HARBOR BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 70, 19 April 1909, Page 4

HARBOR BOARD

', MONTHLY MEETING. The adjourned monthly meeting of the New Plyiuoutu Harbor Hoard was h.'ld vesterdiy. Present: Messrs E. Maxwell tin the chair). J. Ward, J. Mc-Clu-a'agc, R. Price. C. A. Wilkinson, D. ,!. Hughes and W. Wells. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. Captain C. E. Hood, reported that during the live week" end- j fa* April Mill, there had b.'en 42 steamer''berthings at the wharf, the aggrc";tte gross tonnage amounting to :W,>2.S tons. Imports were 4107 tons, including 400 tons of private coal and «o tons of railway coal. Exports were 127(1 tons, making a total oi 5473 tons of cargo handled. During the five weeks very fine and dry weather had been experienced, except on Saturday and Sunday, April 10th and 11th, when there was very heavy weather. The dredge worked on twelve days, making !)!»'/. trips, removing 5870 cubic yards of sand from the now berth and outer spit. The dredge was laid up for three days for Government inspection and cleaning and painting the hull. FOREMAN'S REPORT. . The foreman, Mr. F. Henderson, reported on works for the past month. Breakwater extension.—Twelve concrete blocks had been made for the 'breakwater extension, the number on hand now. being a hundred. The quantity of .stone quarried and tipped was 1193 tons. Owing to broken weather. <ind to tlie cessation of work for tV* Easter holidays, lie had been unable to complete a sectiou. Wharf widening.—Thirteen piles, constituting four bays, had been driven at the wharf widening, and the work of fixing braces, walings, etc.. had been correspondingly advanced. A loss of two days was incurred in effecting repairs to the pile derrick, and one day was lost through rain. Gravel.—{lravcl was again very plentiful at -the Mikotahi inlet from the 19tib March to Bth April. Three hundred and eighty-four cubic yards had been lifted, the working time being 4(1 hours, and the average cost l()'/»d a yard, including labor and coal for loco' and crane. THE PASSENGER TAN.

iThe Union and Northern Steamship Companies submitted a request that the poll-tax on passengers passing over the wharf be abolished, owing to their haTlug reduced the* passenger fares.

The chairman could not see that the Board could possibly entertain the request. Members concurred, and it was deided to inform the companies to this effect.

The chairman took exception to the term '•poll-tax." It was (purely a hertliage charge, and to remit it would be 'giving them 'lietter terms than were offered in respect of other boats.

VREIWIT CHARGES. Mr, Wilkinson referred to the increasc'of 25 per cent, imposed by shippine companies on freights «t the port. This was laving a very detrimental effect upon the revenue of the Board, and would also have the effect of reducing the'urea that, would be served by the harbor. It was practically cutting out Kltham and driving the trade of that district, so far its the Wellington shipments were concerned, to Pateii. He himself had recently imported a xlirpment of 20 tons of nails ami wive, which had oven ordered to be sent through Wellington and New Plymouth. But when he found Unit the freight to Xcw iPlymouth Mas Increased by As (id per ton. he had been compelled to order the cargo through Patea. .Many lines from ths south, grass-seei l ;. (for instance, would be iost altogether, for far more favorable terms could be obtained from the Railway Department for freights from Wellington.

The matter was held over till next meeting, and in the meantime all available information on the matter is to be obtained. HANDLING THE MAILS.

Mr. W. J. Chaney, Chief Postmaster at New Plymouth, naked the Board to reduce its charge of tl.jt) per annum fo r landing and checking mails. He pointed out that the work had been considerably lessened as the result of the opening of the Main Trunk line. In answer to a question, the harbormaster said that the amount of work and supervision did not decrease in :i like proportion to the amount of mail matter handled.

The chairman'pointed out that there •was a danger, of course, of the (ioverntiient deciding to send the mails round by the Main Trunk line. Mr. Wilkinson said there was little chance of ■that.

11l the discussion reference was made * to tile "unearthly hours of (lip iiiglit" at which the work had been dune.

Jt was decided to reply to the letter, pointing out that tfcre was no reason ior a reduction of (he chaise. A SKKIOVS EUUOfi.

Mr. V. W. Jlarchant, C.K., wrote that owing (o the. misreading of his specifications there lintl been shipped to the Manners' Association at Tiuiaru for this lioard 30.720 dog spikes instead of 32(111. He hail refused to (ake any more spikes than 320U.and had given instructions to have the rest shipped back to the Kngland to the persou who made the mistake.

Air. C. A. Wilkinson commented -trongly upon the action of the Hoard's engineer in indenting these won't through ihc Farmers'"Association at Timaru. There were New I'lvmoiith merchants, he said, who had equal buying facilities at Home, and surely thev *lionld have the opportunity of handlin'" the goods for (heir own harbor. ° Mr. Marchant will be asked a niicstinn upon the point at (he next meet- «';.' of the Board. ACCOI'XTS.

Accounts were iiassvd: -General account mS 18s 4J: trust account ±•1038 4s fld. ■