harbour ftLd the Bill. Mv King m wed that the Chairman's ac ioa in giving instructions to the solicitors to prco el with the Bill be approve?. Mr VVt:id (fCoti<lel the amendmnt. The B'aid divided, and theamondinont was csriiei on the casting vjte—MiSirs 'McLean, Dingle Foreman, and M; swell voting wi'h the Noes. of mo ion, u It.'s tho 811 was with-J Ti.o Bo>rd rose.