HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 47, 20 March 1909, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

-\I<J.\'TIJI,Y iIKKTJ.NCt. Tin' ordinary uimillil.v meel/;ig ol' t!t<--\ew Plymouth Harbor Hoard was held yesterday. .Present: AJi-s.-r.s. Maxwell (vhairman), Ward. .\[K.Mii<{s>a«i', I'ricc, Wilkinson, Hughe* ami Wciis.

HAIiiJOItMASTKICK KKI'OKT. Tlk' JlarSionimsler (Captain lloud) reported Unit during the live weeko ending 171 h .March 4H steamers berthed nt thu wharf, thi' aggregate gross tonnage amounting to 47.425 tuns, 'flic imports amounted to 4314 tons, anil tlii' e.vpoi'ts to 14411 tons, making a total of 57(10 tons of cargo handled. Tin' dredge worked 14 days, making 2,'|!l trips, anil removing 14.340 cubic yards of siniil from oil' the spit and severul londis from I lie inner liertli. Should the tide lie lavorahlc, the dredge would he iplaccd upon llw gridiron on 23rd -MarVh for <!<ivi'i'iinieiit inspection of the hull. POHKMAX'S KrIPOKT. The foreman of works reported: Thirty concrete block- have been made during the mouth, making 1)0 now on hand; 1'51i5 tons of stone were quarried and'tipped; one section of 12ft has liee n completed nt the hri'iikwater, making the total length of extension 5411 ft, Wharf Widening.—Nineteen piles (eonstiluting six bays) haw been driven, and the; work of lixing the top ami bottom witlings, fenders, anil dcrkimr is also well forward. Kightceu bays hive now hecii |iiled, being equal to 1811 ft. which is half Die length oi the present widening. Plant.—ltepaim tu the loeo. ''Driver" haw been completed, and the engine has been runnhig 'for tile last ten. days anil working well. A few repairs are now being cllVctcd to the "Kremlin." "These, however, are not extensive, and 'will Hie completed next week. Water Service. From Din middle to the end of February considerable dillicnlty litis been experienced in maintaining tile water-supply. There was not siilltcicnt wind to drive tin', windmill or water-<pressure to work n ram. The supply of 'water to steamers has been cut ofT for some days, and the work threatened to lie stopped. [ liavc therefore procured 370 ft of 3-invli pipe and laid another pi|vc from the lagoon at a lower level, with the result that a good supply has since been maintained. The overflow level of the lagoon has bei'7i raised 15 inches and an additional 200,1)00 gallons ,of water will be retained.

"I'll,, report was adopted. OPUNAKK lIAHIHH! B'l'l/L COMMITTEE. The secretary of tin- Opunake Harbor Bill Committee forwarded a copy of a resolution passed liv his eommittoe as 'follows:-"That, the New Plymouth llarlior Hoard lu> again coin niunicn ted with anil lie informed that, a iiiisvonI'l'ptioii has evidently occurred with referenee to this committee'* letter of the 21st December lust. The question asked was: As there will lie a balance in tin-, trust amount as at Slst May next, .-fnil assuming the Opunake Harbor District is from that date entirely free of liability to the New Plymouth llarlior Board,'what the Xcw il'lymouth VlarJior Board proposes to do with the surplus, part of Which will have lieen contributed by ratepayer.- of the Opunake Harbor'nistrict. and these ratepayers have a claim on same? it was decided lo inform the com.mittee that the Board had interest to meet on Ist ,\tay, and would be {{lad to know where the surplus referred to was coming from. 'MAIL SERVICE.

Tlie Chief .Postmaster (Mr. Clumpy) wrote regarding the shipping and landing of mails, and requested that the .Hoard submit an oll'cr fo r the ri'duced service as early as possible, Figures were submitted'which the Board could use to arrive at a. decision on the question: From Ist to 15th February, 100!) .(before the Slain 'frnnk line was ■opened). 1.'17<1 hags and 2:1(1 hampers were received, and <!G4 bags and 224 hampers despatched. From loth to 27th. 'February (since the Main Trunk line opened) :U!) bugs and 12(1 hampers were revived and 145 Oxigs and 117 hampers despatched.

