NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 252, 17 October 1908, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

'.Tile j\W Plymouth Harbor Hoard met yesterday. There were present: Messrs J. B. Coiinett (chairman), Newton King, .J. Ward, J. Thomson, 1!. Trice, J. Marx, D. J. iluglies, jurir., J. liiue, junv., and K. .Maxwell

NEW DREDtiE. The chairman reported thill, acting on the unrceoidv.il decision at last Hoard meeting, he had written 10 Mr. Ma reliant, the Hoard's engineer, asking hint to make a start with the preparation of plans ami specifications for a new dredge, which all iiienuiois nail agreed was required as early as poshis action, sible. He asked the Board to coniiim Mr. Thomson said ho was going to oppose the approval of the chairman's aciion. He was going to enter another protest against the underhand system which lie nail alleged had been in vogue right through the loan proceedings. The whole thing had been worked from New Plymouth right through the piece. jv few 'heads were put together here, and if they had a majority they would go ahead with what they liked. The business had not been open and aboveboard. Mr. Maxwell said that he would move the confirmation of the chairman's action, for he Knew me mailer had been discussed, and, wiiat was more, .Mr. Thomson had opposed it. Mr Thomson: You c> speaking something that's not the truth, Mr. .Maxwell.

Mr. Maxwell said that he hail left the Sep.ember meeting fuly convinced thai tee chairman hint been authorised to move as he had done, and he was .surprised now to learn that there was no record on the minutes. The chairman had merely carried out the intentions of the Board, and had done nothing itnprorjer. The suggestion of Mr. Thomson that things had been done without the knowledge of the Board was absolutely unwarranted, for every , member had been taken into the full i confidence of the Hoard. Mr. Thomson: 1 haven't. The chairman said that this discussion convinced him that he had taken the right course in asking that this loiter be confirmed by the Board, although he knew he was carrying out the wishes of the Board. Mr. Thomson said »Ir. Maxwell was trying to jamb into his mouth words and ideas that he never gave utterance to. lie hud been at the table right through the last meeting and lie had no recollection of this matter having been mentioned. lie must say that amongst *'a few in the know" tilings had been done that sic was Igifcjrant of

Mr. Kinjt was positive that the matter had been discussed, and also lhat Mr. Thomson had counselled delay. Mr. Hughes said it was immaterial whether the chairman's action had been authorised or not. Hut. they all know a new dredge was rcouiivd, and it (fas ns well in move quickly in the matter. Mr. Maxwell's motion was adopted. ('ore-i]:ondeiiie was read from Mr. Marchant to Hie effect that lie was preparing tlie ilans and spceilicaiioiis. wiliieh should ho eoni.ilcto' before ilia end of the month. The specification would occupy some forty pages of closely written foolscap. fie asked the Board to state whether lie sliouhl post copies to the leading shipbuilding nuns in (treat Britain as soon as complete, thus saving time, or first submit them to the Hoard at its November meeting. He wrote further that the general manager of the U.S.S. Co. had agreed to allow its building inspector at Glasgow to supervise (lie work' of construction. Mr. King thought it was well to save time, and lie moved thai the engineer forward the papers Home as suggested. If the ratepayers rejected the loan proposals it would be a simple matter to cahh; a discontinuance of the negotiations, for the, poll would be decided before tiv papers reached Kngland, Mr. Thomson advised waiting till after Hie poll, when the. specifications could be telegraphed Home.

The chairman remarked that to cable forty pages of closely written foo1s"ai) would cost a pretty considerable amount.

Mr. Thomson: T said "tciegrnpli." not "cable''! Mr. Marx said lie was lirnilv impressed with the need for the new dredge as early as possible, and he favored sending nlomt the details to the firms. Tllov could he headed by cabled instructions, if necessary. The motion was carried. TILK POLUNG-DAY.

Upon the motion n! Messrs. Thomson and Ward, it was decided to submit the loan proposals to the ratepayers on Monday. Xovend.cr id. Mr. ('. S. Pn'iinell was appointed returning oilieer. IIE-AD.H':STM.i:.\'T OF WARDS.

Mr. Maxwell moved that the six elective members' lie a committee to define the boundaries of the electoral wards, so that the re -adjustment could lake ell'ect after the poll. In the discus,ion, it was laiinfcd out by Mr. Iliue that the election ot members, for which, the new boundaries were required, would take place in February. JSy the-Act as passed certain areas were to be excluded from tlyi harbor rating district when the present loan of C 135,000 had been paid o/!'. lint by the re-adjustment, of boundaries these ratepayers whom he represented would be to all intents and purposes excluded immediately the loan proposals were carried. Mr. Marx pointed out that without re-adjustment there would be terrible anomalies, one ward being worth onlv '£300.000. as against another's £2.500!000.

Mr. Maxwell explained tli.it the amis would lit: excluded liy OrdcrinC'ouneil. which would not lie gazetted until the bond-holders were paid nil'. That would lie in May next. )'? t7io poll were carried Hie chances were 1000 to one that Hie money would he raised. Mr. Marx urged a re-adjustment at the earliest possible date. Tlie chairman said that the present peculiar position arose from Hie amendment of the 'Bill as insisted on hy the Premier in order to protect the bondholders, and this area was not to he relieved of liability until the bondholders were paid. Mr. Hine agreed that this was a just and sensible provision. ' Mr. Thomson -thought; there was plentv of time to discuss this matter after (he polling day. The chairman pointed out that there was now only j;ist time to allow of th<) rc-adiuslnicnt and the preparation of the new rolls for the next election of members. The nioiion was carried. HAIiIiOIIMASTEIi'S UCTOIiT.

The harbormaster reported that during the four weeks ending October 14th there had been -11 steamer berthings at the wharf, the 'gross tonnage amounting to 44.050 tons. Imports were 0141 tons, including 1 IS:1 tons of railway coal and 100+ tons of private roal. There were ?*>•> tons of exports, bringing the total amount of cargo handled to' 00-20 (mis. The dredge worked on 1M days, making 1;!!)'/, Clips, removing K'iTO cubic yards'of sand and silt, I'rom September lldtii 1.1,e dredge had been working nl Ihe western berth to deepen the berth to alow the f-.irlnna to sail at low walcr. spring I ides. FOUKiIAN'S UKI'OIIT.

The foreman (Mr. F. lU>nilci-.son) repouted:—

Breakwater extension,—Twenty-four concrete blocks had b-eon made during the month, the number now on Land being 00. Tho quantity of stone cjimrried iind tipped was 11-14 tons. One section bad been added to Hie breakwater -extension. being the eighth, and completing a length of 100 feet since the beginning of the year. The total length of the extension was now 408 feet.

Wharf widening.—Nine piles, forming lliree bays, had been driven at the wiharf widening, the cross walings and' beams had been fitted, and a length of 30ft had bewi decked. This work would again have to be slopped through tin' want of ironhiirk timber.

Wharf.—Two new piles had been driven in Ihe old wharf, and live new fonder pirns liiled. T,-n piles had been prepared, and would be driven on special .lays when the wharf was clear of traffic. TEXDEUS'. Tenders for annual conlvaois were accepted :-foal. "Weslporl Coal Co.: rib bire. .T. W. We-t; ironmongerv. cie.. 11. Ward and (". ACTOrXTis'. Accounts amounting ( (1 ' C2S:W .Is "d were passed f»c liaymenl.