HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1919, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday there being present: Messrs! N. Kin" Hin.innaa), C. K. Bellringer, JO. J. MeUtajnigc, .T. S- Connett, G. McUuinness, jf. 'M:\xwcll. Apologies for absence were received l'roui Messrs C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., and D. J. Hughes. THE HARBOR-MASTER'S REPORT. The Harbormaster (Captain Waller) reported that 29 vessels had visited the port during the month, of an aggregate tonnage of 38,050 tons. The imports amounted to 8142 tons and exports 4059 tons. Eighty-nine tons of coal were landed for the Government. The British India Co.'s s s. Orissa arrived on May 11 from Wellington. She landed 70 tons of coal and loaded the oil refinery plant amounting to 003 tons:, for transhipment to the Persian Gulf. She left on May 21. The S.S. and A. Co.'s liner ICia Ora arrived from Lyttelton on May 28 and loaded COO tons of frozen meat, leaving for Waitara on May 30. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr J. Blair Mason) reported that the dredge Paritutu was absent in Wellington, under-going repairs and overhaul, from May 10th to June 15th. The lower walings and bottom ends of the diagonal wharf braces are in many eases entirely eaten away and require immediate attention. Totara timber has been on order for this work since last June, but less ,than half the quantity ordered has come to hand, and that only during last month. Inquiries as to the delivery of the balance wert being made, but no advice is to liana. As the timber ordered would not be sufficient for the repairs, a further 40,000 feet were required. Some of the wharf and mooring piles are broken and otherwise damaged and required renewing. It was proposed to purchase 30 piles for this work, and inquiries were being made at other Dominion ports. Several of the piles need re-coppering; also some of the deck planks require renewing. The contractor for the installation of the cargo lights on the wharf has had difficulty in obtaining suitable plugs and other fittings, hence the delay in completing the work. It is however, well in hand, and the lights can be used by vessels. The railway siding to the quarry is being overhauled ready for getting out stone for the breakwater extension. As soon as the quarry foreman arrives it is proposed to open out a trial face seawards of Paritutu for the purpose of testing the quality of the stone. Gravel has been in big demand but unfortunately none has washed into the crevice at Mikotahi during the month. A quantity washed ashore on the north end of the beach opposite the powder magazine to which a temporary tramway line was laid on the beach, the gravel being hauled and lifted by the erane into the railway truck. Every opportunity was being taken to secure all the gravel possible. During the month the staff has been principally engaged in loading the oil refinery plant, lifting gravel from the beach, renewing wharf walings and building a new house for the 5-ton erane. The report was adopted and the requisitions applied for authorised, GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr. Bellringer, the board agreed to set up a permanent committee designated the general purposes and reserves committee and referred to it the following matters for a report:— (1) The utilisation of such parts of the reserve at Moturoa as may be suitable for the erection of homes for the board's parmanent employees, and all details referring thereto. (2) The establishment of a superannuation fund for the board's permanent employees. (3) The question of a more satisfactory system of accident insurance for the board's workmen.

Mr. Bellringer pointed out that unless the men employed on the harbor were decently housed the best results could not be expected. The board was going to have a considerable number of men employed and needed to find places for them and their families to live in. He pointed out that the board was in a favorable position if it came to building concrete houses as it had suitable land, gravel from the beaches, and an engineer who had made a study of the subject. Mr. Bellringer mentioned other boards that were taking steps to establish superannuation funds for employees and referred to the unsatisfactory nature of the present system of accident insurance.