THE HARBOUR' BOARD

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 95, 23 April 1902, Page 4

THE HARBOUR' BOARD

A good many people will regret tbe unfortunate episode that marked the meeting' of <the Harbour Board's Special Committee yesterday. It was an occasion. when a little judgment and tact would have obviated an unpleasant scene.- and prevented a. still .more upleasant impression from "taking root in the public mind. No doubt Mr WitSxeford was technically wrong in his attempt to compel the meeting, to consider J his pretest,, but his intention was so manifestly right and reasonable that it is sure to command the sympathy of the unprejudiced and impartial section of the general public. It is impossible to deny that, as Mr Witheford said at last week's Board meeting, the whole project of despatching the secretary to London to negotiate with the Admiralty had been rushed through' with the most incecen.t-haste. No notice was given that this import-ant questjon was to be discussed, and several members of the Board felt and spoke, strosfly

against tihe unseemly and injudicious manner in which the business was forced.' through the meeting.

We consider that the Chairman displayed grave; lack of judgment in declaring so serious a question as the refusal to adjourn the matter, carried by his casting vote against the strong and reasonable protests made by well-known and highly respected members of the Board. Mr Witheford says justly that neither he nor any other member had a fair chance of considering the question before the resolution- was carried. The attitude of the majority on the Board yesterday is, unfortunately, clear proof that they were not anxious to deal with the matter by free and open discussion. They had succeeded in pulling the business through in Committee, and they did not intend to give Mr Witheford an opportunity of damaging their cas,e, lor of letting the general' public see their arguments submitted to unsympathetic

criticism.

Quite apart from Mr ' Witheford's attempt to perform what, he regarded as a public duty, we cannot congratulate the Board upon the decision it has reached. It. was plain yesterday that even the Si>ecial Committee appointed to consider the matter had the vaguest possible ideas o.f -what Mr Brig-ham is to do if he is sent to London. Nobody was quite clear as to whether he is to go as a financial agent or as a professional engineer, or as both combined. We are glad to note that the clause of the. sub-com-mittee's report allowing the Board to authorise purchases of machinery by the secretary was struck out. Mr Brigham has no claim to be considered an expert oil engineering, and we might have expected that even our Harbour Board was tired of-the experiment of. trusting to casual unprofessional opinions in such expensive matters. It seems, then, that Mr Brigham is to go Home solely for the purpose of discussing the financial basis of the Dock works with the Admiralty. The question then naturally arises: What necessity is there for sending anyone at all? As Mr Julian said yesterday, any communications on -that subject .should be made by letter. .What is to be gained by spending another £1000 to send anybody to England to explain facts that arc perfectly well known to the Admiralty already? The ; whole question, needs careful consideration and far longer time for discussion than it has so far received at the hands of the Board.

We deprecate strongly any attempt to impute unworthy motives in such a case; but it is simply astonishing that any responsible member of a public body should use such an argument for haste in important public business as was suggested in the course of discussion yesterday, The idea that the Harbour Board, and the citizens whom .It represents., should hurry1 a matter which involves their credit and the expenditure of a large sum of money in order that a certain gentleman may get to England in time to see the' Coronation ceremonial would be scandalous if it were not puerile. But as the question was raised, it is worth while saying that the next six months will be the worst possible time that could be chosen for the transaction of official business in London. No public work will be done- there for months after the Coronation is over —at that season of the year London is deserted for the country by members of the Government and leading officials —and this stig-»-e.«ls a further reason why the Hoard should delay and consider the question more carefully. Looked at from every possible point of view, there is good ground for the stand taken yesterday by Mr Witheford; and if the Harbour Board desires to retain any fraction of the public confidence, which it has too recklessly sacrificed, it will pause before it decides to ignore the strong feeling in favour of full, fair and open discussion on matters of .such serious public interest.

Captain Edwin advised for 24 hom-s from 9 a.m. this day:—"Moderate winds from between north and west and south-west; glass rise; poor tides; weather colder."

The flagship; Royal Arthur, with Rear-Admiral Beaumont *>v board, returned to port this morning from the Great Barrier, and anchored in the man-o'-war ground.

The Union Company's steamer Taviuni sailed for-Su'va at noon today and took 50 saloon and 15 steerage passengers to the Fijian port, a large number of whom purpose catching the Canadian-Australian mail' steamer Miowera, timed to leave Suva for Vancouver on Tuesday. The through passengers to Vancouver are Misses Rose, Greenfield, Winstone, McLean {'*), Mesdnnies Rose, Edgar, Messrs G. Wiustone, S. V. Edgar, .Tamos, Carroll, Bell (2), Dr. t'iekett, Capt. Rose, arid 10 steerage.

A young man named Theodore ilaywarcl, steward -to Admiral Beaumont* of the flagship Royal Arthur, who was sjcut to the Auckland Hospital while the warship was in port, died yesterday. Major Reid, of -the local defence staff, comnnmiealed with Admiral Beaumont yesterday, with the result that the iioyal Arthur returned to port to-day to allow of her crow taking part in the funeral ceremonies to-morrow.

