Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3467, 4 February 1880, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held in the Mayor's room yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr J. Brown (Chairman), His Worship the" Mayor, Messrs Read, Ley don, Wilson, Osborne, and McGowan. TAILINGS. A letter was received from Mr Tonge offering £5 for the right of working the tailings on the allotment behind the Custom-house. It was agreed to accept the offer. MOVING" SAND FBOJI FOIiESHOEE. A letter from Mr Steedman was read, charging a carter named Bickets with moving sand without a permit. It wa£ decided to demand the permit fee from Kickets, and-on the next case of unauthorised removal, to enter an action against the offender.

' THE DEEDGE. The Secretory read the opinions of experts on the channels of the Kauaeranga river. Three were 1 in favor of one channel being used, and three in tavcr of the other. The Harbour Master reported that the'cleaving of the old channel would cost £40, and the cutting through the sandbank about £150.

The Mayor moved that tho obstruction at the bend of the eiiannel be removed at the sum named by the Harbour Master. They had no means to carry out the larger work.

Mr Leydon moved as an amendment that £150 be expended on the channel marked " A." The money could be raised in Shortland if any guarantee was given to repay it in a reasonable time. The Mayor said if Mr Leydon guaranteed this, he would withdraw his resolution, and second it. ■-'..' Mr Graham spoke in favor of Mr Ehrenfried's resolution,and Mr McGowan spoke deprecating the spirit of party feeling introduced irilo the Board by Mr Leydon, in pitting one place against the other.

Mr Leydon said he would like to have some reasonable time allowed to see the parties. The .Mayor said if Mr Leydon would find ore half he would guarantee to find the other. Mr Graham and the Chairman having spoken, The Mayor said .he regretted that a young member like Mr Leydon should endeavor to throw a slur on men who had served the place for years, as his action was calculated to import a bad feeling into the Board. He felt surprised atj Mr Leydon proposing tins work when he knew the financial position of the Board. The resolution was then put and carried. WHAEVES* COMMITTEE. The report of the Wharves' Committee was read as follows:—"The Committee have to report having visited both wharves, and recommend that inch timber to the value of £5 be procured and used to sheaih over the rotten or partially rotten planks of Curtis' wharf. . This would render this wharf perfectly safe for some time. .^They also recommend that notice be given to Mr Curtis to remove th,e remaining portion of the baths before auy accident is occasioned by the subsidance. The Committee consider that it will be absolutely necessary to lay down at least £20 worth of new planking on the Goods Wharf to maintain same in order for tbe traffic now passing over it, and recommend this expenditure be authorised. The Committee find that the silt flows over the north-east corner of the silt retaining works, and is forming a bank on the outside, very detrimental to the har- ! bour, and recommend that 100 feet of planking be erected, so as to raise the silt retaining works one foot higher at the corner referred to.—Thames, 3rd Feb., 1880." (Since the preparation of this report, the Committee learn that some stringers are required for Curtis' Wharf, and that Mr Curtis will give £5, provided the Board will expend £10 iustead of £5 on this wharf. The Committee recommend that this arrangement be carried out)." . , The report was adopted. AUDITOE. The Board decided that the fee of the auditor should be £6 6s. THE LOAN. Cr Graham was authorised to take such steps as might seem desirable to him to float the authorised loan. The proceedings then closed.