HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 166, 19 December 1914, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. *T Tlu ' usual monthly mooting of tho -New X lymouth Ilurbor Board was yesterday. Present, Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), N. Kins, E. Dockrill C. E. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson, D. J Hughes, J. Marx, and E. Maxwell. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster (Captain Waller) reported that during the four weeks to December 12, the arrivals at the port consisted of 23 steamships, aggregatin" '22,1C4 tons, the departures being 24 steamers aggregating 24,107 tons. The imports amounted to 4137 tons, of which 574 tons of coal wtis for private use. The exports amounted to 1370 tons making a total of 5513 tons handled. He suggested the Board should consider the advisability of dredging from the end of the swinging basin up to the Paritutu's berth 100 feet wide to a depth of IS feet, L.W.S.T. That would give a secure berth in the event of a rush of shipping, and the Paritutu could re--1 main in safety at her moorings until the berth was vacant. The report was received, no action being taken with reference to the suggestion to dredge the swinging basin." SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The superintendent of works, Mr F Henderson, reported that the Paritutu had dredged on 21 days, the net time being 240J hours, and removed 39 loads equal to 15,000 tons from the fairway with the sand pump; also 25 loads, equal to 10,000 tons, from the second basin cut with the buckets. This cut ; ' ia( l been carried outwards 100 feet f ahead of the wharf, and the dredging was still slow and difficult. Two days were lost through rough weather, during which time a number of buckets and , links were changed for repairs. Half ; i day was occupied in coaling, and lifting 214 boulders. The Thomas King : worked on 19 days and lifted 102 loads, | equal to 8100 tons from the breakwater ( bank in 15G hours, and also removed 00 boulders from the swinging basin in 34 hours. This dredge was laid up for four days through rough weather, and ; one day for boiler cleaning. Eight new ' piles had been driven on the west side Jof the wharf. The diver and crew had been engaged on 14 days in lifting i boulders from the sw'nging basin, and at under-water repairs to the wharf. Messrs Nixon had completed their electric lighting contract, a very marked improvement in the lighting of the wharf ! had been effected. ■ The report was received. THE LUPINS TROUBLE. 1 Mr King reported that Mr Hughes and himself had inspected the lupins at Bell , Block, and they found that the lupins had beaten the efforts made last year for , their destruction. Between £2O and , £3O had been spent last year on, the work, and Mr. Salway had burnt a por- . tion as an experiment, but had found . it resulted in an increase of the trouble. , He considered that the only way to , deal with the lupins was to grub them, then burn and clear the ground so as to enable a mower to out down the young shoots, which would soon be killed by 1 the process. t Mr Hughes agreed that all the Hoard . had done in .the past had been wasted, it might be advisable to let the land. Mr King, however, moved that five 1 acres of the lupins be cut down, burnt, and subsequently mowed, also that permission be given to Mr Sahvay to plough two or three acres, and this was carried. 1 WATER SUPPLY. The question of dealing with the proposal of the Borough Council to supply water at the wharf was agaki considered, Mr King advocating that the Board should have a one-inch pipe to connect with the borough service so as to supply the shipping with drinking water,.while continuing the present service from the. Board's lagoon for supplying water for boilers. It was eventually decided to com- ■ municate further with the Borough Council and to inquire as to the charge , made at the Onehunga wharf for water i supplied to vessels. RESERVES. Mr Collis waited on the Board with reference to the application of the Ngamotu Foreshore Improvement Committee to control the ground in front of tho Freezing Works. —After some discussion, the matter was held over pending certain inquiries as to the Board's position. GENERAL. In reference to the application of the Borough Council for permission to remove boulders, it was decided as the Board required the stone for its own purposes, it was unable to comply with the request. Accounts amounting to £1423 2s Od were passed for payment. The Board then went into committee.