Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3111, 6 February 1879, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

The usual fortnightly meeting was held at the Borough Council Chambers last evening at 7.30. Present—Mr W. Da vies (Chairman), His Worship the Mayor; Messrs Wilson, Bagnall, Mennie, Spencer, Price and Gibbons.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

COLLECTOB OF TOLLS. A letter was read from the Toll Collector of the Burke street wharf staling that since the stoppage of the WaioKaraka and Big Pumps he was sustaining a Joss of £6 per month through the coal traffic greatly decreasing. He asked a reduction in his rent.

Several members of the Board thought that the Toll Collector's application should come up when his term had nearly expired. The letter was received. '* THE AUDIT. A letter was read from the Provincial District Auditor, making several suggestions for the future keeping of the Harbor Board accounts. Mr Bagnall said complaints had been made of the manner the balance-sheet was made up. It led people into error. The Chairman said that the balance sheet was made up in the manner required by the p Audi tor. HAEBOB BOAED ELECTION. A letter was read from the Marine Depar'ment giving the regulations for the Harbor Board elections. KABAKA CREEK. A letter was read from the Public Works Office, asking if the Harbor Board would sanction the straightening of the Karaka Creek. It was decided, upon the motion of the Mayor, to give the necessary permission. KOPTJ WHAEF. A letter was read from the County Council stating that the County Finance Committee would consider the com/nunication from the Board re the payment of County's share of the cost of J£opu wharf.

SLUICING. . A letter was read from Charles Tonge asking permission to sluice on the fore* shore between the Imperial Crown and Herald batteries. Application granted on-motion of the Mayor. TAILINGS. A letter was read from Timothy Dono« van asking the Board to remit a portion of tbe money paid by him to the Board for permission to work on the foreshore. He had worked on Mr Tookey's property, and had a permit from him to do so. The Mayor proposed, and Mr Wilson seconded, that half the amount paid by Mr Ponovan be refunded to him. The motion was lost when put to the Board. THE SILT WOBKS. ; A letter was read from' Mr Comes, the silt retaining works contractor, asking that the penalty inflicted on him for not completing his contract in time be refunded.

The Mayor said he believed that the contractor had carried out his contract faithfully, and had not done well by it. He moved the penalty be refunded. Carried. THE WHARF SHEDS. The Chairman said that the committee appointed to enquire into the applications for sheds on the Sbortland Wharf had not yet visited the wharf, but would do so before next meeting. Mr Bagnall's name was added to the committee. . ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed for payment. ' THE DREDGE. The Mayor asked several questions concerning the working of the dredge, the amount of work done, if the Harbour Master had taken soundings, and could report upon the action of the late gales upon the work done, &c. He said there 'was a great difference of opinion about this dredging work, a number of practical men stating that the work would soon be obliterated as it would fill up again. He did not suppose any of the members of the Board except tbe Chairman could give a practical opinion, and he thought they should have an expression of opinion from a practical engineer as to the utility, of the work. a It was currently stated that the recent gales had silted up the channel already cut.

Mr Price said that he had asked the Harbor Master that morning, and he stated, that there was no appearance of the work done silting up. " Mr Mennie said he had spoken to two engineers on the matter, and they were both of opinion that the work would be of utility.

The Chairman said he had Captain Hargreaves' anthority for stating that the reports of the filling up of the work were false.

The Mayor remarked that it seemed to him necessary at once to look into their position, and as it seemed probable that money enough was not in hand to carry out the plans at already determined upon by the Board, that some modifications should be made. It had been stated by the Chairman that about 220 feet of the channel from the wharf and 100 feet wide had been done; f so, it bad cost the Board at least £200, and was 12 days' work. On the other hind it was conI sidered by competent men, that at least a ! channel, or a hole as some called it, 1000 i feet long would be required to be of any utility, and although the cost of the chan-. nel, the further out it went, might be less, all could see that the money at the command of the Board would not be sufficient to do the work required. In addition to the present work it was expected that the dredge would he able to a open a channel to lead the water fr,om the ICauaeranga Creek through the cutting to help to keep the same open. He believed if it was contemplated to bare all the work proposed done, some more energetic steps should be taken, and that before going any further; the advice of an engineer, whose opinion could be depended upon, should be obtained, and at least reports from the Harbour-master, the captain of the dredge and others should be had in proof that the work already done was satisfactory, and would carry out the views of the Board. He moved that the Chairman, Mr Gibbons, Price and Wilson be a committee to obtain all information, and lay the same before a special meeting to be called, if the committee considered it necessary.

Mr Bagnall seconded the motion. He thought it would be a very useful work if it could be connected with the Kauaeranga channel.

The Chairman said that a committee had been appointed to superintend the dredging, and that committee might bring up a report on the matter. The motion was put and carried. The Mayor moved that the book kept by the person in charge of the Powder Magazine be laid upon the table at each meeting of the Board. Carried.

Mr Bagnall proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the manner in which he had attended to the interests of the Board. Several other members spoke in favor of the motion which was carried. A vote of thanks to the lion. Secretary and Treasurer was also carried, after which the meeting ended,