HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth Harder Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs J. B. C'onnett (ehairman), Newton King, E. Dockrill. C. E. Bellringer, D. J. Hughes and E. Maxwell. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. J. B. Marx and J. McCluggage. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Mr. F. Henderson, superintendent of works, reported as follows for the five weks ending June 10: Paritutu.—TheParitutu dredged on 24 days, the net time being 207 hours. Sixty-two loads of spoil (equal to 24,800 tons) were removed. Details of dredging: At the fourth basin cut, with the buckets, five days in lifting 10 loads; at the west fairway cut, with buckets and pumpß, 11 days in lifting 26 loads; and at the outer fairway, with the sand pump, 8 days in lifting 26 loads. Dredging was stopped for five days, through rough weather, during which time the boiler was cleaned and a number of damaged buckets were changed. One day was occupied in coaling and shifting anchors. Thomas King.—The Thomas King worked on I>* days (time 122 hours) and removed 85 loads (equal to 6800 tons). This dredge was laid up for a . week owing to the illness of the master (Patterson) and fbr nine days through rain weather. Permission has been obtained to carry on dredging under an experienced hand, pending the appointment of a qualified master.

General. —Seven new braces and two sets of walings have been fixed at the wharf. Eighty sheets of 18oz Muntz sheathing will be required for the proposed dolphin piles. Hands have been engaged for some days in clearing blackberry and gorse off the petroleum lease. The fencing is generally in a very bad condition, and stray cattle are becoming more troublesome. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT.

The harbormaster (Captain Waller) reported that for the five weeks ending June 10, 27 steamships, aggregating 27,009 tons, arrived at the ports. The imports amounted to 9944 tonn, 2403 tons of which was coal, 1781 tons being for private use and 082 tons for the Railway Department. The exports for the same period amounted to 452 tons, a total of 10.390 tons handled. The harbor was sounded on the 19th lilt, during fine weather.

harbor boards' conference.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Harbor Boards' Association of New Zealand re holding the seventh annual conference this year. The conference, which should have been held last year, was postponed by the executive in view of the special circumstances then arising out of the war after opinions oif the members of the association had been obtained. As the conditions still maintained it was now proposed to call together a meeting of the executive committee to again consider the position. In order that the decision come to may be agreeable to the whole of the members, he asked for an expression of opinion from the Board, also what remits the Board would have to bring before the conference if it were held, or before the executive in the event of there not being a conference. He pointed out that the usual municipal conference was not being held, but there was one matter that would have the early attention of the conference or of the executive committe if a conference was not held, viz., the action of the New Zealand and Imperial Governments in claiming exemption from harbor dues for vessels under Government charter carrying freight-earning cargoes. This exemption of Governmentchartered vessels ?arrving freight-paving cargoes (as apart from bona fide transports carrying troops and military stores and material) was having a serious effect upon the revenues of the boards, and the association was now taking up the matter with- the Government with a view to protecting the interests of its members.

On the motion of Messrs Maxwell and King, it wiir resolved to strongly urge that the conference should be held. .chiefly on account of the. loss of dues on vessels under Government charter. The chairman and Mr. Maxwell were appointed delegates to the conference.