Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2891, 22 May 1878, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

A special meeting of this body was held at the Borojgh Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. There were present —Mr Davies (Chairman), Messrs Wilson, Gibbons, Bagnall, and Mennie. THE FoBJESfIOME. The Chairman said that the meeting had been called for the purpose of considering the following letter, which had been received from the Government .—

" General Oofrn Lands Office, Wellington, ilth May, J.S7B. —vir,—l have the honor, by direct iuu of the Honorable M;nia(er of Lands, (o acknowledge the reciipt. of your lettar of the 111 h ultimo, transmitting copj of a report of the CoßißMiteerofrtbe;Harbor Boa>d appointed to inquire into the various claims in • mneclion with the proposed grant to the Board of a,portion of the foreshore, from which it is inferred that tho LSoard is willing to recognise the majority of the claims in question. Before, however, the grant is execute I it would be advisable that ihe G-overn-ment should be furnished by the Board with an acquiescence in writing by all persons haying claims to any part of tho foreshore, or whose interest's may be affected by the proposed transfer, that they are willing the Board should deal with their several claims after obtaining the grant. If this ; ' done it will prevent any poss ble complications, and pro* bably a vast amount of correspondence which may otherwise arise j and so soon rs the Gro;Ve*nment are informed that all parlies interested are satisfied with the course which it is intended *o pursue, there will be no further delay in the issue of the grant.—l have, ! &c, H. W. Ehoit, Under-Secretary for CYown Lands.

He said that he bad considered the matter of so much importance that he had called the Board together. It appeared to him that with this child's play the Goveran-ent were putting off the handing over of the foreshore from day to day. The matter could be hardly put in a more unsatisfactory state —for them to go round aud see all the different parlies baring claims ou the foreshore, and get them to sign the agreement referred to. It. was not likely those parties would agree to the bandiug over of the foreshore if they could help,it, when that act would cause them to pay rent.

Mr Bagnall said that the people having claims might object to ibe Government handing over the foreshore before their claims were settled. The Government should have settlrd the matter them* selves. He suggested (bat the Chairman and some members of the Board should wait on tho Premier and Mr Sheehan with reference to this matter.

The Chairman said there was a material difference between the Government grantiug leases and the Board grantiug leases. The Board intended to assist tho companies s,o far as they could. Mr Meunie said it looked like a backing out of the agreement, '.'hey had taken over the responsibility of the liar-

bor on the faith of the handing over of the foreshore. Mr Gibbons moved, and Mr BagnalL t seconded, "That in consequence of the difficulties likely to arise in carrying out the line of conduct advised by the Government in dealing with occupants or claimants of part of, the foreshore, that this Board respectfully decline to adopt the course so indicated, as it would uot be likely to lead to any result; and would request the. Government to complete the transfer or grant of the Foreshore to the Harbor Boi.rd, with such rights and conditions as at present exist." Carried. M r Bagnall then moved that the Chairman, arm such other members as could make it convenient, interview the Premier and Mr Sheehan on this matter. Carried. SIB JOHN COODE. Mr Gibbons said that he thought when Si/ John Coode caaie here, it would be well to place one of the small steamers at his disposal. ■.'■,... ' , The Chairman said that all this matter had been arranged, as the arrangement*had been left ia his (the chairman's) hands. He sv^gested that as Sir John Coode's report on the permanent harbor would take some time to prepare, it would be well to get him to approve of the plans already - prepared. This opinion was concurred in, asa the meeting broke up.