NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 20 February 1907, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

The New Plymouth Harbour Board met on Tuesday. Present: Messrs ,1. 11. Council (chairman), Newton King, Geo. McLean, J. Thom.-ou, il. Price, .). Ward, J. U lie, jniir.. and K. Maxwell.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr lliue moved that Mr J. B. Connett be re-elected ehainnaii. No words were uccessarv in prase of llr chairniaii, for all knew hoiv fortunale were the Board and the ,ra.lop.i><j ( in -(-curing a gem lonian of .Mr Coniielfs ability.

Mr Price s ■eonded, r. marking thai Mr C ielt had carried out h j - duties honourably aud successfully, audi he had his heart in the work of the Board.

The .-neretary put the resolution

jM'r Connett heartily thanked the menibers for the rontinuation of their confidence, and promised U\ still dlo his utmost in the interests of the Board. lie had to explain how lie came to aga'n occupy his seat. lie had been determined to retire, but he was waited on by practically all the business people of New Plymouth and by several country constituents and consented to stand for another term. On the motion of the chairman and Mr Ward, Mr Newton King was reelected treasurer.

YVOIUvS COMMITTEE. On Hie proposal to eleci a works cc/nniittee, the eliiurniani si|<l 'there, lnul in the past been some ;ulversion of opinion as lo the necessity of a works'committee, hut the experience of the past two years should have proved its value. Mr Thomson said lie didn't believe, in 11 works committee, for it meant that a few members of the Hoard became conversant with harbour details, anil the remainder had to accept their dolL'isiohJs, whether agreeable or not. Every member should be on the works

fe>mmittec. Mr Connctt said (lie absence o[ a works committee would throw a lug responsibility 011 .the chairman. Of course, if lie (the chairman) wanted to "run the show," he would be anxious to dispense with the committee. Hut he considered it better that a committee of the members should be directed to visit the port and ascertain the requirements. His long experience had showed him that full Boards as w r orks committees spelt failure. For regular attendance could only be obtained from special committee. Mr Hine agreed with the chairman, and moved the. re-appointment o! the present committee, Messrs Connctt, King, Price and Ward. Mr Ward referred to the very regular attendance of the members of the works committee. M)r Price said the' works committee was invaluable in keeping the Board in touch with harbour affairs. Mr King pointed out to Mr Thomson his error in stating the Board had perforce to accept the recommendations of the committee. The. Board had always the right to veto the committee's recommendations, and controlled all the expenditure of funds. There was nothing to prevent Mr Thomson forming one of the committee, or acting with it. Mr McLean concurred in this view. The old committee was then reappointed, Mr Thomson alone dissenting. IIAKISOI'I? MASTER'S BETORT.

The liarlxnirniaslor reported that in tli.! ni.»nth ending Febriiarv lfiih, there were 47 berthings at the wharf, tho aggregate gross tonnage amounting to 44,048 tons. Imports including (123 tons railway coal, and 72.") tons of local coal, exports were 1,223 tons, a

l otal of 0)72 tons of coal handled, ['ho whole of the Harbour Board's el'ctrie lighting plant lias been over hailed and examined, and found in good jrdor.

TKMI'OIiAIiV LOAX. Tlie Sinking Fund Commissioners wrote enclosing the following resolutions: That the Harbour Board having i.'ipiesled the commissioners to

pay over to the Board the sum of IMOOU at ~> per ccni. they are agreeable to do so. tin- loan to be repayable at call should tho money be requirod for the purchase of bonds; the money

to he jHJjljU>*Hw-Jioiird. oii._tbe.jciian'.-. nTiuf'and treasurer giving receipt for same." A cheque for £4OOO had since been handed to the secretary and the receipt given. BKBTHAGK CIIAUCKS.-

Mr Charles Ramson, manager of the S.'orthorn ,Steanrshi]i Company protested against the imposition of a full day's wharfage dues on 23vd December, although the Rarawa only arrived at the breakwater at 11 p.m. Tho harbour master said the charge was according to by-laws, and the Board decided that no reduction could be made.

Colonel Loveday wrote asking the Board to forego its charges on the ■occasion of about 1000 Auckland cadets passing through New Plymouth en route to Chiistchnrch, between Februlary and April. Any charge made must be borne by the hoys themselves. The request was agreed to. ANNUAL MIOrTJIXC.

At the annua] Hireling, the annual accounts were settled on the motion of the chairman and Mr King. Correspondence was read from the Board's London agents, who had been instructed to obtain supplies of Mtintz metal, nails, sheathing, etc. The chairman's action in ordering 1000 casks of cement from them for immediate delivery was confirmed, this purchase showing a considerable saving on previous contracts..

in answer to questions, Captain Hood said the harbour was in a very

Siil isfaeWry state. Hej would 1 hare plenty of water -for the steamer Tarnwcra, which was expected at midnight. The chairman said that this spoke for itself that the harbour was satisfactory when bouts ~' this size could be berthed. The foreman »ii ( « 'o rcA onniimiiiiciilimi from the li ivon«J electrical engineer regarding the re( riuirements of the new electric lighting system was referred to a special committee, cr('npvising the chaii/man, secretary, and .Mr King, who will aslc tlie borough electrical engineer to prepare specifications, accept tenders and supervise the contract. Accounts amounting :fo £BB4 5/4 were passed for payment.