OPUNAKE HARBOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 6

OPUNAKE HARBOUR

PROGRESS OF THE MONTH. MEETING OF THE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Opunakc Harbour Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs. T. P. Hughson (chairman), C. A. Trotter, C. H. Hurst, H. Young, R. C. Watson and T. H. H. Sinclair.

The works committee (Messrs. T. P. Hughson chairman, U. A. Trotter and H. Young) reported that on receipt of advice from the engineer (Mr. Vickerman) enclosing plans and specifications in connection with the tenders for wharf construction, the works committee had met on Wednesday, November 24, the foreman, Mr. W. Bowman, being also present. They had given the matter careful consideration and in accordance with Mr. Viekerman’s expressed wish,' they made certain recommendations, which had been conveyed to him by the secretary. Tenders had been advertised to close on December 13, and they recommended that an adjourned or special meeting of the board be held on December 13.

The foreman reported that the contractor had brought all the timber from the railway station now except two piles, and they recommended that if these were not delivered at once that someene else be employed to do the work in terms of the contract. They also recommended that tenders for carting for next year be called. The installation of a telephone had not yet been executed, and they recommended that it be placed in tile whare adjoining the blacksmith’s shop. Tiie wire rope off the large crane, about 100 ft. of 4-J-inch rope, had been replaced by 200 ft. of new rope. The old rope could be sold, or might be useful for a hawser for shipping. The large crane, having dealt with the large stone in the vicinity at the root of the breakwater, ail of which had been deposited in the mole, was now being shifted to Middleton’s Bay. Unfortunately one of the four axles had broken, necessitating its removal. An order was at once placed for the supply of a new’ one. Meanwhile, one of the other axles and wheels had been shifted into the other’s place, so that operations could be continued It was now being shunted backwards and downward, necessitating the shifting of sleepers and rails each time. Great care had to be exercised in consequence of the great weight of the crane, being over 70 tons. It was hoped to have had the crane in position at Middleton’s Bay last Tuesday, but the breakage had caused delay. It was, however, hoped to have the crane in place early next week.

The report was adopted and it was decided that tenders for the wharf be opened at a meeting of'the works committee on Monday, December 13. A WAIMATE RATEPAYER.

Mr. A. T. Schinkel, of Hawera, wrote expressing surprise at having received a notice regarding the Opunake harbour rate. He was, he stated, in the Waimate county, and was paying rates in that He had never voted to be included in the Opunakc harbour district area, and objected to being included in the so-called Opunake harbour .district. They never could make a harbour at Opunake, he affirmed, and it was nothing else than “slinging the money into the sea.” Patea and New Plymouth were good enough for the Taranaki district. Opunake had got the railway now for feeding the district, and it was quite satisfactory for Opunake’s requirements.

The clerk stated that there were two properties within the .Waimate county that were in the harbour district. Those properties were within the Eginont county area when the harbour district was constituted, but since then had merged into Waimate. He stated that he also sent the ratepayer a claim for the two previous years’ rates, which the lessee of the property had not paid. GENERAL. In reply to the board’s suggestion the engineer (Mr. H. Viekerman) wrote stating that they did not consider the grading on the incline could be reduced sufficiently to allow of the locomotive doing all the. hauling except at very considerable expense. Mr. H. Viekerman reported having accepted the tender of Messrs. Richardson, McCabe and Co. for the supply of turpentine piles for the wharf at a cost of £385 13s 4d, to be delivered at New Plymouth at the end of January. The matter of electric power at the works Was referred to the Opunake Power Board.

The chairman reported that the committee had inspected the smoke stack at the old boiling down works and considered that it would be suitable for the board’s purposes. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: Loan account £3928 4s 2d, and fund account' £4lO 4s sd. The loan account includes £3500 placed on deposit, and the accounts now stand as follows: Loan account, credit £1337 8s 7d; fund account, debit, £998 6s 3d.