WAITARA HARBOR BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 4

WAITARA HARBOR BOARD

MONTH!A' MEETING. j The ordinary monthly meeting of the: Waitara. Harbor Board was held yester-* day. Present: Messrs. W. F. Jenkins* (chairman), YV. Birdling, Smith, Jas. Hine, jun., and .las. llattenbury. Mr. I YV. T. Jennings, M.P., was granted leave of absence. HARBOR LEGISLATURE.

Mr. George Allport, Secretary for Marine, asked if the Board had any representations to make concerning tht amendment of the Harbors Act. Mr. Hine considered the Board should take into consideration the matter of altering the constitution of the Board. He had nothing to say against the personnel of the' present Board, bat it might happen in the future that the present system would result in the country districts being completely outvoted by the borough, where the voting qualification was wider, the ratepayer antl bis wife having votes in the borough and only the ratepayer in the country. As he read the Act, sub-section 2 ol section 12 seemed to give power to the Governor-in-Comicil to divide the district into wards. And in a combined district, as this was, any casual vacancy would I>e filled by the Governor-in-Council, whereas in a constitutent district such a vacancy would be filled by the locai authority concerned.

Mr, Cameron said the Board had''been previously informed by the Minister ot Marine that there was no power to alter the schedule to the Act under which the Board was constituted. Efforts had previously been made to have the legislation amended so as to provide for the division of the district into wards.

Mr. Rottenbury thought it would be hotter to have the district divided into wards to give fairer representation. Mr. Birdling and the chairman concurred in this view.

Mr. Roy, the Board's solicitor, attended subsequently, and, speaking offhand, said he thought the clause referred to by Mr. Hine applied in the case of the boundaries of a district 'being altered by amalgamation or addition of area, However, he would look into the matter. On the motion of Messrs. Hine and Birdling, it was decided: That if in Mr. Roy's opinion an amendment of the Harbors Act is necessary to enable the Waitara harbor district to be divided into wards or districts the chairman be cmpwwered, in conjunction with Mr. Jennings, M.P., to take steps Mich as are necessary so that the desire of the Board nray be given effect to. The proposed sub-divisions to be as follows: (1) Waitara (borough; (2) that-portion of the Clifton County Council within the Waitara Hairbor Board; (3) that .portion of the Waitara West road district within the harbor district. A SHOAL AT THE WHARF.

The harbormaster reported that soundings of the river at the wharf had revealed a shallow patch alongside the wharf between Messrs. Wood and Co.'s

and Hatrick and Co.'s buildings. The depths there at low water spring tide were from 4ft to 4ft 9in. The shallow did not extend far out from the wharf. THE DREDGE.

Captain Thompson, the harbormaster, submitted a report on the dredge. He recommended getting the dredge to -work at an early date. A smaller 'grab should be procured, as the present one was too big. A smaller grab would do quicker and more economical work. Again, the steam pressure of the boiler, which was subject to periodical reduction iiy the Government inspectors, and by the use of this heavy grab, would soon he robbed of sufficient power to work such an implement, and the Board might l>e faced with the necessity for purchasing a new boiler. The present grab had been badly strained, and the present teeth were not of the type to give good results. The extra plating on the bucket of -the grab impaired its working. The present grab, if kept, needed repair and improvement. To fit it with new 6-inch diamond teeth would cost £3O, whereas a new grail) of the "B" tvpe complete would cost £7O or £BO. The grab chain was too long, and should be shortened, and other alterations were suggested. The grab should not be used for lifting snags, but a lifter should be procured. "When the grab teeth are found to be bent inwards or upwards the fault is due to bad driving, the damage being done when the grab is given too long a drop on to stone or boulders. There is a. distinct art in managing a dredge, and a good dredge-worker will i;ot the 'feel' of his ground and caused the dredge to be moved slowly and gradually over the ground by occasional heaves on tho chains. In considering (he economics of (Iredge-workina, it should be remembered that it is not always possible for the dredge crew, apart from the driver, to be in active employment from minute to minute. Nevertheless their constant presence and attention are necessary in working tunl placing the dredge'and punt, and impressions should not be allowed to cause an idea that tho crew are not earning their money." Tn tho discussion, Mr. Tiattcnburv said it was certain that the Board would have to dredge, and thev might as well be up-to-date.

Mr. Cameron said that a new grab would have to i>e imported from England, and lie doubted whether now tcefh could be fitted to the present grab. He was not in favor of buying a secondhand' one, as suggested. The harbormaster said that the present dredge could be repaired and put in commission until a new one oould be procured, but he would not recommend that the present grab be used for other than urgent work.

Upon the motion of Mr. nine, seconded by Mr. Birdling. it was decided to repair the present grab, to order a new one from Home, and that in the meantime the present dredge he re-commis-sioned to do such work as the harbormaster thinks necessary. THE WOOL SEASON.

The chairman said that. Mr. Houghton, manager of the New Zealand Shipping ComiMny. had stated that as they wore putting in an extra wool-press, they required more shed accommodation*.—Tn the absence of a definite statement from the company, the Board could take no action, but the spirit was evident that the Jtoard would make the necessary provision at once for the increasing wool trade of the port. GENERAL. Mr. C. V. Dugdale wrote terminating his occupation of one •>£ the Board's reserves.—To he released. Mr. 0. F. Dowsett asked for a five years' lease of the reserve held by him, as under the year-to-year tenancy it was not worth while for him to grass and do other improvements.—No power to give a tenancy other than a year-to-year tenancy without submitting to puWic competition. Upon the application of Mrs. Kyle it was decided to reduce the rental' of a piece of the rivcrbank reserve occupied by her, the area bavin? been reduced. Tenders for painting" the pilot house were received as follows: T. B. McDonnell, £2l 18s; Elliott Bros.. £lO 153; A. Gilbert. £ll 2s fid (accepted). Messrs. W. M. Ballant.yne and Co., of Wellington, wrote in reference to the site for their proposed powder magazine. —The chairman explained that steps were being taken to give an entrance, as required.—To be informed according'y-

•' The Bluff Harlwr Board wrote with ! Reference to the admission of harbor board officers to the Government superannuation scheme.—No action taken. , The shipping report for the month vshdwedi that 35 vessels, of a total t ASrinage of 1047 tons, entered the port, -Un«l "35 left, of a gross tonnage of 1477 ,\W#.ijj.- ,<, ~.,,■;•; 1 r '"The"' harbormaster"'ttteo reported on necessary repairs to the sheath-piling of the wharf.—He was authorised to have the work attended to. Mr. J. B. Hoy, the Board'* solicitor, attended with draft agreements between the Board awl Captain Thompson as harbormaster, secretary and wharfinger, nd between the Board and Mr. Cameron, consulting officer.—Approved, and the seal to be affixed.

Mr. Rattenburv was appointed actingtreasurer during Mr. Birdling's absence. Accounts' were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.