MOKAU HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1921, Page 2

MOKAU HARBOR.

MEETING OF THE BOARD. The Mokau Harbor Board met on the 13th inst., the chairman (Mr. S. Whitehead) presiding. Other members present were: Messrs. A. G. Sampson, A. W. Sole, W. D. Black and J. R. Terrill. A letter was received from Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., forwarding the Minister of Marine’s sanction to ask the Awakino County Council to appoint two suitable persons to fill the vacancies at present existing on the Mokau Harbor Board, without- the expense of an election. It was resolved to recommend Mr. Geo. Sage and Mr. J. W. McKeown as suitable persons for the council’s consideration. The Marine Department advised it had paid in to the Bank of New Zealand, the first half-yearly instalment of the grant of £l5O recently placed on the Estimates for the board’s assistance. The Lands Department advised that the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, in answer to a petition of residents and settlers of the district, would, during ths recess, pay a visit to, and decide for himself, the advisability or otherwise of the Government acquiring the Manga-Awakino block on the Mokau river for closer settlement. The willow menace on the Mokau river was discussed. The chairman stated that Mr. Ball, district engineer at Stratford, had had very considerable experience in dealing with the pest elsewhere, and recommended ring-barking as the only really efficacious method he knew of to get rid of it. Mr. J. R. Terrill opined it was the weeping willow Mr. Ball had probably had to contend with, whereas the Mokau willow was of the “basket” variety. Ring-barking might be successful with the former, but would have no effect on the latter. Tke matter was dropped for the time being. The secretary was directed to procure certain information required by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce at New Plymouth, and to forward it on to that body, through its chairman, Mr. E. P. Webster. This had reference to the river, and the coal and lime deposits thereon.

Speaking of the lime, Mr. W. D. Black stated he was personally acquainted with the quality of this, and the Government analyst had given the analysis as from 85 per cent to 95 per cent according to where the limestone was taken from. There were several large deposits. With regard to the construction of the snagging punt, the timber, etc., for which wae to hand some time atro, the chairman reminded members th..u the calling for tenders early in the season had produced no response. He asked for an oxpression of opinion on the matter now. The opinion was expressed that it was too late to do any enagging in the river this season, allowing for the time the punt would take to put together: that to have it constructed and not used, would mean a deal of careful watching throughout the winter months; that the best thing would be to arrange with some firm to do the work immediately bdfore tlxe time the ..snagging season commenced and then go right on. The secretary was authorised to make all necessary enquiries, and to report to Messrs. Whitehead and Sampson. With reference to the secretary’s salary, it was proposed by Mr. S. Whitehead “That the secretary’s salary be increased by £3O per annum, and that he be paid a bonus of £l5 for the year ending December 31, 1(920.” The secretary expressed his appreciation of this action on the part of members, and trusted the board had better times in store.