Harbour Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 117, 21 May 1904, Page 4

Harbour Board.

The Harbour Board met on Friday. Present: Messrs Connett (Chairman) " Foreman, tlornby, Ward, Price Din- " gU/ifcLetm and King. Mr Mar- 0 • ehMt, the board's engineer, was in e / attendance. | —Timber Freights— 0 I . The British Commerce Development 1 !:• Company wrote regretting the 1 E -board's action in insisting on the if 1 charge of 4*d per 100 superficial feet Pon timber shipped, as this rate would j |r have the effect of discontinuing ship- 1 ments from the port. ' if- ■ It was decided to remit charges I lor labour in landing in future u 4 freights if tte ships can provide the 1 t~ same. ■" —Those Cylinders Again—- ; Messrs Shanks and Son, London, wrote with regard to the "Firemen" fe cylinders, and accepting the Board's settlement. They also suggested that the board might order parts to renew the engine, ii The engineer said there was too ' much risk in ordering new parts from Home. It would better to have the work done at the Government workshops.—Consideration deferred. —Harbour Toll— The Union S. S. Company wrote in answer to the board's letter re the passenger tax at New Plymouth The v clause to which exception was taken was, "Passengers landing or embark- . ing at New Plymouth pay one sliillm>- mg each for harbour board toll." In T dcfercnco to the wishes of the board S thiß was altered to read : "Through ir passengers landing or embarking at New Plymouth pay one shilling each < breakwater charge." This paragraph referred only to through pas- "•>' sengers breaking their journey. As ■ the number of these was consider--v able, the company thought that ' some notification of the extra charge was necessary to avoid any irritation , _ in collection. f . This information was given in the same paragraph as relating to Dune- "»'■ ditl and Giaborne, and was not inserted on the leaflet for "Informaj tion to Passengers," or on the ticki - 6 The Chairman said that evidently the company called as little attention as possible to tho matter. On the motion of the chairman, tho explanation was accepted as sat- : isfactory.

—Freehold PetitionMr J. McCluggage, Whangamomona, forwarded a copy of tho petition for the freehold now in circulation, and asked that the board affix its seal to the same and obtain signatures to the petition. Mr Foreman moved, the chairman seconded, and it was unanimously resolved that the request be acceded to, except that the board could not obtain signatures outside. —No ChargeMr A. H. O'Loughlin, stationmaster at New Plymouth, wrote that on February 16 last the railway received eight packages of returned exhibits from the Hawera Show. These were carried on the railway frea of charge, and the delivery clerk put them on board ship without collecting wharfage, thinking that would be free also. Hawera had now debited the New Plymouth office with 4s lid wharfage, which they were unable to collect. Mr O'Loughlin asked that under theso circumstances the board should forward a certificate stating that these particular packages might be shipped free of wharfage. - The request was acceded- to. —Diver's-Pay—

William ""diver, wrote asking for particulars as to who was liable (OF-bis and his signalman's wages "Vfo'r five days uselessly spent in a trip /' to the Northern Monarch wreck. The Chairman said he had given i instructions that the men should make their own arrangements and look" out for themselves. The matter was referred to the chairman. —Mount Kliot Reserve — Mr E. Harvey-Gibbon, borough env gineer, wrote asking that the board t direct its contractor for removal of Sflt »poil from Mount Eliot Reserve to J** go dispose of earth in Powderhatup' street gully that the banks may be r connected as early as possible. The Chairman suggested that the borough council be asked to make its own arrangements with the contractor. The borough engineer had agreed to the conditions of the contract providing for an embankment 40ft wide. Now it was found that the spoil would not provide such an embankment and it was asked that the width be reduced to 25ft. Mr King moved that the board has no objection to the council making the necessary arrangements with the contractor with the above end in •view. This was seconded by Mr Price and carried. —Waitara Foreshore— The Waitara Board forwarded the following resolution : "That in the event of the New Plymouth Harbour Board deciding to visit Waitara to inspect their endowments, a deputation consisting of Messrs Stott, Ogle and Jennings meet the members of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, with a view to facilitating an ainicablo settlement re the foreshore under

the Waitara Harbout Board's Juris)-1 diction." —Electrician's WagesMr S. H. Dabto applied for an increase ot wages. Present payment was one shilling an hotir for day work, and £2 per week as electrician. Mr Dingle moved and Mr McLean seconded that tho application bo not entertained.—Carried unani- | mously.

—Testimonial.— E. Williams, late foreman, asked for a testimonial as to the manner in which he had carried out his duties. On the motion of MeSsrs King and Price, this was referred to the chairman and the engineer to draw up the testimonial.. —Stores Requisitions.— The applications for stores were approved.

—Reports.— The harbourmaster's report was considered and adopted. The foreman's report was read and adopted. —Committee's Report.—r The committee set up to consider the matter of the formation of a New Zealand Harbour Boards Asi sociattilon, recommended in their reI port a suggested set ot rules for the wording of the association. These provided for a board having one member if its annual revenue were less than £20,000 and two members to boards having over that sum. This was framed in tho interests of the smaller boards. The chairman moved that the suggested rules be sent to the secretary of the movement. Mr Dingle seconded and the motion was carried. The Board adjourned for lunch. After discussion with the harbourmaster and engineer it was decided to purchase a new port lantern of the fourth order from the English firm of Messrs Chance Bros, and to be fitted with the Kitson light, and to be capable of throwing a red light for a distance of fourteen miles from an elevation of a hundred feet above the sea level.

—Accounts.— Accounts were submitted. Mr Price objected to tho Hoard paying for the solicitor's opinion re Waitara foreshore leases. The item was passed. It was decided to charge tew costs in the matter of Mr R. C. Hushes' default to that gentleman. The remaining accounts were pasSCd " —Waitara ForeshoreMr Price moved, according to notice, that the Board visit its endowments on the foreshore. Mr Foreman seconded, and after a brief discussion the motion was carried, the visit being fixed for Thursday June 2nd.