NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8061, 17 March 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

The New Plymouth Harbor Board met on Friday morning. Mr J. 15. Connett presided, and I lie other members present were Messrs McLean, Thomson, Price, Ward, Hornby, Hine, and Maxwell.

The Union Steamship Co.'s letter re mrbor charges, which was rend at last neeting, was discussed, and it was dclidi'd to obtain scales of berthage iharges from Timaru, Oamaru and Harbor Boards.

Mr Merchant, engineer to the Board, wrote m reference to his recommendation not to make any further payment on acceouut of the crane supplied by Messrs Sparrow and Sou.

It was resolved to inform Messrs Sparrow and Son, that after enquiry and thorough investigation, the Board sees no reason to alter its previous decision.

The Harbormaster's, Works Committee's and foreman's reports were adopted, and tho foreman was instructed to prepare plans of a magazine for storing detonators. Accounts amounting to £5664 7s lOd were passed for payment, with the exception of one from Messrs Stcuart and Fenn for electrical fittings, the cost of which was much above the estimate given to Captain Hood, the certifying olllccr.

On the motion of Messrs King and Hornby, the Board decided to connect the Chairman's residence with the telephone system, the movers being of opinion that this was absDlutely necessary in order to conserve Mr Connett's time.

Mr Price moved his motion, according to notice, to rescind the resolution fixing the charge of fourpence per yard for metal taken from the beach at the mouth of the Tapuae river. The mover said the rate of fourpence was uol prohibitive, but it was 100 high when the Taranaki Council had, iu addition, to pay a royalty of livepence per yard for crossing Mr Morris' properly. The Board should consider this as a ratepayers' matter. For twenty-seven years past stone had been taken from this beach without any payment to the

Board. Mr Hine seconded,

Mr Maxwell opposed the motion. The price was low enough already, and no new facts had been elicited to warrant the rescinding of a resolution so recently passed. Mr King denied this. The extra charge of fivepence charged by the landowner had not been mentioned before.

Mr Ward favoured the motion f» helping the County Council to make good roads they were helping the harbor and the harbor ratepayers,

Mr Thomson opposed the motion. The County Council could take the '.and under the Public Works Act at a reasonable rale for the purposes of a road.

The Chairman pointed out that to take a road there meant cutting off the farm from its water supply and this meant prohibitive compensation. Tho motion was carried by seven votes to two.

The price of stone was then fixed at threepence per yard. The tender of Mr Edwin George at Is Gd per yard was accepted for col lccting and catering beach gravel at the breakwater.