HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 97, 19 September 1914, Page 7

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of thtr New Plymouth Harbor Board was (held yeistcrday, there boing present Messru, J. B. Coiuiett (chairman), E. Maxwell, 1). Jlugiues, E. Docfaill, o McCluggage, an<l C. E. Ifellriiiger. Mr Newton Kiivj; took his seat shortly .before the meeting concluded. Apologies were received for the ah- I stnee of Messrs Wilkinson and Marx, j The Board went into committee to • consider a report on proposed rentals oi | reserves on renewal of leases. I

On resuming the committee's report was adopted.

HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The Harbormaster reported that during the four weeks ending Sept.'l2, 23 etsfl/mcra, and one auxiliary schooner, aggregating 24,005 tons, had fcntcred iiud left the port. The".imports amounted to 7527 tons, of ■which 2D01) consisted of coal, 1375 tons being for the Railway Department. The exports of produce snd sundries amounted to 534 tons making a total of 8101 tons handled. Soundings had been taken on the 9th JOth and 15th. The report was received.

FOREMAN'S REPORT. The foreman. Mr. F. Hendenson, reported that the weather far the last 'month had been very favorable, and both dredges had been able to work full time. The Paritutu .had lifted 34 loads widh the pupm from the fain-way in i'/, days, and SO loads from the second basin cut with itlhe bucksts for 18 days' work a total of 94. loads, equal to 37,000 tons. One day had b«n occupied in shifting moorings, and half a day in coaling. 'flu' second' basin cut had been carried outwards for 200 feet, and inwards for 400 feet from the end of the wharf at a depth of 18 feet. The Thomas King iliad pumped at the breakwater bank and the west side of the wharf on 2-1 days, and removed Ml loads, equal to 12,880 tons.

Eight .piles (had been driven in the eld site of the wharf and four sots of ibottom waling* had been renewed, and three additional concrete 'blocks placed on the breakwater apron. The quarry crane, had been cleaned, the ten iron tip-waggons cleaned and painted. A plan and estiimites had been prepared for the proposed improvements to the electric lighting of the whaxf. The; report was received.

PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM. On the question of calling for tenders for supplies, Mr Maxwell urged that as far us possible ionly Britit/h goods should be obtained but it was pointed out that such a proviso would exclude Belgian miiMufactuTes. .Mr Bellringer suggested that for the time being tilie Board should go from band to mouth iu procuring requirements. Mr Maxwell mioved that tenders for supplies Ibe tailed, and that Gorman and Austrian goods be birred.

The motion wu carried, CORRESPONDENCE. The manager of the Paparox Coal (Mining Co. forwarded a report on the steaming qualities of smokeless J'aparoa coal, and offered to give the Board a trial shipment before next year's contracts were arranged.—The "Board decided not to accept the offer. The New Plymouth Borough. Council wrote applying for .pcnnisaiwi to remove 'bouldeTs from the beach between the Bathis and the Breakwater, at least cue chain below high water mark. It was puinleJ Out t' ni, t if t»e r<?q™*t were complied with the breaking of the bouldcirs would give work to the unemployed.—The request wis declined, tlu' Board having given an undertaking to the Railway Department not to allow boulders to be removed from) the beadi.

Tim New Plymouth Borough Oounc! also wrote for permission to lay a six inch water main along the breakwater for supplying water to the shipping, rt Icing suggested tliat a scheme could probably be| arranged for 'the water »upply to be under the control of the BoarJ, the Council supplying the water at a fixed charge f?r thousand gallons and the Board collecting from the shipowners. It was p<> ted out that the wpplv would rrive JV lioard s-mj'l.' water for ordinary and / ire P>'f ™ tlo [' p,,rp,^«-Tl le revert *,' ?« the Hiaving a suffie>en." vuXtr supply of' ?-te own.

EXTORTIONATE 'BANK CHARGES. The chainmijj, in mentioning the Einount paid /. die Board for remitting money to recJ'Utly, said that the merchants a n traders at .New Zealand had betii a< sed to order as much as possible from England instead of reducing orders, ar.d to> pay promptly, pointed tut that the banks were making it hard for this worthy object to be carried out. He went 'on to say that on the last iremittanee the Board Imd jnado of money to London, the bank iliad raised the rate of exchange from one-eighth per cent, to six-eighths, so that it was .evident the banks .were taking advantage of the present trouble to put money into their pockets. Mr Hughes suggested that the matter should be 'broujfiit to t'ha attention of the Premier. Mr. Maxwell contended that while there might he a reason for a .slight increase, ia the rate of exchange, 'there was no justification for a rise of COO per cent., which he characterised as extort ionate.

The secretary stated tb»t oni the previous remittance the exchange had been £1 15s Gd but the last had cost £4O 12s 9d.

Mr Hughes moved that ithe attention of tile Premier 'be called to the fction of tho Bank of New.Zealand in raising the rata of exchange on London fuom y a to 6-Sth per cent., and in charging exchange on the tank's commission, thereby penalising the Boards funds. (Mr Bc-llringer expressed, the opinion that if all institutions in, the country adopted the same tactics it would mean absolute r.uiin. Some discussion ensued in whicli there was a consensus 'Of opinion that thj rction of the banks was detrimental to the best interests of tho Dominion, am! it was suggested that, as all tJie. Lank:i had agreed to charge the increased rate, trey should ibe included in the motion, but eventually it was decided to confine tho Board's action to the Bank of New Zealand, with, whom tihe Board hud been dealing.

Tlie motion was carried .unanimously by the members present, but on Mr N. King subsequently taking. Jiis seal, and being informed of tho resolution, he cxpmised bis regret that it bad been passed. A further resolution of a drastic nature on tho same subject was treated as being .passed hi comjmittee.

GENERAL. The question of dealing with tenders for ire-wiring the wharf fcr lighting purposes wm referred to the clhiurmaTi i «1 Mctisra Dockrill and Bellringtr, witii power to act. Accounts amounting to £77GG 5s 5d mere passed for payment.