HARBOUR BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3383, 31 May 1881, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting ot the Harbour Board was held this afternoon. There were present: Messrs Compton (in the chair), Aickiu, Waddell, McKeuzie, Isaacs, Stone, Thompson, Maseiield, and Mays.

Nortiig'OTE Wharf.—Messrs Hammond, Buddie, and Mitchell wrote thanking the Boatd for the attention puid to their petition, and stating that they would take immediate steps to liud out what assistance the property owners would give to winds tin: wharf. Mr W. S. Cochraue wrote on behalf ot himself ftud Co.— petitiouur.f stating that it was thought probable that the petitioners would ha willing to contribute about one-third of the estimated cuat ot the wharf.—lt was agrued, on the motion ot Mr Thompson, that the work be proceeded with, provided that the petitioners contribute £100,

Mort'S dock, Sydney.—Letter from Mr J. Frank, engiueerof Mori's Dock, Sydney, stating that during 1878 they docked 2 mail steamers and 5 huge merchant vchhuU ; ]S7'J, (i mail steameis iiml 5 large merchant vessels; 1880, 4 mail .steamers, aud 14 merchant vessels. Each of those ships registered more than 1,200 tons.—Referred to the Dock Committee.

KOAU ATDevonpout.—Mr R. Cameron, Chairman of the Devouport District Jioard, wrote stating that Mr 11. isiccol had not complied with the notice to open up the roiul through his shipyard to the harbour, tho time having expired. It wan further stated that the road was urgently required liy thu public—Referred to tho Works and Endowment Committee,

CONTINUATION OF Sbwkii.— The Town Clerk forwarded a letter asking if tho Hoard had any objection to the continuation of the main scwor now iv course of construction to thu end of the breakwater as requested liy petitions,—lt was agreed to grant the necessary purniission. the plans to be submitted to the Board.

Motice to Mauinehs.—The Muritio Department forwarded the following notice to mariners :—The Wellington Harbour Hoard reports that a patch of rocks with only 15 feet on it ut low water, and from 10 to 1G fathoms till round, bus been found about two cablos length from the south west poiat of Somes'lslandj the centre of th« patch bears from the lighthouse VV. by S. J S. and from the Northern detached rock above water oil' the North end of the Islaud 8. W | W.magnetic. Adelaide Duks.—-Adelaide Harbour Board forwarded copies of a notice to mariners containing light duea by-laws.

Floating Dock.—Mr William ii'rrington CIO,, wrote forwarding illustrated pamphlets aud plan of improved iron floating graving docks. The writer .stated that the patentees had constructed severs*! for the KiiHsiau Government, aud had in a recent instauce extended the power of one dock from 4400 tons to GOOO tons. He proceeded : " Messrs Clark and Stanlield will now offor to construct a dock for this port and complete it in 18 mouths, with a lifting power of G250 tons, and capable of docking at any time of the tide aud lifting in from two to throe hours 11.M.5. Inconstant or Bacchante. Mail Steamers 500 feet l«ng and ")0 feet beam (much larger than the Pacific Muil Company's steamers) could be also docked with equal rapidity and ease." Mr AiCKitN's Lettkr.—Mr Aickeu wrote stating that ho had delsced that portion of the paragraph iv his letter which had given offence, and requesting that the letter be accepted in its aracuded form.—The letter was referred to the Lock Committe to

report. KEMOVAL ok Office,—Mr Alexander McGregor applied for permission to remove the oilice of the Northern Steamship Company from its present site to the now tec, and to be allowed to increase its size to double the present dimensions. Referred to the Works Committee to report upon.

Biiach Road Allotments.— Mr K. Waymouth, on behalf of the Steam Saw Moulding Sash n:;d Door Company, applied to have the Harbour Reserve allotment adjoining No. 27 on the Beach Uo;id leased by pulilic unction. It was agreed that it was not desirable to lease the allotment iv question for a number of years,

Insulting the Harbour Master,— Mr 1. Ji Burgess, Chief Harbour Master, complained of acts of discourtesy aud even insult which he had been subjected to at the hands of Mr McDonald, the Board's engineer. The engineer ot the dock had been prevented from sharpening tools at tho grindstone, aud at the same time Mr McDonald font men to get shores used at the Dock. Mr McDoiuld appended a memo to the effect that he bad simply objected to the dock engineer using the plant under his control. He denied having sent for the shores referred to, and suggested that Mr Burgess should have his men supplied with the plant necessary for their work. He was not aware that any discourtesy had beoii shown to the Harbour Master, but if such was the case, he would try and b courteous for the future. A further letter stilted that he had no intention of withdrawing from what he had stated, and therefore he would "accept Mr McDonald's promise to be courteous in future."—Heferred to the Works and Endowment Committee.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The minutes of this commits o lecommeuded that the funds of the Board cannot bq appropriated for providing medals for Duncdin Industrial Exhibition; that the consideration of the question of electric light be deferred for the present. Works and Endowment Committee. —The minutes of this committee recommended—(l) That the Harbour Master place a cage beacon on the rock between Boat Rock bencon md Point Chevalier reef beacon, Whau Creek, and that the Chanuel be marked off with ti-tree stakes ; (2) That a legal opinion be taken regarding the power of the Board to grant Messrs Jagger and Parker an extention of leane (5) that tho necessary alterations be made in the Customs shed C, as requested by the collector; (4) That a locker be provided for the gear of Harbour Master's boat; (5) That the mooring ot the buoy carried away by the Rotorua be examined, and if in good condition, that it be replaced ; (6) That particulars of increased leakage at the Dock bo forwarded to this Committee ; (7) That the light be removed from the old tee and placed on the new No. 6 tee.

(Left Sitting.)