NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8114, 19 May 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

At the monthly meeting of the Harbor Board there were present : Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), Newton King, Geo. McLean, J. Thomson, R. Price, J. Ward, R. W, Hornby, and E. Maxwell.

The Wellington and Marlborough Cement, Limo and Coal Company solicited a trial of their cement.—The Board thought it inadvisable to chango, as the cement now beintt used had given eminently satisfactory results.

EMPLOYEE S DISPUTE. A complaint was made by Lewis Patterson that he had been unjustly deprived of his position as dredgemaster by the representations of a fel-low-employee. New legislation had rendered it necessary for him to obtain a master's certificate, and as he had not obtained it, the Marine Department, prompted by representations from New Plymouth, had instructed the Harbormaster to dispense with his services at once. Several members thought the Board should enquire into the allegations made. They wanted fair play. Messrs King and Maxwell thought

the Board was only concerned with the merits of the two men. The dispute was a private matter, and the question of taste and etiquetto was not

for the Board to consider. It was plain that Patterson was discharged because he could not comply with recent legislation. A motion that the letter bo allowed

to he on the table was defoated by an amendment that an enquiry be held next month.

CEMENT. The New Plymouth. Sash and Door Company wrote that they could allow £4 for cement that was not up to the usual standard. This had necessitated the use of 17$ barrels instead of 16 barrels of cement per block —Accepted.

SHINGLE. Mr Chas. Kyngdon asked permission to obtain about 3U yards of fine shingle from tlie boacli between the Henui and Waiwakaiho rivors. The Chairman said there was not as much shingle here as had been washed up years ago. To allow the applicant to take the stuff would mean jealousy again amongst the local contractors.

Mr Maxwell moved that tenders be called for tho right to cart the shingle for a year from this beach, payments to bo made quarterly, in advance.— Seconded by Mr King, and carried. Mr Kyngdon's application was granted. LIGHTING THE WHARVES.

The Chairman reported that he had been unable, until Wednesday last, to obtain the necessary information re electric lighling, from the Bjrough Couucil.

INCREASING EFI'ICIENCV, The Chairman reported that he authorised Mr Hendorsou, the foreman, to have a now nozzle for tho sand pump, which, it was claimed, would enable the dredge to pump 31 per cent, of sand instead of WJ to 10 per cent, as at present. The now nozzle, plans of which had been drawn by Mr Henderson, would cost aboi.J £ls, aud would, the foreman thought, very soon pay for itself.

The action, of the Chairman was confirmed.