Harbour Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 165, 16 July 1904, Page 2

Harbour Board.

The Harbour Board met yesterday. Presents-Messrs J,. 13. Comwtt (chairman), Maxwell, Foreman, Hornby, Ward,' Price, McLean, Dingle. The ("haii-man stated that Mr George had been able to cope with the removal of gravel Irora thu beach.

Mr F. \Y. Furkert, engineer in the Public Works Department, asked permission to <iurry to the beach the outlet pipe from the septic tank constructed at the native hostelry in Moi-ley-strei-t.—Permission was granted, subject to the drain being properly prouMU-d. Mr F. linker, uguit for a firm of (hedge builders, notilied change of address.

A letter was rend, notifying that the liist meeting of the Harbour Hoards' Association would be held on Augus't Ist iu Wellington, and asking for names of delegates- and particulars of subjects to be submitted to the association.

In the discussion which followed the new Harbour Rill, making boards elective on the general franchise, was mentioned, and Mr Ward suggested that the conference be asked to rjonsider the question of payment of chairmen of harbour boards. A motion that a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs King and Maxwell be a committee to make suggestions of subjects for the conference was followed by on amendment to appoint the chairman and Messrs Maxwell, Ward, Dingle and foreman as the committee.

On the suggestion of Mr Maxwell the matter was held over until after tho luncheon adjournment.

Mr F. W. Maivihant wrote that he had seen a 2000 c.p. Kitson light at Timaru, and recommended a trial lump on the wharf.

Air Marcliaiit further wrote that he had purchased from the Timaru Harbour Hoard two sets of one-inch swing chains, 7J cwt at 15s per cwt. (These had since arri.vutl by the stea'uier Corjnjja), : The engineer wrote later relating to points and crossings required from the railway workshops. Ho had received two tenders from Messrs Sparrow and Sons (Dunedin) £097, and Anderson (Christchurch) £875, for the five-ton crane. He recommended accepting tho Dunedin tender for delivery by Die end of October. This practically completed the purchase of the plant for the extension works,—

The recommendation was adopted. Tlie following tenders hud been received lor the two-ton monkey required : Anderson £24 (accepted), Cable and Sons £32 15s, Okey and Hollo £2B. The Chief Surveyor wrote that the Paritutu road had been closed bv proclamation, and that this did not block Air (ieorgo's access to his sections via the N'gamotu road. The Chairman said the whole thing had been dono in legal form, and Mr George, as chairman of the Oinata itoud liounl, should have Inquired into the matter before. Mr King : Surely the Government cannot closo a road against settlers with property fronting on it. The Chairman siaid the road had never .been op»ned. A committee comprising Messrs King, Dingle, Ward and Foreman waa appointed to investigate further and report to the next meeting. Mr J. C. Monk-flora offered to remove another 8000 yards of earth and sandstone from the Mount El-

iiott reserve- if tho hoard would couU'iuute elevenpence per yard towards •ts cost of removal. He would finish the work within three months a* ter the completion of bis present contract. Tho Chairman said the cost of removing the 0100 yards In tho present contract was lif.teenpenco per yard, oi which the board paid ninepence. After some discussion It was decided that Mr Montefiore bo offered tenpence per yard to remove the spoil. The luncheon adjournment was taken at 12.30 p.m., and on resuming at 1.80 p.m., ' The harbourmaster's report was rend and adopted." "■• Tho foreman reported that he hud put in four new piles, one brace, and other minor repairs at the wharf. The cattle fence at the foot dt the wharf had been cut down, at the request of the Hallway Department, and work preparatory to tho wharf extension was going ou. The mixing shed was -being got in order, several tuns of sand having been removed. Tim building was out of plumb, ami required straightening and staying. Ho suggested removing a stone wall at the back of the building and using the stone at tho iront. He required two cramps for wharf work, and Messrs Sparrow and Son quoted for these at £3 10s oach. —The report was adopted. On the motion of Messrs King and Ward, it was dwidod to accede to tho request of llr G, itamson to sell a section to obtain arrears of rates and enable the trustee to wind up tho estate or 11. and K. WagstoA*. The Works Committee recommended that the stores required by the harbourmaster and foreman of works bo procured. This included a quantity of rimu sleepers for railway lino in connection with the -breakwater extension to tlie amount of ahout £4O. I'he committee also recommended that a trial Kitson light bo erected on the wharf. Mr Foreman thought that tho engineer, Mr Marchant, could obtain all

the information on the Kitson light from the lighthouse near Timuru, The Chairman said that there was little doubt as to the brilliancy of the light, or its mutability for lighthouses. The board had to find out whether it would be equally good on the wharf, Hiking Into consideration tho bumping of vessels against the wharf and the vibration from (he trains running there.—The committee would subject tho light to the severest test. Tho report was adopted. The Chairman gave notico to move at next meeting that tho board strike and levy a rato of thrceiighths of a penny in tho £ for tho ensuing year, the rato to bo payablo in one Instalment. In an explanation the chairman said that previously tho hoard had been compelled 10 accept payment of the rate in two instalments, but now not so compelled.

Mr Maxwell thought that largo ratepayers might bo allowed to pay in two instalments,

The notico of motion was then altered, to accept payment in two instalments as before.

Mr Foreman asked why the rate Was to or raised,

Tho Chairman said that land revenue had fallen off very largely, and last year's r u te was rather low. In July, 1903, tlw board had in hand £2381 ; this year there was only £214. Only £I4OO had been received in land revenue during the last half year.

The Chairman suggested, in order to have the Currie-streot extension put in order, thu road should bo conveyed at once to the borough, subject to the small areas abutting on the road being convoyed to them when the existing lenses expire in about four years' time, tho latter beiutf accessary in ardor to make thu street tho full width.

Tho suggestion was adopted. Accounts amounting to £,985 10s Od were passed for payment, and the board adjourned.