Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2952, 1 August 1878, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this body v^us held at tbe Borough Council Chambers last evening. Present: The Chairman (W. Davies, Esq.), the Mayor, Messrs Spencer, Price, Wilson, Bagnall and Gib 1 ons. There were about thirty persons interested in the contracts also present. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

TENDERS FOE SILTING WOBKS,

Tenders for silting works were read as follows:—Hart aod Horn, £498; W. Logan, £673; J. Punch, £612 19s lOd; Butler, £584; J. Comes, £498 10s, braces 3s lOd each ; Adams, £757, extra braces 4s each; James Stewart, £531 14s, 6s extra tfor stays ; J. McDermott, £734.

Mr Bagnall read a clause from the specification, which required a separate price being given for extra braces. Hart and Horn's tender was consequently informal.

Mr Gibbons proposed that Mr Comes' tender be accepted, being the lowest. Carried. -•

Tenders for the proposed extension of the Shortland wharf were opened r.g follows :~A. Butler, £550 10s, to extend it 95 feet; W. Logan? £496; Adorns, £tf23 10s, to extend it 96 feet, or £1107, full distance; Thompson and Sinclair, £592 7s 6d, to extend it first 95 feet, and £1184 15s for the whole distance; Stewarts, £759 for the 95 feet, and £1500 for the full distance ; McDermott, £918 for the first section, and £12 10s per foot for the remainder.

The Board decided that Logan's tender was informal, as he had only tendered for the one length of the wharf, aad Thompson and Sinclair's also, as for the second section they had tendered for 95 feet instead of 96 feet. The lowest formal tender was Adams.

Mr Bagnall suggested thai; fresh ten' ders be called.

Mr Mennie moved that Adams' tender be accepted. Mr Bagnall said that Adams' tender for the whole work was reasonable, but he thought the price asked for the first section too high. He would second Mr Mennie's motion if the Board decided to do the whole work. Mr Gibbons seconded. Mr Bagnall moved .that the Board, before accepting a tender, first decide whether the work of extension be 96 feet or 192 feet. Mr Price seconded. Mr Mennie withdrew his motion, and Mr Bagnall's motion was carried. TEDDERS FOE KOPU WHA.PF. ' Tenders for the above work were opened as follows :—A. Butler, £456 10s, £20 per bay for any extra length of gangway; J. Punch, £630, 15 feet of gangway for £23 ; J. Law, £570, £15 for first bay of additional gangway ; Adams, £533 ; W. Logan, £590, £30 per bay for any extra ones that might be required; Thompson and Sinclair, £437 10s, £17 per bay if 15 feet extra; Stewart, £529 15s.

The Mayor moved that the lowest ten* der be accepted—Thompson and Sinclair's. - The Chairman said he thought they should first find what the County would Contribute. Mr Men trie remarked that if they accepted a tender they would be bound to go on with the work, and the County might not contribute. They would be benefited by it, and should contribute. He moved that the Chairman and Mr Wilson wait on the County Council, and if they were agreeable to contribute a satisfactory amount that the gentlemen named be empowered to accept the tender. '

This failed to find a seconder.

Mr Bagnall said sooner than allow that motion to pass, he would let the JLopii •wharf, be" left.. ' Why should not the Bor iigh pay part of the cost to the Goods Wharf or the Shortland Wharf on the same principle. It was a most undignified position for the Board to take up. The work should be gone on with even if the County gave nothing. Mr Price said, if it was left on the County's hand ho was sure they would contribute a fair proport;.OH. Mr Mennie : That may be philanthropy but not business. The Mayor thought they were bound to accept a tender. Mr Price coincided.

Mr Mennie said that if he had been present at last meeting he would have insisted on their knowing what the County would -contribute before calling for the tenders'. The Mayor moved that the matter of the extension of the Kopu wharf be left over till a special meeting, to be held on Friday morning, pending the County Council meeting. Carried. SHOATLAND WHABF. It was decided to leave over the matter of the length of extension of Shortland Wharf till Friday morning. LEGAL OPINION. The Secretary read a legal opinion from Mr G. N. Brassey, stating that before any harbor works were commenced the sanction of the Governor in Council should firstbe obtained. KUBANUI HILL COMPANY. A letter was read from the secretary to the Kuranui Hill United Company, asking leave to deposit tailings on an allotment near the battery, and further applying that they should have the first offer of the allotment if it was let. Granted. BEDUCED PEICB OF ALLOTMENT. A letter was read from Mr W. Climo, stating that as a considerable portion of his foreshore allotment was occupied by the water-course that the Board make some allowance in the charge. It was decided to chavge Mr Climo as for half an acre. PROPOSED SHIP BUILDING YABD. The committee had not brought up their report, and the matter was postponed till next meeting. ,

PBOPOSED FISH MABKEX. . Mr Gibbons read the report of the committee appointed re this matter. It recommended the erection of a jetty and shed at the end of Pollen street, for the accommodation of fishermen.

Mr Spencer moved that the Harbor Board erect a jetty in a line with Pollen street, for the accommodation of fishing boats. Carried;

Mr Spencer moved that a letter be sent to the Borough Council asking them to erect a small shed near the proposed jetty for the accommodation of fishermen, and also requesting them to form the street ner..' the jetty. Carried.

TAHARU WHABF. The Chairman reported that he had seen Mr .Robert Graham with the view of seeing how much he would contribute to the I'ararn wharf. He (Mr Graham) had not been iv a good humor, but he (the Chairman) thought that he would give something; Mr Wilson said that they might as well ask " the doctor" or Davie Stewart to pay for the Shortland wharf. He moved that plans and specifications for the repairing of the wharf be laid on the table at next meeting. Carried. 'amendments to hakbok boabd act. The secretary had prepared some amendments to the Act, consideration of which waa postponed till the meeting on Friday. THE DBEDGE. Mr Gibbons moved that steps be taken for the securing oi' the Auckland dredge as soon as possible. This was carried, and it was decided to write the Auckland Board on the matter. NEW TOLL HOUSE. The Mayor moved tbat the Chairman be empowered to make arrangements for the erection of a n^ w toll house at Burke street wharf.

The Chairman remarked that he proposed to have the little piece of land between the Custom house and the Wharf filled in, and erect, the toll house on it.

Xbis.-waa.all. the business