NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 319, 18 January 1908, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD.

ir ' The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday, Present: Messrs J. B. Conuett, (;<'u. AlcLeun, Jas. Thomson, J. Uiiie, jiint'., E. Maxwell. K. l'ricc, anil J. Ward, - PETROLEUM COMPANY'S LEASES. 'J lie secretary reported that the Tara-. « naki Petroleum Company's secretary T had called at the otiice and, ill answer c" to 'the Hoard's letter, stated tliat all the " terms of their lease at Aloturoa had been - earned out.—A letter oil the subject will be awaited. SAN D ACCUMULATION, "ir l l '. H . Marcliam, C.K, wrote that f if the Board desired it he would come up at once and report upon the sand accumulation at the root of the breakwater, or if the question were not urgent, lie would report in March, when he > proposed making a visit of inspection.— The Board decided that the March visit should snllice. A PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT. M. J. Julian asked if the Board would grant a lease of a piece of land on the Aloturoa Iwach, near the breakwater, for the purpose of erecting premises lo:' refreshment and tea rooms, also swings, etc., for the benefit of visitors and picnic parties. Ilis intention was, if lie could secure a. suitable site, to erect at least a seven-roomed house and other necessary buildings. MOLESWORTH STREET EXTENSION feir Joseph Ward telegraphed that hu hoped the matter of the Akleswortl? street extension would be definitely settled immediately upon his return to Wellington. TENANTS' COMPLAINT. Seven tenants (boatshed owners) of the Board wrote concerning a nuisance prevailing at the boatsheds at Aloturoa. People were in the habit of pitching their tents and campfng alongside the tenants' sheds, and, in some cases, within a few feet of their doors, thereby en dangering their property by camp iircs. T These people, the letter went on, paid " 110 ground rent, yet they seemed to \|iink they could do as they pleased and ignore all salutary rules and notices, especially such as relate to leaving refuse and rotten fish laying about. They therefore suggested that the Boards liould prohibit camping between the stream and the wharf, and that all persons before camping first obtain permission from the harbormaster, who could direct them where to camp. These suggestions, if carried j.out, would insure the safety of tenant' property and keep away a certain class of undesirables and light-fingered gentry who were constantly to be found in the locality.

It was decided to eudorse the suggestion that permission to (.'amp must i>e obtainud from the harbormaster, hp to have power to charge the same ground rents for touts as for whares if the tent, arc occupied by people entering in to opposition with the lishermcii who •pay rent to the Hoard. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster, Captain llood, reported that during the four weeks ending January loth there were 38 steamer berthings at the wharf, the aggregate gross tonnage being 40,301 tons. imports were 1303 tons, including 124 tons of private coal, exports 13113 tons, making a total of 4524 tons of cargo handle I. During this periotl line weather and moderate seas had been experienced. The dredge worked 14 days, making 88'/ 3 trips, removing 5310 cubic yards of sand. From January 7th the dredge had been employed in dredging at Iho berths with the short suction pipe, and would continue on till the end of this month. Owing to a sudden call to Auckland, he had been unable to make a complete survey of the harbor for this meeting

FOREMAN'S REPOKT. Breakwater extension.—During 'the month 1170 tons of stone had been tipped at the end of the breakwater, and one section of 12 feet had been completed bringing the total length of the extension up to 381 feet. They were now working the old quarry right out, with the object of afterwards taking the 25-ton crane down to the beach level of the Fishing Rock, an the stone there was getting too heavy for the 5-tj'i crane.

Fishing Rock drives.—The extension to the Fishing Rock drive was completed, and the three ehamlwrs were cut ready tor charging. Wharf, etc. —One new pile had been driven in the wharf, and four others had been eoppered and prepared for driving. Preparations were being made for placing and lifting the dredge on the gridiron for overhaul. The work would occupy from a fortnight to ■three weeks. The tubes of the loco' 'Fireman" were worn so thin as to be unsafe. Two of them burst a few days ago, and the driver and fireman narrowly escaped being scalded. Probably the Railway Department could supply a new Bet. —The chairman was authorised to procure the new tubes. HANDLING THE MAILS.

The Board having to make fresh arrangements with the Postal Department for the handling of mails, it was decided to offer to undertake the work at £2OO per annum, the duties being to check, land, and despatch all mails, stow them in the ships' slings, or on the train in such manner as may be directed from time to time for the convenience of the Department, and provide a responsible officer and adequate assistance to enable the transfer to be rapidly effected; also to make shipping and weather reports. The whole of the work and responsibility will be undertaken by tin Board, through the harbormaster.

SUPPLIES. A cablegram from Messrs Walker Bros, was read, quoting Muntz metal bars and sheathing at 7%d per lb, washers liy 4 d per lb, and nails 10!/ 2 d. The chairman stated that as the prices seemed very high no order had been sent for the goods yet. Lower prices §houl'i rule shortly, on account of the falling price iu copper.—Left ift the chairman's hands. The work of metalling the Curriestreet extension to the railway goodsshed is to be taken in hand and completed before winter sets in. THE PROPOSED BILL. Mr. King, whose notice of motion was to havo been discussed, asked authority to have his (scheme embodied in a draft Bill by the Board's solicitors. He thought it would pave lime and facilitate discussion.

Mr. Maxwell moved that the nccrssary authority be given, lie thought the Board could not. seriously consider the scheme until it had been put into the form ill which it might go before

Parliament. Mr. Price seconded. Mr. Connett approved of the motion. The Bill must be carefully drafted, and he hoped it would lie such as would meet with the fairly unanimous approval of the members. Otherwise it would never pass the House. Mr. Thomson entered his protest against the Bill. He explained that he had been elected to oppose any Bill. The chairman: What! withoi.* knowing what's in it? Mr. Thomson: ies. That' . aat's what I'm put here for, and . n:'is .W'r my protest against it. Mr. Maxwell explained ,V»: hj» it tion before the Board would no' v.irm him to support the Bill. Mr. Thomson: That doesn't matter. The motion was carried, and Mr. thanked the Board for its consideration. In answer to Mr. Ilinc, the chairman

said that in the event of no fresh loan being carried by the ratepayers no Bill would be required.