HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 285, 25 April 1911, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, Tllo monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held in the Board's office yesterday. There were present: M-essrs. J. B. C'onnett (chairman), Newton King, E. Dockrill, J. McCluggage, R. Price, E. A. Wilkinson, D. Hughes, and E. Maxwell. An apology was received for the' absence of Mr. W. Wells. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson) reported during the four weeks ending Saturday, April 13, as follows: Dredge Paritutu.—The Paritutu had dredged with the buckets alongside the wharf on eighteen days; net time, 170 hours; and had removed 25 loads* equal to 10,000 tons; also 101 boulders. Thirteen loads of the above were taken frew the inshore berth, the average loading time being 5% hours. This cut had been carried in 50 feet during the month, leaving only 40 feet more to be dredged. The remaining twelve loads were taken from the 28ft, cut, which | has been carried in (10ft. The dredge was stopped for four days for quarterly boiler cleaning, and for two days for the Easter holidays. He submitted a colored diagram showing the progress of dredging at the different depthr to date. The Thomas King. This dredge worked on nine days (net time 108 hours), removing G9 loads, equal to 5520 tons, from between wharf and breakwater. This dredge was placed upon a temporary slip, from March 15 to 31, for overhaul and Government inspection. The hull was carefully cleaned, and received three coats of paint. New chains were fitted to doors, and one new plate rivetted in the hopper. Wharf Widening.—Ten piles have been driven in the wharf approach, making, altogether, 17 now completed. The cap walings have been attached, and some of the girders laid. Three more piles will complete the approach from the breakwater, and in about a fortnight the Paritutu will have completed the dredging inshore, which will enable the wharf widening to be continued. The superintendent was authorised to proceed with the wharf widening from the shore end as soon as the dredging is finished, BEACON LIGHT. Mr. J. S. MeKellar forwarded a copy of a resolution possed by the Taranaki! Producers' Freezing Works Company on April 12, 1011: "That the application of the New Plymouth Harbor Board for permission to erect a beacon light on a .'■elected site be agreed to. subject to this company having the right to ask that the beacon be removed afte the receipt by the Harbor Board of three ■ : years' notice so to do; the annual i\ ntal of the site to be a peppercorn rental." The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, wrote that his Department had no objection to the Board erecting a beacon ofl the section known as the "Prison Reserve," in the occupation of the Department. It was resolved that a vote of thanks be accorded both the Minister of Agriculture and the Freezing Works Company, and that the Board's s*oloeitor be instructed to draw up the necessary lease. WAIWAKATIIO BOULDERS. F. T. Bel I ringer, on behalf of the Borough Council, applied for permission to remove boulders from the beach at the mouth of the Waiwakaiho river. These boulders jvere in such a position that it would be an advantage rather tha» otherwise to have them removed. The ' Council would be prepared to pay a ' small annual fee for the sole right to : remove the boulders. The chairman said that previously, ' when tenders had been let for gravel, the Board had taken special precautions to preserve the boulders, so as to avoid \ any risk of erosion. He moved tha» the matter be referred to the new Board.—M. C. A. Wilkinson seconded. I i ( Mr. Maxwell objected, as the new! Board might be somewhat changed, and would not be familiar with what had ; gone before. He objected emphatically to the removal of these boulders, as ■ t'hev were a protection to the cliff. The resolution was carried. DREDGE PARITUTU. Mr. F. W. Marchant wrote, as the representative of Messrs. Fleming and Ferguson, asking if any date had been fixed for sending the Paritutu to Wellington to go on the slip for cleaning and repairs, as he would like to time his/ visit 1o Wellington so as to fit in with the visit of the dredge there, A report was received from the Board's diver that the dredge was in good order, and it was therefore resolved not to send the vessel to Wellington for overhaul until January, 1912. IRONSAND LEASES. Mr. A. 1). Bayfield, of Nelson, wrote that he understood the Board would shortly be dialing with areas of black sand