Harbour Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 13, 16 January 1904, Page 4

Harbour Board.

The Harbour Boaivl met on Friday. Present : Messrs Connett (chairman) ilcLean. Price, Ward, Hornby, foreman and -Maxwell. HEPAIUS TO UESIDEN'CE. Jlr 11. 11. lUclJti, elestrician at the harbour, asked that a fence lie ereited at tl.e back of his residence, aiwl for some repairs to windows of I lie house. REFRESHMENT BOOTH. Mr T. P. Lister wrote applying for penuUsion to erect a booth or tent on the Board's property for i lie purpose of selling" fruit, etc., to visitors , to the breakwater. r llve chairman said that the applicant wanted a stand luar Hie cattleyards—not on the beach. Members thought it would be a great convenience to visitors. Mr Maxwell moved that lenders be called for the right to elect n r*-:ivsli-ment booth at the root of lh' breakwater, occupation to be at tl.e pleasure oi the Hual'J Mr McLean seconded. Mr I'iice moved an amendment, that Mr Lister's application be granted at a rate oi £3 per year. Mr Ward seeomhd. and the amendment was carriid. OUTER HARBOUR SCHEME. Mr E. M. Smith. M.il "it., wailed on the Board in connection with the proje-t of a deep sea na.;'b'.>ur at Moturoa. He produced Mr .\a ( H' L r Bel! s scheme. A breakwater connecting lloturca and Mikotuhi could lie may for £OO,OOO. Mr Napier Bell said that to insuiv protect ion lor the harbour all eastern wall must be erected. In rubole this could be made for £9B per running foot, and as 'i'il-'lt weie lvouired the approximate rest would bo~£U)0,000. An eastern mcle would cost another £(io.oo'j and the enclosed water space would be about 80 acres, lie further advocated the construction of a bridge at the root oi tho breakwater to a don - passage of the sand-'dri.t, insU-ad of ira|jp;iig the sand as at present. His scheme \vou-.1 ensure smooth water in any weather, ar<d the sand wouW get clear aiiay. At present a sautheflstorly gale camstd a considerable range. Were his scheme adopted, toners could safely lie in the nm»wiii' nearly all tl.e >ear round. There was plenty of material for the proposed extvnsiuu work:: a.toilt two miles away, in the unlimited quantities of stone cm the Omuta beach, and much material was at hand i"».ar th:.' wharf, lie would ask the ltoaid to set up a comniission of engiiixvis to ccnsVU r the outer harbour scheme, wl/ich woukl give water as tleep as in any l.ai hour in the ioli ny, and New Plymouth would then lx' made the lirst and last port of tall for vessels trading between New Zealand ar.'i Australia. He li:errlu/n -1 that many coaintry ratewould favour a scheme such as this, although' tl.ey had opposed tlhe recent scheme. He referred to the of tlie iron works here, ar.-l to the fact that splendid fiaivo'iir protective works were built in various parts of the world from iron slag-. Slag blocks cost 10s each, whilst those at present used cost £l4 each. In a few days the puMic would 1* mformed of the intentions of tlie iroiisamd syndicate. Mr E. M. Smit h then dealt With the vast resources oi tltis district, r*. ferrir.g to the ({'.faintities of irons'and and ironstone. The chairman said that Jfr Napier Bell I'-P.-.l leportid the outer harl,o.;r scheme was out of the ijuesiion. Mr Smith said that wus so, but at the same time he remaned thai MiBell had tlren gone on 4 o pro.'e that the plan was feasible. It was a pity the harbour had not oe-_'n constructed in this manner at first. Ho lelt sure that a Harbour Bill, containprovision lor tlu* doc[»-U'a!.c*r harbour, would easily pass through Par i jnent. Mr Smith then thanked the Uuard and retirid. Mr. Price thought it premature for the Doaid to go into the question. Mr Ward said he bad seen ;he plans and he was canxinced that the harbour shoufd have l>een constructed as thero detailed. Hut what of I'ne money already spent ? He had suggested to Mr Smith that the iroiKjuuicompany mig-ht te i\ out. 1 !.;■ —"r^Tiijei• ted to the p. " 1 L 1 l'i fi/.ir or live enrineers h?re. Besides, tho work proposed would block the present harbour trade. He lelieMd t'.-.is was the f "t plan, )mt thejo was no money to carry it out. He moved that the consvduLattou of the matter be dele reed. Mr Maxwell said he had always be-U-\ed thot'th.'s s,ch('.i,e :.'>u;i 1 have been acted on when the harbour v. a s first constructed. Tie feeling was geik'ral in the district that the Imibour had not been constructed on the right lines. •- No actjon was taken. ARIKI STREET. The Porongh Council wrote accepting rile conditions of Ariki Stieet turns,s THOSE CYLINDERS. Messrs Shanks and Co. wrote with reference to cylinders which Uiev had supplied, but which bad been returned by the Hoard e.s not made according to instruotions. The cylinders were now lying in the Lom'.on docks and were useless to the manufacturers who had long since ceased to mako the class of engine for which these cylinders were required. 'J'l.cy weiij wiI to deliver the cylinders now for £lO j.'ss than the original prim choroid. Tlie chairman said the it f'er did not exonerate the manufa:' T ,iin-rs. They should not have .shipped the cylinders unless they knew tliey were right. Ttie Hoard would have to pay freight if the\ acce|il...l them. Mr Maxwell said the foieman had reported hat the cylinders were useless to tho IloaixV as the present cylinders would last, out ;h.* eng'Nie. Held oxer till next me.-ting of '.he Hoail. HAH'IiOI R EXTENSION". Mr r. W. Ma reliant wrote that tenders for iron;,ark tiii.V.-r bail been adverlisctl lor. He would forward plans of v.harf extension curly in (he year, lie 'did not think it to submit these to tie Marine I'epartmen! , I ei'.lg ;■ h extea ;.on of a previously uuthoib.d '.vork.--I!e----ceiii-d. ASSOCIATION MEETING. The Wellington Harbour Hoard wrote that the Harbour Hoards' Association would probably meet in Maich. LAND REVENTE. The Lands INsiai (ui,.nt wro:e that the Hoard's share of land revenue lor the past quarter was £577. llEl'l'Ml KEITSEII. The Stratford Domain Board wrote claiming a n .'und of £1 i; s ::,|, |; ales paid by them as occupier. Tli.-y held they were not responsible, a- thruwas no tenant m occupation.—Refund reiu .{ml. HARBOPR HILL COSTS. Messis (lovett and (Juillium wrote compl'aii'(i(gi of the action of llie Board in discussing publicly their bill of costs, and suggested that Unusual course was to take se(h matters in committi-e until the solicHois. were aide lo make any explanation Hi|U'ired. The treatment meted out by the Hoard in Ihi.siase was somewhat unusual. Th-y pointed out that 'few practising solicitors iif any) had had the expei ii n e I'll Bill drarfffnn tiiat Mr Uovelt hud had, for ho was for ove. two Mais Assistant Law Oflic.'r to the (.'overnment when, owing to the nonappointment of a Hill draugn* iiuan, ■ a great deal of lite work now done by him was done by the \ssislant Law Officer, ami even this session three local Hills drai-ted by litem (Messrs Oovett and Quilliam) had l'«-en passed by the. Ooverninent. In drafting t/se Hill the new- Standing Ordprs had not been rei'STed to, as it had not been noticed that these had been altered, and hence a mistake, involving a n extra cost of