The following nominations hava been received by Mr H. C. Haselden (returning officer) for the two vacancies on the Mount Albert Road Board:—Michael Coyle, nominated by Messrs. A. W:Page and J7 T. Hough; ({•eo. 11. Hutchinson, nominated by Messrs. W. Dunn and A. W. Page; Noah Wood, nominated by Messrs. C. 11. Wilson and E. Barker.. A poll will be taken on Saturday, the 3rd prox., batween the, hours of nine a.m. and fix p.m., at the Road Board office, Morningside.

A Maori boy named Iria Tenui, aged about seven years, war, accidentally shot at Give, near Napier, on Monday, and he succumbed to hi* injuries yesterday. A fowling piece had been left at the skle of a house, having been used for hawk shooting. Not knowing 'it was loaded, two Maori boys began larking with it, when the weapon went off. Iria being wounded in the. left side. Dr.. Linrrey. attended the lad, but the wound was a mortal one. .

A live kiwi was brought into Rotorua on Monday by some Maoris, who said that they had captured it in some bush near Tarukenga.

Sir Joseph. Ward, who is the Ministerial head of the Government Tourist Department, has authorised the organisation of a new tiour in the Northern thermal springs district. Starting from Rotbrua, tourists will be taken by coach to Wairoa, where Mr Alf. Warbrick, the well - known guide, who is now in the employ of the Department,, will, receive them, take them by boat across Lake Tarawera, a distance of eight miles, passing on the way Te Moura, where 39 natives were buried on tlie night of the eruption of Mount Tarawera in June, 1886. They. will be landed at Te Ariki,near the site.of the buried village where 52 persons were., engulfed by the eruption. They' will then have an easy walk for half a mile across country covered with powdered pumice thrown out by the mountain to another ferry for a trip over Lake Kotomahana, starting from the point where .the White Terrace formerly existed. The lake trip will include a passage through the part which is boiling, and the landing spot is the site of the destroyed Pink Terraces. A further walk will take them on to the Black Crater, the Echo Crater, and finally to the Waimangu Geyser. They will be at liberty then either to go on to Waiotapu or return to Kotorua- The whole trip can be accomplished easily in a u,ay. The boats on the lakes will be under control lof an officer of the Department, and the trip will exhibit some of the most interesting of the wonders of the district.

On Monday next His Excellency the Governor and Lady Banfurly, accompanied by Captain Alexander (private secretary), and Captain Boscawen, Hon. A.D.C., leave Auckland for a week's train journey. The party will make the train their headquarters, and during the trip the Wairangi experimental farm' will be visited, also the hot springs at Waingaro, 15 miles out of Ngaruawahia. His Excellency will visit Cambridge on the morning of April 30th, and on May Ist he will present to the Arawa tribe at Ohinemutu the flag sent out as a gift from the Prince of Wales. It is also probable that the party will go out to see the Waimangu geyser. His Excellency goes on as far as Poro-o-tarao to see the work on the. Main Trunk line. The party returns to Auckland on the afternoon of May sth. '•'

In addition to the already numerous attractions at Ilotorua supplied by the Tourist Department for the recreation of visitors, golf links are contemplated. No spot has yet been decided on for the links, but it is understood that they are to be at the far end of the Sanatorium grounds, near the lake. 'Probably no town in New Zealand is so well supplied with attractions for visitors as Rotorua, apart from the thermal activities and scenic wonders for which it is noted. It is the intention of the Government to make the. Sanatorium grounds the finest south of the Equator, and already they are in a fair way to become such. Apart from the profusion of flowers in all seasons and dainty shrubs, the grounds are provided with tennis courts, croquet lawns, a bowling green, and lawns set apart specially for children to play on. ! A cycle track extends through the town for over two miles for the use of cyclists. There is also a, cycle course for training and sports. Other attractions for visitors are far too many to enumerate.—(Rotorua correspondent.) ...

There is again, owing to the tramway question, considerable interest being taken in the Mt. Eden Road Board elections. The two retiring" members —Messrs 0. Nicholson and K. It. Ross—offer themselves for reelection, and they will be opposed "by Messrs Walters and Daldy, who are brought forward by. the Ratepayers' Association in the interests of the Mount Roskill side of the district.

On Saturday evening, at the request ot the members of the Wairoa South Farmers' Club, and Wairoa Branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr. Massey, M.H.R.. delivered an address in the public hall, Clevedon; After referring' to the Farmers' Union as a most important movement, Mr. Massty criticised adversely the action of the Government with regard to the Kawlria lands, and said he thought that freehold tenure should -be the most important plank in the platform of the Union. Mr. Massey also dealt with the questions of native lands, land valuation, mortgage tax, preferential tariff with Britain, and the Workers' Compensation Act. Mr. Massey also spoke on the proposed Local Government Bill and other matters of interest to farmers. Questions were asked, as to the expenditure of Government grants, direct telephonic communication between Clevedon and Auckland, and a branch railway'to Wairoa. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Massey for his address.

