HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 98, 22 May 1909, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

The Harbor Board met yesterday. There were present: Messrs'. E. Maxwell (chairman), J. Ward, R. Price, C. A. Wilkinson, D. J. Hughes, and W. T. Wells. Mr. Joseph MoCluggage forwarded au apology, aud was granted leave of absence. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The foreman, Mr. F. Henderson, reported as under:— Breakwater Extension.—The weather during the past month has not been [ favorable for work at the breakwater extension. Very heavy north-west seas occurred on the 23rd April and on the 10th instant, which scoured away the rubble and displaced a ■number of blocks at the front, thereby exposing the superstructure to the full force of the sea, which resulted in the last section being badly shaken and partly undermined. The wihole of the blocks comprising this section had to be removed, and will have to ibe rebuilt. This undermining whicß takes place at the end with exceptionally heavy seas is unavoidable while the work of extension is in progress, but the damage done is not so extensive as on previous occasions, and can be replaced in a few days of fine weather. Twenty-four concrete blocks have been made, and 1135 tons of stone have been quarried and tipped. Wharf-widening.—At the wharf-widen-ing 20 piles, constituting five bays, have been driven, and the work of fixing waling*, decking, and kerbing dias been carried forward 50ft. Plans of strengthening beams required for two cross-over roadg have been received from'the Railway Department, and as the wharf is i now piled to within !)oft of the end, the whole of the work should be completed by the end of August, i Gravel for Concrete. During the i month a further quantity of 285 yards ; of gravel has been taken "from the Mikotahi inlet. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT.

The harbormaster. Captain C. E. Hood, reported t'luit during the month there had been 50 steamer berthings at the •wharf, the aggregate gross tonnage amounting to -18.2-11 tons. Imports were (SUBS tons, including Dlili tons of railway coal and 1252 tons of private coal. Exports amounted to 1048 tons', making a total of 77.13 tons of cargo handled. During the five weeks moderate weather had Ven experienced, but on Friday, 2Mb April, there was a heavy northwest gale and very high s eas, the heaviest for t'he past seven years. The dredge worked on 1!) days, making 109% trips, removing 10,170 cubic yards of sand and silt from the inner berth and off the spit.

,TIIE OPUNAKE DISTRICT. ■Mr. G. W. Rogers, secretary of the Opunake Harbor Bill Committee, forwarded the following resolution:—This committee understands from the report of the New Plymouth Harbor Board proceedings that* the Board now admits that there will be a surplus in the trust account as at Ist May next, and that sik j li surplus will-be land revenue. This committee will lie glad to know the method by which this statement has been arrived at. It appears' to this committee that the surplus in the trust account should not exceed 10 per cent. of the rate levied, and as the surplus, with land revenue accrued to Ist May, will probably exceed 40 per cent, of the rate, this committee considers the last rate made to have been illegally made. This committee reiterates its former proposal, that if the Board concedes this and agrees' to refund to the Opunake harbor district its share of the surplus, to waive its objection.

The, secretary, in reply to tins chairman, stated that the actual surplus was £538 Itis 4d, or about ti 1 /. per cent., not 40 per cent., as -supposed by the Opunake people. There was a 'month's land revenue, about £4OO, to be added.

• The chairman said that it was impossible to allow any such refund. If the Board did pass such a resolution and make the payment, no auditor would pass it, and file members would have to pay it out of their own pockets. If the Board had paid off the whole of the old loan, the position would have been different. As, however, C13.J.000 of the new loan had been obtained for the purpose of redeeming the old loan, there could be no surplus for division amongst the ratepayers.

'Mr. Hughes' said the Opunake people talked of litigation. The chairman said they liad no case, and there was no fear of litigation. A reply will be sent on the lines of (he chairman's remarks. lIAXDIdXC MAIL .MATTER. A letter was received from Mr. W. J. Chancy, Chief Postmaster at Xew Plymouth, in reference to the question of remuneration to the Hoard for the handling of mails, etc..at this port. He was directed by the head office to inform the Board that the Department was willin« to pay at the rate of Ci:>ll per annum from tV l.Mh February for the work, with the stipulation that should t!i» mim'.w of trips lie curtailed, (he subsidy should lie reduced by .fJO per annuni, and on resumption „f tlie regular running the rate of .Cl.il) he reverted lo again. Since the negotiations started, the I nioii and Northern Companies had each cut out a trip, thus reducing the number to four instead of cix per week as heretofore.—The Board decided to accept the terms.