TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2255, 17 September 1891, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present — j Messrs E. Acton (chairman), W. Evans, J. Hill, G. Stumbles, F. R. Flatman, J. Wilson, J. Talbot, I. L. Morris, J. S. Gibson, and J. Manchester. Among other correspondence a letter was read from Mr B. Gibson, Geraldine, who purchased the wreck of the Duke of Sutherland a few days after the loss, who had been written to that if he would pay the cost of recovering the wreckage now at the breakwater (estimated at £300), he could have it; otherwise the board would proceed to sell it.—Mr Gibson wrote in reply that the board could sell or do as they pleased with the wreckage. Letters from Messrs Gaze and Archer, Temuka, were received enclosing the rates collected. The board considered that the Geraldine County Council were bound to use reasonable diligence to collect the rate, and should go to the usual length of using the court as a means of collection, if so much pressure was needed in the case of the 1 Arowhenua Town. Board or any other.

THE STANDING COMMITTEE. The Standing Committee reported as follows : “The Standing Committee met on Wednesday,9th September,for the purpose of investigating the wages sheet and all outgoing expenses of the board, past and present; also cost of working, etc., in terms of the board’s resolution. There were present Messrs Acton (chairman), Evans, Gibson, Hill, Morris, and Stumbles. “ The following motion and amendment were submitted. Motion ;— ‘ That the committee report as follows :—ln re the past expenditure of the board, tins committee have no report to offer. Ihe present expenditure The committee is of opinion that as far as the officers and men are concerned they are not paid more than the ordinary outside rates, and are not more numerous than is necessary, having due regard to efficiency.’ Amendment ‘That this committee are of opinion, after hearing the explanation given by Mr Evans, that the north mole has not been carried out according to specification, and that the matter of investigating the wages sheet with the object of reducing expenditure be left over until after next meeting of the board.’ The amendment was lost and the motion was carried. The report of the standing committee therefore is that they have no reference to make as to the board’s past transactions ; and that they are of opinion that the present working expenditure cannot be reduced without risking the efficiency of the service. « The committee have instructed Messrs Gracie, Maclean and Co. to dispose of the Duke of Sutheland wreckage by auction.” Mr Evans had refused to sign the report as a member of the committee, he disapproving of it, and now moved that the report be not adopted. A long discussion ensued. (We are obliged to hold oyer the remainder of this report until our next issue.)