£2 l(is 2<] was mad# which was quickly rectified. They ruici-ml tu lliu lact that some members of the Board had been trying' <.o render their work inelVectnal at the lime, and they had niucic* I heir charges lower timn would have boon the rase if the public bad received any beneJit, though it was through no fault of the solicitors that the Hill had failed to pass. 'J'ney returned the account reduced by £2 IGs I.M. Mi* Samuel's letter to .Messrs (>V»vetl and Quilliam stated that Mr Maxwell would regret some of t/is remarks were were he fully acquainted with (he circumstances. The Rill had been given more publicity liian provided by tae Standing 1 Orders, which that it bo advertised in at least one ne\vsp,ip«M\ wlu-reas e\rry newspaper in the district had advertised the provisions of the Hill. Mr Maxwell moved that I.ho letters be received and the explanation* accepted, aind tihut the account, less £2 I»s l!d, be passed. Mr McLean .seconded. Mr Ward said the Hoard hafl been put to a great deal ol expanse for nothing. due to ihe two member*, Messrs Maxwell and McLean. lie suggested that these members jay the account. The motion was carried, and the Hoard adjourned for lunch. The resumed at 1 .to p.m. LEASINO RESERVES. The conditions of lease for Hell Block iiverve were discussed, and agreed to. Mr Maxwell moved that a committee be Svt up, consisting of the chairman aird the mover, to ascertain if conditions of various leases were being carried out —Carried. APPOINTMENT OK FOREMAN. Tfe committee set up to deal with the matter of appointing a .foreman repotted that they had appointed Mr Henderson at a remuii 'raticai of twelve shillings a day-, and Oyit the names of applicants would be kept for future reference. WORKS COMMITTKE. The Works Committee recommended :—That authority be given to Hhe foreman to erect a notice at Mikotiahi *htfwin'g the site of the explosive,:; magazine. and warning the public not to light fires in the vicinity ; that a new radius wheel end brass pinion be procured for the divxlgc; that the requisitions foj stores bo agreed to, from the harbour imuslvr foreman f that Dahbs' application for repahs to the windows of his dwelling and erection of about 33 feet of fencing at the back he gran-ted : that Messrs (J. Connett and Dabbs be allowed their annual holiday, 11 days for first, and 10 days for the latter. The report was adopted with the exception that the matter of the explosives magazine was referred to the chairman. THE QUARRY. The chairman moved that the foreman be instructed to commence q'uarrying stone to make up uny subsidence the end of the Wreak water. Seconded'by Mr Ward and carried. COST 01-' DAVITS. A return was furnished that- the davits erected for the accommodation of private oil-launches were costing about £6O each. Mr M'axwell thought that those who wanted davit* should pay for the space occupied, and erect the davits themselves. The Chairman said that the Hoard would have to take into consideration the question of charges. Members expressed mi/d ama 7 enient at the stupendous co t. When they agreed to erect the du.vits they had no idea that they woukl lie so expensive. Accounts amounting to £931 were read and passed for pavment. A DILATORY CONTRACTOR. It was reported that Mr Colesby (the contractor for the supply of gravel) was not looking after tl.e matter at all. When spoken to about it ho had stated thero was no gravel there, but it appeared that the contractor would not take the -gravel if he c\>uld lind any l etter paving work to do. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman presented his annual report and soma lit*'* discussifiti_. took un the motion of Messrs Maxwell aml Ward a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman for compiling the report, and it \\ar> decided to have the report and balancesheet printed. SINKING FPND. The chairman said that the Hoard had generally assumed that the sinking fund would amount to about £(>0,000 when the present loan matured. It was satisfac'oiy to note that the amount would probably he £65.000. He said it was gratifying to remark the manner in which the bonds had been secured. ANNUAL MEETING. T'-rtj chairman said the annual meeting would take place on Tuesday. February Kith, and it, "'a 1 decide.! to transact general business ! and tl'.e tenders on that date. The Hoard adjourned.