HARBOR AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1916, Page 3

HARBOR AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF BOARD, The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), E. Dockrill, C. E. Bellringer, Newton King, J. McCluggage, D. J. 'Hughes, J. Marx"and A. E. Maxwell. CONDOLENCE. Votes of sympathy to Messrs IT. J. H. Okey, M.P., and W. A. Collis, DeputyMayor, were passed in connection with the loss of their respective sons, who had been killed in action, ■HARBORMASTER'S REPORT The harbormaster (Capt. W. Waller) reported that the arrivals in the port for the five weeks ■ ending October 14 were 2-1 steamships and one auxiliary schooner, aggregating 2.1,830 tons. The cargo landed at the Breakwater amounted to 7400 tons, 218.1 tons of which consisted of coal. Of the coal landed, IPM tons were for private use and 247 tons for the Railway Department. The exports for the five weeks referred to amounted to 72S tons, making the total quantity of goods handled during the period 8134 tons. The harbor was sounded on October 12 and 11, during favorable weather, and both the channel and swinging basin showed considerable improvement since the previous sounding. The sandbank inside the breakwater had also been much reduced, its area being considerably smaller than it was twelve months ago.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT The superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson) reported that during the five weeks ended October 14 the Paritutu worked on 29 days, the net time worked being 289 hours. Seventy-one loads of spoil, equal to 28,400 tons, were removed during the period under rev>w. Thirty-five loads were taken from the outer fairway, nine loads from the inner fairway, and 27 loads from, the first basin cut. The latter was deepened to 25 feet for the full length of 580 ft from the end of the wharf inshore. The dredge was at present at work at the outer part of the basin. The dredge Thomas King worked on 20 days, the net time being 223 hours. A total of 105 loads of spoil, aggregating 13,2<)0 tons, was removed. Concluding, the superintendent said six 40ft pinus insignia logs 'had been cut from Mr. D. J. Hughes' property for the purpose of making rolling' fenders for the wharf. Most of 'the material for the new rope shed had been delivered, and the framing had 'been erected. New chafing pieces had been fixed on all the coal-bin" piles. PRESERVATION OF PINES.

Mr. R. C. Hughes, president of the New Plymouth Beautifying Society, wrote, pointing out that the pines near the ironworks on the Paritutu reserve had been cut down. The Society asked the Board to take steps to preserve the trees, as they afforded pleasant shelter to picnic parties. Mr. C. E. Bellringer: Those trees are a very ragged lot. • It was resolved, on the chairman's motion, to write stating that the Board had sold the lease of the reserve, and that the matter of preserving the trees was therefore out of its jurisdiction. EXCHANGE OF PROPERTIES. In connection with a proposal put forward by the New Plymouth Borough Council, suggesting the exchange of certain portions of the Board's property on the sea-front for property in the borough, the Board unanimously decided to decline. TRANSFERS OF COTTAGES

A number of transfers of cottages on the beach were approved. TENDERS. Tenders with relation to the supply of ironmongery and coal were left to the chairman and Mr. Bellringcr to decide. BY-LAWS AMENDED. At a special meeting of the Board, the following resolution was passed: "That the resolution passed by the Board on Oeeembci i 7, 1!)1">, Villi reference to amending the by-laws relating to wharfagt on pig-iron, iron, steel, and lime, and the resolution passed on March 17 relating to wharfage on coal, etc., and the resolution passed on July 21 relating to 3ues payable on ocean-going vessels, be ndo'ptcd.and that such amendments to tin by-laws shall come into force on December 1, lOlli."