TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2243, 20 August 1891, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present —Messrs E. Acton (chairS. Gibson, I. L.Morris, J. Wilson. J, Manchester, J. Talbot, F. R. Flatman, G. Stumbles, J. Hill, and W, Evans, COIiKESPOXOENCE. The member for Timaru sent a copy of the report of the New Plymouth Harbour Loan Committee, and asked for the boai’d’s opinion on the recommendation that the . Government should take over the Harbor Board’s liabilities, giving Government bonds in exchange for the harbor debentures,

Mr Gibson moved, and Mr Morris seconded—“ That in answer to the letter of the member for Timaru re the New Plymouth Harbor Board debentures he be informed that in the opinion of this board it is extremely dangerous for the Government to establish a precedent that the State is in any way liable to debenture-holders for local loans; that the New Plymouth district have no claim for total exemption from harbor rates, but may have an equitable claim upon the Government for the restitution of the original securities; that should the other boards make default the same- argument may be used against the excessive competition of the State railways.” Mr Talbot thought it would be in rather bad taste for one harbor board to do anything in opposition to another, when they did not fully understand the circumstances. After some discussion the motion was put and carried. STANDING COMMITTEE. The Standing Committee report was read. The recommendations of the committee respecting the insurance of the tug and the gift of timber and metal to the Borough Council were adopted, and the following resolution carried respecting overdue rates :

Moved by Mr Gibson, and seconded by Mr Wilson—“ That the secretary, be instructed to give notice to the Waimate County Council, the Geraldine County Council, and the Timaru Borough Council, and they must at once take necessary steps to complete the collection of the harbour rate for the year 1890, and use due diligence in collecting and forwarding their several amounts to this office ; failing which the matter will be placed in the hands of the board’s solicitors.” The Standing Committee were authorised to dispose of the Duke of Sutherland wreckage which has been recovered, the permission of the Customs Department having been obtained. After consulting with the engineer, it was decided to order from Home a couple of tons of steel plates and bars for repairs to dredge buckets. The lease to the company of the old baths having expired, and offers having been made to lease them, it was agreed that they should first be offered to the Borough Council, who have the lease of Caroline Bay for bathing purposes. engineer’s report. Mr F. W. Marchant submitted a long report on his visit to Southland to inspect pump dredges at work. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT.

The harbormaster reported the arrival of 19 steam and 6 sailing vessels during July. The weather during the month was fine. He enclosed a list of spare anchors and chain, which not being required might be disposed of. The usual soundings taken during the month were satisfactory. THE SHINGLE AND RETRENCHMENT. Mr W. Evans, after a few preliminary remarks, proposed to move that all contracts entered into and work put in hand in connection with the shifting of the 1 shingle be suspended for six months, but it was pointed out that such a motion could not be' made without notice, as it traversed a former resolution. Mr Evans therefore decided to give notice, in the following form :—“ That the resolution of 17th June, re dealing with the shingle accumulation be rescinded, that all contracts entered into and works now _in operation in connection with the shifting of shingle (in accordance with the combined engineers’ report) be entirely sus-

pended for six months.” Mr Evans then moved—“ That a committee consisting of Messrs Gibson, Manchester, Talbot, and the mover be appointed to investigate the wages sheet and all outgoing expenses of the board, past and present, the cost of working and so on, the report to be in by next meeting.” His reason for desiring the investigation was that harbor boards all over the colony were cutting down expenses. Mr Hill briefly seconded the motion. Mr Stumbles spoke in favor of it, and was instancing as a case of waste the employment of day labor in building the hopper, when the chairman pointed out that such details were for the proposed committee to inquire into. , Mr Gibson asked that his name_ be withdrawn, because every month, before the board met, he had made it a practice to go through the accounts and pay sheet, and see if the charges were fair, and if he thought an item was an overcharge

he reported it. As to going into past accounts it would be a waste of time, and he had no time to waste. Mr Evans said he did not intend to go into past accounts; but he declined to eliminate the word “ past.” Mr Talbot could see no use in it. It was only a little while ago that the board went into the whole thing. It would be sufficient for the Standing Committee to look into such a matter, and as Mr Evans was now (as a town member) a member of that committee he could get all the information he wanted. If the town members could make any useful recommendations the country"members would' be only too glad to fall in with them. Mr Evans said he was not aware that he was a member of the Standing Committee, and amended his motion to read, “ That the Standing Committee Investigate” &c. He again declined to give out the word “ past.” Other members might know all. about the past but he did not, and he wanted to know. Mr Gibson :It is superfluous. It is the very work the Standing Committee does. Mr Evans : You may think soI don’t. The motion was put and carried, Messrs Gibson, Wilson and Manchester voting against it. Mr Flatman asked (for the information of outsiders) whether the appartus for the shingle lifting experiment' was going to run into much money. He voted for it on the distinct understanding that it would not cost more than £SOO. The engineer said it would be nothing like that. ACCOUNTS. The wharfage returns for the four weeks ended 20th June were reported by the Railway Department to have been £441, and for four weeks to July 18th, £421185.

Accounts amounting to £1022 17s 9d were passed for payment and the board rose.

" Alexander Dunyas, a Palmerston North surveyor, is missing from Wellington, . (