deposits, either by auction or by tender, and, with the view of tendering or bidding, he would be. obliged if the Board would supply him with all particulars as to conditions, etc., on which the Board proposed acting. He further stated that he recently visited the district, and was informed that there would probably be two areas for dis- : posal. Mr. ,T. Dameey. C.E.M.T., wrote from London, under date February 11, 1011, that In' was hoping to receive some communication which would enable him to compete on equal terms with any others who may be desirous of applying for the sand leases. Messrs. Carrick, Cowlishaw and Fisher, of Cliristchurch, were acting for him. At last meeting a letter was received from Messrs. fiarrick, Cowlishaw, Alpers and Nieho'.ls, solicitors, asking to be advised if Hie Board intended offering the two leases of the ironsand beach five miles north and south of the town. Consideration \vs then deferred till yesI terday's meeting. The Board considered the whole question of the leases iu committee, and draft conditions will be submitted at next meeting. BERTHAGE CHARGES. Mr. J. C. Webster, local agent of the Northern Steamship Company, wrote, under date April a, forwarding cheque for berthage charge on passengers, December £1:11 4s. January £172, February £l:>0 8s; total, £442 12s, under protest. The company took the strongest possible exception to the Board declining to concede the 15 per cent, allowance, as hitherto, without notifying their intention of doing so. The company had every desire to avoid unfriendly relations with the Board, but at the'same time they certainly expect the 15 per cent, to be rebated whilst the tri-weekly service in force; and trusted that this request would meet with the favorable consideration of the Board. ' In the course of a discussion it wa = pointed out. by the chairman that Ihi" 15 per cent, reduction had been made; ' as an inducement to the company to run the extra boat during the winter months, when nth n rwise rinlv a bi-week-ly service wou'd have been .run. The company, however, reverted to the biweekly service without consulting the Board, and it was considered that the proper course for the shipping company was to have applied to the Board and asked if the 15 per cent, would again be allowed when the company reverted

to the tri-wcekly service. It was also] pointed out that the company had morel than made up for the loss of the 15 per \ cent, by increasing the steamer fares. I The rebate was never intended to apply J to the summer months. I Mr. Wilkinson sai'o/ jthat the allow-] ance had been made to induce the com-1 pany to }iut on an extra boat permanently during the period in which it was taken off. Personally, lie did not like the tone of the letter; it sounded like a threat. The Board had been very reasonable in the past, and should now make a stand. Mr, McCluggage considered the letter was courteous enough. Further consideration was held over until after the luncheon adjournment, and in the meanwhile correspondence bctwee the company and the Board was looked up. On resuming, the matter was discussed, and it was resolved that the letter In acknowledged and the attention of the company drawn to a letter dated February 10," 1910, from which the Board saw no reason to depart. GExNTERAL. The next meeting will be held on May 8, 1901. The question of the sand drift at the root of the breakwater, complained of by the Railway Department, was held over until next meeting. The Taranaki County Council wrote in terms of resolution requesting ' the Board to take steps to prevent the sand from slipping off the Board's property on the Breakwater road, as the removal of these slips during the past two months has cost the Council a considerable sum, The chairman stated that the road was not its full width, and therefore the sand was coming from county property. He therefore moved that the County Council be informed that the 1 Board accepts no liability in the matter.—Carried. Accounts to the value of £2775 10s Od were passed for payment. VALEDICTORY. The chairman, referring- to the fact that this was the last meeting of the Board as at present constituted, thanked members for their assistance in the past. It was the best Board th"t li» had ever presided over. He ilso ci logised tlie good work doii »'•' the >«• retary, the th.e ,: rtir-mn-temle'nt, the dredgenutst.n, a: d. hi ftot, the whole staff. Mr. Maxwell, as W"ior member of th> Board, thanKed the. ■e'nidiniin '-r the kind reman-:!, snd ilso '<> i the consideration always shown: to members.