HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 296, 9 May 1911, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MEETING OF THE NEW BOARD. ! 'I In' first ii"'ctiii£! "f «he Usirbor Board as constituted under the new Act wa» hold yesterday morning, when there were present: Messrs. ]!. C'onnett, Newton King, 15. Maxwell, C. A. Wilkinson, D. <l. Hughes, 15. Dockriil, J. Alt—-(-'luggage, W. Swadling, and C. 15. Belllinger. ELECTION OF CIIAIRMA-V ■Mr.C. A. Wilkinson remarked tliitt he had miii'li pleasure in moving that Mr. .1. B. Connelt should lie re-elected chairman. He (lid not think it was necessary to speak any further to the motion. Mr. King seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. J. B. Connctt, in returning thanks for his re-election, stated that it was very gratifying to liim to feel that lie had' the continued confidence not only of the electors, hut also of the board. It was now 3(3 years since he had first been elected to the board, and during the last ten years he had been chairman. He trusted that his actions during the year would be such as to show that their confidence had not been misplaced. TREASURER. On the motion of Mr. E. Maxwell, seconded by Mr. Dockrill, Mr. Newton King was unanimously re-elected treasurer of the board. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The whole board was appointed a Works Committee. The U oi'Ks Committee will meet on the day previous to the ordinary monthly meeting. ' DATE OF MEETING. The date of the monthly meeting was 1 fixed for the third Friday in each month. OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Mr. D. J. Hughes moved that the following resolution be forwarded by wire to the Hon. R. McKenzie. Minister of Public Works, at llawera: "That when the route of the proposed railway to Opunake is being considered this board desires to point out that it is a practical certainty that ocean liners of the largest tonnage will be able to berth at the port of New Plymouth inside ot two years, and it is confidently expected that this great work when accomplished will revolutionise pre.sent shipping methods in the province of Taranaki. This board also desires to further emphasise that when the port is completed, (1) Taranaki as a province wi,l have direct shipping facilities to and trom any port in the world; (2) the e< necntration of shipment of exports tin ough this port will be brought about li f economic conditions, and thus do awty with the present primitive methods of coastal shipment; (3) the question of direct imports is also a vital one, flitd the distribution of shipments by rail must be a consideration when determining the route of the proposed railway." In support, he stated that it ,was merely the principle that was involved that he wished to bring before the Minister. He did not wish the board to advocate any particular route, 4 deputation, however, was waiting on the Minister at Haw era that day in connection with the Opunake railway, and he would like this resolution wired beforehand, so that he should be made acquainted with the possibilities of-the port,

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson seconded. It was not his wish to advocate aiiy particular route, but he certainly considered that it was only right that the advantages of the New Plymouth harbor should be placed under the Minister's notice, so that he might not definitely commit himself to any deputation. Messrs. Maxwell, McCluggage, King, Dockrill and Swadling also spoke in support of the motion.

The chairman said the motion was well within the mark as regarded the time when the harbor would accommodate ocean-going boats. The largest boats trading to New Zealand, such as the Athenic, would certainly be able to berth here within two years, and he said that smaller-boats trading to the colony would be able to be accommodated here within twelve or fifteen months. He certainly would support the motion. The motion vras carried unanimously. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. The superintendent (Mr. F. Henderson) reported as follows on the work for the three weeks ending May 6th, 1911: Dredge Paritutu. The Paritutu dredged with the buckets alongside of the wharf on fifteen days, net time 142 hours, and removed Ifl loads, equal to 7450 tons; also 53 boulders. Dredging lias been confined as closely as possible to the inshore berth, from which twelve loads have been taken, and the cut brought in 25ft., leaving 15ft. more to be dredged. This- may take nearly a fortnight yet, as the boulders are larger and more numerous than usual, and a greater number have tn be pulled up by the crane. The 28ft. cut has been carried in 10ft., and the 33ft. cut has been carried 30ft. during the month. Dredge Thomas King.—The Thomas King dredged on 13 days, net time 165 hours, and removed 7820 tons of sand from the breakwater.

Wharf Widening.—The remainder of the piles have been driven in the wharf approach, all cross walings and girders attached, and the decking laid. It will now be necessary to communicate with the Railway Department so that we may be supplied with detail plans of the cross-over beams on the new widening, and he had prepared a plan of the widened wharf with a general arrangement of rails to give accommodation for sheds, so that this matter may receive consideration at the same time, and thus save time and expense in carrying out alterations later on. The chairman was authorised to interview tile Railway Department in regard to position of lines and transhipment shed on the wharf. IRONSAND LEASES. The hoard went into committee to discuss the terms on which the ironsand deposits would be leased. The conditions as drawn up were approved, and tenders will shortly be called in terms of the conditions. CI I AIR JI AX'S lIONORARTUM. The chairman's honorarium was fixed at .1100 for the year.