HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 184, 25 July 1908, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETTNU. The adjourned monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Hoard was held yesterday, present: Messrs. J. 1). Conuett (chairman), Newton King, .1. Ward, .1. Thomson, 1!. Price, J. Marx, I). .1. Hughes, J. lline, juur., and E. Maxwell. JIAIIISOR HOARDS' CONFERENCE.

The Secretary of the Harbor Boards' Association wrote that there was litlle probability of a conference being held this year. The chairman said the secretary had an assurance from the Minister that the Harbor Bill was unlikely lo come forward this Session. THE BREAKWATER ROAD.

The Taranaki County Council applied for permission to remove 2UO yards of stone from the Horseshoe Bend for t'lic Breakwater road, the metal from the upper quarry being utterly useless for road-making purposes. The chairman said that the foreman was emphatic in his statement that the Board could spare no metal from the "Bend," for he required the. whole of it for concrete block-making purposes. The Board could not accede lo the request.

INSURANCE KATES. Messrs. Nelson ami Robertson, shipping agents, Sydney, wrote that the manager of the United Insurance Co. insisted on charging extra insurance on vessels trading to New Plymouth, he refusing to alter his view tflut the port was an open roadstead. They asked tlio Board to jrcnew its efforts in the direction of a reduction of insurance rates. —Consideration deferred till the August meeting.

EOKEMAN'S REPORT. The foreman reported upon works at the port, as follows: Breakwater extension.—Owing to the broken weather experienced during the past mouth, and to several breaks occurring to the machinery, work at the breakwater extension nad been considerably delayed, and the blocks whicii were displaced in the previous month' had not yet been replaced. There had been tipped on the apron 1210 tons of stone taken from the upper quarry. Twelve concrete blocks had been made, the number in the yard-now being 07. Wharf.—Three piles had been driven in the old wharf and at the whart widening six piles, forming two bays', had been driven, and the top walings attached. It was proposed to drive an- • other bay and then to nx all necessary 1 braces, chafing pieces, decking, etc., so that there might be room for the crane and derrick, clear of the new lines which- were being laid by the Railway ' Department.

Beach gravel.—The tramline to Mikntalii was now completed, and the gravel wa-n'-DOW "being lifted with the crane and grab bucket. Two hundred aim fifty yards had been lifted and tipped in the yard at an average cost of lOd a yard." The gravel was of first-class quality, and so far there were no signs of the supply running out, as there was niorfc gravel in the inlet now than when they began to lift it. Breakdown of crane.—One of the revolving rollers of the 40-ton crane broke on the Kith inst., and the crane had since been laid up. Messrs. Oh.-.y and Rollo had the repairs in hind. GENERAL.

The Wellington Harbor Beard wrote that at present no wharfage charge was made by that Board on coals intended for steamers' consumption, whether transhipped overside at wharf or in the stream, or passing over the whart from vessel to vessel.

Upon .the mothm of Messrs, King and Hughes,' it was decided to take steps to prevent cattle straying into the Hoard's reserves at the harbor, it (having been reported that they were doing considerable damage. An t applicaton from Mr. J. Miih|iieen for the lease of the three shops adjoining the Grosvenor Hotel was deferred till next meeting of the Board. W. H. Fitzpatrick applied for leave to erect a small booth on the Board's property at the rear, of tile blacksmith's shop at the wharf, his intention being to Use it occasionally for the sale of temperance refreshments, etc. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman to arrange, £5 per annum be-, ing suggested as the rental.—Mr. Ward, [opposed the idea, holding that it was a mistake to cumlier up the Board's ground with buildings just to let people , get cups of tea.

The tender of the New l'lvmoul'li Borough Council for the right lo remove gravel from the beach eastward of the Heiiui river was accepted. Accounts amounting to 1485 were passed for payment.