HARBOUR BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 55, 6 March 1900, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The oi'dinary fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Harbour Boarxl was held this afternoon. Mr J. H. Witheford, chairman, presided, and there were also present Messrs M. Niccol, J. Stichbury, J. Thorues, J. C. Macky, W. W. Philson, A. Heather, W,. J. Napier, Harris, and J. T. Julian.

Accounts.—Before the ordinary business was commenced Mr Napier moved the adoption of the year's accounts, left over from the annual meeting owing to the illness of the auditor. The motion was adopted. Contracts. —A number of details of shipments and completion of contracts for machinery for the Calliope Dock, and for Dredger No. 321, were forwarded by Messrs W. and A. Me Arthur, Ltd. The communications were re-

ferred to a committee.

Birkenheacl and Northcote Ferry Service.—The following- letter, signed by S3 residents of Northcote, Birkenhead, and Chelsea, was read -with regard to the harbour ferry service: — "We the undersigned, being' the

residents of Birkcnhead, Northcote, and surrounding districts, and therefore dependent upon the Devonport Ferry Co.'s service as a means of transport to Auckland, respectfully beg to urge the necessity of compelling the aforesaid Company to run their boats to the advertised timetable, to take the necessary steps to have those boats kept in a state of cleanliness, to instruct their officers to prevent passengers in a state of intoxication from entering the ladies' cabin, to provide proper lights upon those boats now only provided with an offensive, smoke-begrimed oil lamp, useless for the purposes of reading, , and liable to be extinguished by draughts from open or broken windows. We would also urge that a strict inquiry be made as to the safety of the vessels now in use on the Birkenhead, Northcote, and Chelsea runs, as the behaviour of two of the boats, viz., the Alexandra and the Birkenhead, in a stiff breeze shows them to be almost, helpless in anything butsmooth water, and occasions serious anxiety, especially to the lady passengers." , Mr Witheford said that he ihad always contended Birkenhead wharf, not being provided with buffer piles, was not a wharf to which first-class boats could be sent. The Victoria was well lig-hted, but the other boats were quite unsuitable for the trade. As soon as the Board ptit the wharf in good order better boats could be insisted upon. Mr Stichbury said that the petition was also signed by residents of Northoote, and the wharf was there provided with buffer pales, so that that excuse could not be made for that place. He moved that the matter be-referred to the Works and Tariff Committee to inquire into, and that a deputation of the signatories be invited to attend.

Mr W. W. Philson did not think that

because the Birkenhiead wharf was unprovided "with bxiffer piles the unfortunate residents should be delayed by "unipunictual boats. Hie did riot think that the matter should be offered to the Works and Tariff Committee, as .the residents had their own

redress

Mr Stichbury's motion was carried