NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81870, 20 October 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

The- New Plymouth Harbour Biard meeting' on Friday was attended by Messis J. B Connett (chaiunanj. Newton King, Geo. McLean, J. Thomson, R. Price, J. Ward, R. W. Hornby, 1:". 1 iinc. and E. Maxwell. The Board's engineer, Mr l\ W. Marchani, of Tinuuu, was present. THE WHARF R/ULWAV. Mr C. Ilolm Hiss, District Engineer of Railways, thanked the Board fur the steps taken to put additional teams' in the new wharf extension, sc that the laying of rails might proceed '1 lie work would be gone on with al onee. To facilitate shunt ng on tlu old portion of the wharf also it was desirable that additional beam* should be laid under each of the ex ieting three cross-over tracks whicl the heavier engines were at presen prohibited from using. The Foreman gave hi- estimate o the cost of putting in »trenglheninj beams for three sets of cros"-ove rails at £yo io/, inclusive of £25 10 for labor. The work is to be proceeded with ELECTRIC LIGHT. The New Plymouth Borough Coue eil asked if the Board would take ill municipal electric light if the syster were extended to Moturoa. The chairman suggested the a[ pointment of a committee. The a; pect of the question had changec Previously the Board was asked t advance the cash for the work, bi now the Council sieemed prepared t erect the wires. It was simply question of cost, and although th harbour lighting arrangements wci now working satisfactorily, it woul be well to inquire if any savin would be effected. The chairman, Messrs King an Prieo were appointed to incptire an confer with the municipal electr lighting committee. LAND REVENUE. The Hon. T. Kelly, M,L.C., fo warded a copy of the Land Bill < reported from conynittee, and su{ gested that the Board should reft the matter to the solicitor to a>certai if he considered the Board's land rt vmue was sufficiently safeguarded b tae amendmens made. The chairman reported that he ha acted accordingly, and M(' Gove' (Govett and Quilliam) gave his 0] piniqn that the revenue was safi guarded, and ihat the word "hereii after'' in clause 3A would probabl b-' deleted before the Bill becam law, as it had evidently been insert? by mistake. The chairman further mentione the assistance he had received fro] the Hon. T. Kelly, M.L.C., an Messrs E. M. Smith, W. T. Jem ings, and C. E. Major, M.H.R.' and the Board passed a vote of thanli to these gentlemen. FOREMAN'S REPORT. Mr F. Henderson, harbour worl foreman, reported that ono new se tion of 12ft had been added to tl bieakwater extension in the pa month, making the total length 1 die uxten.-ion iijGff. There was gradual deepening of the water ; the work advanced, the amount > stone now tipped per section avera; ing about 1500 tons. Eight coitcte blocks had been made during tl month. Considerable repaiis hj; been necessary on the 40-I>ll cran and it had been found necessary lay it up for a week to fit new fyr t:> tho travelling wheels, new ecce trie, and crank brasses for the e gine. Ail the boilers were inspect! ■it the same time. At the nJa whaif four piles had been driven at new braces filed. lu connoctii with the opening of the new wha had been completed : the extension the water services, erection of a m coal bin, and the placing of strengt ing beams for the cross-over rai The railway staff was now 011 gag' ! in laying the rails. Only nine 52 rails remained 011 hand,, and as fi quem ivnewals were required on t ' breakwater, particularly at the curv ■ v he lecommendcd the purchase of a e Other fifty first-class second-hat ' rails, with fish plates, bolts, and do d spikes. CONFERENCE DELEGATES. Mr Thomson movcu, according * notice, that the chairman and J 0 .Maxwell, accompanied by the tea tary, represent the Board at the ila bout Boards' Conference for the di l ' cussion of pending- legislation ai 'f other matters. He was not satisfi* e with the proposal to send the cliai r man and secretary, on the grout c that the secretaiy was not tesponsib e to the ratepayer-). Mr McLean seconded. Mr Price opposed the motion, ai moved an amendment to appoint j\ Hornby, ono of the Government n minces, instead of Mr Maxwell, < the ground that as the land revent 0 had contributed £202,232 to '1 t- Boards' revenue, or £78,569 mo n than the total amount of rates cc n lected, that revenue had at least equ rights of representation at the COl e terenco. u Mr Hornby expressed his opinic that the chairman and Mr Maxw< were the best qualified, owing to lon experience, but left his nominatk , r in the hands of members. Mr King emphasised the fact th, the chairman and Mr Maxwell seen ed unable to work well together, ar ''' for that reason would support IV Hornby's candidature, Mr Hinc stigmatised the amem 11 ment as a side-wind to prevent N 'e Maxwell going to the conferenc and said that on the basis of tl -e Board's membership the Governmei t, nominees were not entitled to equ; 1, voting; with the ratepayers' represei r. catives. ) Mr Thomson, in replying-, ridicu n tsd all the talk about Governmei jj nominees rights. "Bless my soul, . lie said, "would ye tell us "the G' vcrnment gives us this revenue? : docsnt come out of Ihe Minister, ; pocket, but from our own land." The amendment w'as carried o 5" division. Ayes; Messrs Connet King, Price, Hornby. Noes: Messi " McLean, Thomson, Hinc, and Maj > v wol. . n The amendment was then put a ). the substantive motion t and carried it and the chnrman and Mr Hornb were appointed delegates. Ihe chairman said hp did nr think there would be a conferenc " thisi year.