Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3330, 25 August 1879, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

A special meeting of the Board was held at noon today. Present—The Chairman, the Mayor, Messrs rWil«m, Brown, McGowan, Osborne and Ehren- j "friea. 71. ■■-'■;"''■..!'!» i.' ':?^'-i "'.' y t [.. ! The Chairman said that the business of the meeting was to bear the results of the Mayor's mission to Wfllinjttob,;sb fir as it affected the Harbor Board. The Mayor said, the day he arrived in Wellington, he waited on the Premier, and represented to him the position of the Harbour* Board. He pointed out that the present position of the Board was due in a great measure to the ' Government breaking faith with them in not handing over the foreshore as an endowment, which was promised to them when the Board was formed He informed Sir G. Grey he intended to apply for/ ftferant from the Government on account of this breach of faith; failing that, he intended to apply for a vote from the Government, to be repaid out of the first loan raised on the foreshore. Sir George did,not hold out much hopes of their getting a grant of money, but was favorably disposed to the advance of a sum of money, as against the loan. A letter sent to the Premier was read to the above effect, and also the following one written at tho time there was every probability of the advance being made:— '" Wellington, August '6th, 1879.—Sir, —Referring to our conversation this afternoon, re the indebtedness of the Thames Harbor Board ra»y I assure the Board that upon immediate steps being taken to issue debentures tor a loan under the authority of the act of last session that the Government will advance at onee 1 aj sum of money, say £10,000, as against the said loan to enable the Board to prosecute necessary works, and to pay its present liabilities. I shall at onca undertake that no delay is caused in having the debentures prepared for the market if the Government will be pleased to accede to; my request made on behalf of the Thamess; Harbor Board. — Wm. McCullouoh, Member of Board.—Sir G. Grey, X.C.8." . The Premier had expressed- himself in favor of granting increased borrowing; powers to the Board. The following reply was received from the Government in answer to the letter sent by the Mayor:— Gofernment Offices, Wellington, August 18,1879. Sir,—l have the honor, by direction of the Premier, to inform you of the decisions arrived at by the Government respecting certain applications made by you on behalf of the Thames Harbor Board. 2. However willing the Government might be to aid towards Harbor workji of recognised impor lance, there is not any fund out of which such aid can be granted. 3. As to the proposed advance against loan. It has been found that trust funds cannot legally be made available for such an advance, so that assistance in this direction, which was contemplated; cannot be ftiven, „,, ;v . <,v 4. Should funds be fouud at command for the purpose, au. advance might no doubt be made ; but meanwhile,'shouljpl the Harbor Board decide to place a loan upon the English market, the Government would gladly authorise the Agent-General to give such help as was authorised in the case of the Oaoiaru Borough Conuoil. The Agent-General was in that case instructed that he was not to take any active part in floating the loan; but .that if agents for raising the' loan were-ap-pointed by the Borough, those gentlemen might refer to him, and that he would be at liberty to give all the information in his power respecting the proposed loan, and the circumstances under which it was being raised. —I have, etc., E. Fox. W. McCulioogh, Esq., Mayor, &c." I Mr John Brown proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor lor his endeavors on behalf of the Board at Wellington. , Other members concurred, and the motion was carried. Mr Brown moved that the Chairman, the Mayor, and Mr Ehrenfried be a deputation to wait on the Premier and Mr Sheehan re the proposed loan. L - ; , This was carried, and the meeting adjourned.