WAITARA HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 14, 17 June 1913, Page 7

WAITARA HARBOR BOARD.

MR. JEXXIXGS "QUITE HAPPY." (From Our Own Correspondent). The monthly meeting of the "VYaitara Harbor Board was held on Friday evening, and, contrary to expectations, the members proved to be a cpmparatively happy family—for the time being, at any rate. Beyond a further formal protest by Messrs Hine, Ogle and Vaughan against Mr. Jennings' presence as a member of the Board, the business of the meeting proceeded along the ordinary lines, and the "little rift within the lute" did not "make the music mute" to any great extent. At the commencement of the meeting Mr. Jennings was not present, and after the usual period of grace, the business was commenced without him.

Mr. B. A. Singer, of Auckland, wrote, as solicitor to the trustees of Fairwether's estate, asking on what terms the Board would allow the surrender of the Club Hotel lease and grant a new lease for the remainder of the term.— The chairman suggested that the Board forthwith form itself into a valuation committee to go into the question, anl suggested that £lO5 per annum would be a fair rental for the unexpired period of 12 years. —Mr. Ogle favored setting up a special valuation committee, to report to a subsequent meeting, and the Board were engaged in a discussion on the matter when Mr. Jennings, the "causus belli" at a former meeting, arrived. He apologised for his late appearance, explaining that he had come from Auckland on purpose to attend the meeting. Mr. Hine moved, and Mr. Ogle seconded, that the matter be left to Messrs Jenkins, Ogle and Vaughan as a valuation committee. —Mr. Jennings suggest-

Ed that the committee be given power to act. He also considered that an outside valuer should be included on the committee. This brought Mr. Hino to his feet. On behalf of Messrs Ogle, Vauglmn and himself, he wished again to protest against the presence at the meeting of Mr. Jennings, who had no legal standing as a member of the Board. They would not retard the transaction of business by retiring from the meeting, as the matter was now before the Prime Minister, but they wished to have their protest recorded.

Mr. Jennings asserted that he was quite happy. He had received a communication from the Prime Minister, who referred to the receipt of a protest against his' attendance as a member of the Board, which failed to show any reason for his exclusion. He would hold his seat till his successor was appointed. The chairman said the Board had no legal authority to'ask.Mr. Jennings to withdraw.

Mr. Hicks said that apparently no action had been taken in the matter. Mr. Hine said that no doubt the Board would take action.

Mr. Hicks: Yes; perhaps they will, and it may takefive months to have any effect.

Mr. Jennings remarked that in the meantime the Board was" a happy family.

The business then proceeded without further interruption. The matter of a new lease for the Club Hotel was left to the committee previously named.

On the application of Mr. J. M. Kibby, it was decided to give Mr. H. Brabant three months' notice of the Board's intention to auction the sections now occuDied bv him. The Board's solicitors forwarded documents for execution and for the assent of the Board, which were duly attended to.

The solicitors also advised that in regard to the lands held by the Board under the Harbor Board and Borough Empowering Act, the plan was practically passed, and the lease of the magazine site would accordingly be completed shortly.

The request of the Cement Pipe Company for a ledger account with the Board wns acceded to.

A letter was received from the Prime Minister acknowledging a resolution of the Board, recommending the appointment of Mr. A. H. Halconibe as a member in the event of Mr. Jennings' appointment being terminated, and stating that the recommendation would receive consideration when any such appointment was dealt with.

The harbormaster reported that he h:?.il received from the Marine Department an amended chart, defining the position of t 1 - shoal located bv him.

A motion- by Mr. Jennings "placed on record the Board's appreciation of Caplain Thompson's services in locating the shoal.

The balance-sheet for the previous finuncial year was returned from the Audit uepartment. with the tag which has appeared on it for some years past, and it was resolved to leave' its adoption to a special meeting, to be held on the night of the Board's next ordinary meeting. Some discussion took place as to ""the state of the punt and dredge, lent bv the Board some two years ago to the bridge contractors, on the understanding that (hey returned them in good repair? The harbormaster reported that the punt was being satisfactorily repaired by the contractors, and recommended that the hoard do some caulking on its own account while the punt was jacked up —T,,e miiSr was left in his hands. Regarding the dredge, it appeared that Mr. Longstaff had reported to the Board that the contractors had failed to I :it il in proper repair, which the bridir" foreman refuted.—lt was resolved to ask the Inspector of Machinery to inspect the dredge on liehalf of the' Board.

Accounts were passed for payment to the amount of £52 IDs Od. 'Accounts paid during May totalled i'fis 7s lid. The credit balance at the bank stood at .Cl37j, and the amount on fixed deposit at .€IOOO. '

The eruptive members of the Board are, as Mr. Hine put it to the News representative, simply "sitting tight," They consider that Mr. Jennings ou<*hi not to sit on the Board, but being loath to further retard the business 'of the Board, are content to let matters take their course. What the result of their protest will be remains to be seen.