HARBOUR BOARD.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2336, 11 September 1877, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.—This Day.

A SPECIAL meeting of the Harbour Board was held this afternoon, for the purpose of discussing the clause of the Works and Endowment Committee minutes in reference to granting sites for patent slips. .. Present :—Mr J. T. Boylan (in the chair), Messrs Daldy, Casey, Heather, Thorne, Isaacs, Brown, D. H. McKenzie, Maseiield, M. Niccol, and Cosgrave. The chairman having explained the business, the secretary read the clause preferred to, which has been already pubished.

The Chairman said there were originally two applications for patent slips, namely those from Mr Niccol and Mr Gouk. Since that another application had been received, namely, from Mr J. A. Sims.

Mr Isaacs' spoke strongly against any particular applications being favored. Ho thought the sites should be put up' for public competition. It was proposed by Mr Daldy, seconded by Mr Thorne, " That the features of the clause be taken seriatim. On the first proposal ' That the site be leased for 99 years,'" It was proposed by Mr Maseiield, and secondedjjby Captain McKenzie. § Mr Daldy moved, and Mr Thorne seconded, the following amendment, "That the piece of land or water as delineated on the plan be leased without reserve for 50 years, together with a water approach of 300 feet on the north, as shown on plan, and all other water-r glits to be reserved." Mr Daldy spoke strongly against any portion of the Board's property being leased for so long a period as 99 years. He thought 50 years was long enough for any purpose. Mr Cosgrave asked what would be the probable cost of a slip on the site. Mr Brown said there would be little left out of £10,000.

Mr Heather asked what was the reason of the proposer fixing upon 99 years as the term of the lease.

Mr Maseiield went into the different reasons why a slip was necessary. It was wrong to suppose that the site v,us to be given to any one person. After the terms had been iixed, the property would be put up at auction. The dock would do for large jobs and large vessels, but for vessels up fo 350 tons which only required a few day overhauls, Pit would be too expensive. He should oppose any period less than 99 yeary. Mr Cosgrave supported tbe long case. Mr Isaacs followed in the same strain ; he quite approved of the 500 ft. water approach. Captain Casey thought 40ft. water fronage would be quite as much as would be required. Mi Thorne spoke against the long term. He objected to tying up three acres of the Boards property for 99 years. Improvements went ahead so fast that there was no knowing what the site might be wanted for in years to come. Captain McKeezie was in favour of 99 years. The long lease would enable the promoters of the slip to raise money on their work. He believed iv tbe advisability of (having a slip as the dock would be of little use to vessels of small size. He hardly thought people would be found to take the matter up for less than a 99 years' lease. Captain Casey said he thought 99 years would be the best term : for his own part if it was 999 years he wouldn't touch it. (Laughter) Captain Daldy alluded to the danger of the slip coming into competition with the dock, and also expressed an opinion that v clause should be inserted making it clearly understood that the works on the site at the end of the 99 years should belong to the Board. He thought the slip should not be used for vessels larger than 150 tons. It was ultimately agreed that Captain Daldy's amendment, in favour of 50 years instead of 99 years, should be put by itself. On the question being put, Messrs Thorne, Daldy, and Heather voted for the 50 years term, and Messrs Casey, Masefield, Cosgrave, Isaacs, Niccol, McKenzie, and Brown for the 99 years.

On the motion of Councillor Cosgrave, the remainder of the amendment was referred to the Works Committee.

The remainder of the clause was then taken up. It is to the following effect : " That a patent slip be erected, and shall be ready for use within eighteen months of the day of lease, and be kept in repair, and be opened to all; that the slip shall be of sufficient strength and power to take on \-essels up to 350 tons register. If the slip be not ready for use in eighteen mouths the lease to be null and void ; the lease to be granted for the purpose of building a slip, and for erecting such buildings as shall be necessary in connection with th- same." On the motion of Mr Cosgrave the dCscussion of details was referred the Works Committee.

g|The subject of granting a site for a slip on the reclamation works, near the Gas Works, was then gone into ; but, after a short discussion, it was resolved to refer the whole matter to the Works Committee.

This was all the business.