The cluiirinan mentioned that hitherto the charge had been £2OO per annum, and it was ipofcited out that although the mimlier or bags and hampers liad been reduced, the actual duties would not he lessened. After some discussion it was decided (hat the 'charge he rechrccd to £l5O per year. WHARF EXTENSION.

Thi' Board's engineer, Mr. F. W. Marchant, wrote stating that he had communicated with Captain Bone (representing the Marino Underwriters' Association) 'with a view of getting the captain 'to accompany him to New Plymouth to inspect tlie wharf extension work. Captain Bone had signified his willingness to make the visit at a fee of 20 guineas for two days. After that period an extra charge 'would be made. The engineer slated that the work could be easily and thoroughly looked into in. less than the time stated. Mr. Wilkinson moved that Mr. Mareh'ant be informed that the Board is agreeable to Captain Bone's oll'cr. and that a suitable date be arranged for inspection. 'Mr. Price seconded. Mr. Hughes asked 'whether llie opinions of the captains visiting tlie port could also be (Obtained on the matter. The chainnira thought that Mr. Marchant wtould not overlook this point. From wliat he knew of the. engineer's methods he was satisfied that the Board .could rely on Mr. Marehant getting all available information before reporting to the Board. The motion was adopted. WHARF TLMBER. Messrs. ,1. W. Wallace and Co., the .contractors for timber, wrote stating that the (inn had experienced great dillicnlty in chartering vessels for the New Plymouth port. The timber was all cut, however, and there was little doubt that ihe order would lie executed within (lie six weeks specified. It 'transpired that the timlier was now arriving at the wharf in a satisfactory manner.

ELECTORAL HOrXDARIES. A letter was received from the Murine Department re I lie Hoard olitniiiiin» nn Ordcr-in-Council to empower it to niter its electoral boundaries. It had liei'ii pointed out to tile Department Unit the Hoard had already made new electoral wards without the sanction of the idovcrnoi'-iii-Coiiucil. The Department asked it this was the case, and. if so, when and under wlifll authority this was done. it wa- rei-ohcl thai the Department he notified that the boundaries did not mine- into force until Ist, May, and that the necessary Onler-iu-Pouucil be applied for before Ilia, time. MOW ZEALAND fKMKXT. Mr. Wilkinson, in accordance u'ilh notice of million, moved that the ad-vi-abilily of X.ew Zealand cement, lieinj; used 'ill Ihe lireakwlater.be considered liv the I oniil. There was a material dilVercnce in the cosll. The cement at presenl it'sod t-os't the Hoard 12s S>/.d per cask landed, whereas a similar ipianlity of New Zealand cement would cost lln ori)irobably under that amount. His resolution did not bind the Board to buy Xew Zealand cement. He desired that tlie 'trial be |»ivcu. and suggested that wimples of New Zealand cement be. sent to London for a fhoroii}fli test ,11ml analysis. He thought the quality (if the local article fully eipial in.ipialily. elieaiper in price, and, further, !lh« money would he kent in the country. It should be the. duty of a public bodv to foster lorail industry, Air. Wells' seconded. Mr. Maxwell stated that the matter had been tliranhed out I>y the lioard on former occasions. Personally he liiul a. very opinion of Xcw Zealand cement, lie 'had used it h'nuseli and found it particularly good. Further, lie had used it with the English article, and found it answered his purpose even better titan the English cement. At the same time, it 'would hardly be judicious on the part of the Board to change from nu article that had given absolute satisfaction oyer ,a period of years, lie would point out that the work w,as too important, to experiment with. He would suggest that several blocks lie made of New Zealand cement and used on work that 'was not of vital importance. Mr. Ward thought the motion should be withdrawn until the full Ibard wis "Messrs. Price and M'vC'luggagc agreed with the chairman's suggestion. Further discussion followed, and eventually Mr. AVilkiuson adde.l. "that Mr. MaMianl be iisked to furnish a full rcipoif on the question." in this form the motion was carried. At'COI'XTS. Accounts 'amounting to tIBUS weTe passed for payment.