Such prominent events of last week as the Government House ball, the Avondale race meeting', the departure of the Tenth Contingent from Wellington, and the Chrysanthemum Show, make the Leading features of this week's "Graphic," which is a mail number. On no previous occasion has a (Government House ball received such attention from the paper. There is a magnificent double-page pjcttire of the "bal.Lroom when the dancing was at its height, and another page one of a similar subject. The' scenes, which were taken from life, give excellent likenesses of those present. The list of guests and the description of the dresses worn, and of the ball, are also given in the issue. The departure of the Tenth Cont.'ngent from Wellington is fully illustrated, and the number commence.s; a very amusing illustrated skit p;;rror:ing to 63 the Premier's diary, .as kept by him on board the Drayton Grange. Special interest attaches to the Avondale race meeting, as it is the first held since the e-ntire renovation ol the course. The latter is now quite a model in all its appointments, and second to none in the colony. "Whalebone's" notes on the meeting and very latest' anticipations for tomorrow will be found in the racing news-,. Yachtsmen will b:- particularly interested in the fine series of illustrations entitled "A Halcyon Cruise/ In its literary features'the issue is excellent.

The vestrymen of the Epiphany. Church close their year of stewardship by entertaining the parishioners at n social, to be held at the close of. the annual meeting, which takes place in the schoolroom to-morrow evening.

Dr. Picket*, of London, -was a passengerl by tie Taviuni to join the Miowera, sailing from the Fiji group for Vancouver on Tuesday- The doctor has spent some time at the baths, both at Rotorua and Te Aroha, and speaks very favourably of them. It is his intention to return to the colony again next summer with a number of friends and patients.

As a tourist resort, the Waitoma caves have in the past been neglected, but now, with the advent of a tourist -*agency in ■ Auckland, it is more than probable that these wonderful limestone formations will attract large .©umbers of tourists to view . their many attractions during the coming summer months. Even at the present .time many of the caves remain unknown, some to the Maoris, who pay more attention, to the commercial advantages accruing from; the visits of tourists, and are more or less incapable of imparting their knowledge of the caves owing to the poorness o^ their English- The Government are trying to remedy this as far as possible, and intend placmgthe caves on as good a footing as the arrangements at Rotorua. The caves are situated 125 miles from Auckland; and can be reached by a. train which leaves town at 9.30 a.m. daily. The Awamutii, Otorohpng-a and Rangatiko, where passengers transfer to the coaches, which convey them' over a road six miles long to the caves* are visited.- For those desiring to stop over-night at the caves a cottage "has" 'been pro'vlded,1 with % caretaker, whose duty it will be to attend, to the requirements of travellers. The trip to the caves can be combined, with| "that to the hot lakes by returning by rail to Frankton Junction, and there catching the up-train for Okoroire and Roiorua.

A question was asked us the other day (writes the Motueka, Nelson, "Star") as to whether it was true the heads-of; the notorious Maungatapii murderers were secured for scientific investigation. We are in a position to give a true version of the matter. After the.bodies were cut down and buried, the grave was opened one night and the heads removed. A wellknown chemist and a phrenologist (both now dead) obtained possession of them; they were taken to the shop of the former, and, in order to, strip the-heads of flesh and hair, they were put, into a copper filled with water, which was placed over a fire. During the "cooking" operations, and in the temporary absence of-the man of physic, an apprentice entered the kitchen, whose curiosity prompted him to lift the cover tothe copper to find out what was going on. When he saw the heads of Burgess, Kelly, and Levy, bobbing up and down, and grinning diabolically, he let out one loud Indian warwhoop and fled, and no persuasion "would induce him to return to learn'the art of making up black draughts and other delectable admixtures which the apothecary so skilfully prepares. The youth became a printer, and is now living in Wellington.

At a meeting of the Waikato branch pi the Mariners) Umion, held a£ Can*bridgje on Monday evening, a letter was received from the Te Awamutu branch enejosingr a resolution denying the charge which had been made by certain teachers that children were so Overworked by being compelled to milk a number of cows before going to school that they were .unfit for mental work. The branch asked the parent club to pass a resolution on the same lines, Mr Forrest said that in a"fewI'isolated cases the children are over-worked, he knew of a case where one boy milked 17 cows before going to school. After remarks from several members Mr J. Anderson moved that the club endorse fhe resolution of the Te Awamutu branch, as the statement of teachers did not bold good in the Waikato. Mr Butler said he knew the case reported referred to by Mr Forrest. There were three men and three boys engaged in milking 70 cows. If the boys milked as many as stated how many did the men milk? Mr Anderson's motion was carried unanimously.

The Mayor-elect of • Dunedin, Mr J. A; Park, has a large .scheme in hand, for the celebration of the King's Coronation in Dunedin. The principal feature of the proceedings will be the laying of the foundation stone- of- a monoment in memory of the members, of the New Zealand Contingents from Otago and Southland who have* fallen in South. Africa fighting for their King. The monument is to be built of Oamaru and Waikawa stone, at a cost of about & 1000. The idea is that the monument should take the form of a blockhouse, and that three or four captured guns should be secured and placed in the enclosure round the monument. ■ • ■ , "

, An artful and unnatural scheme on the part of "two daughters; t'b lose their mother in Wellington was unfolded at the last 'meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees (says the "Feist").'' The young- women brought their mother up from .Christchurch, with the object, first. Of getting two brothers here to take charge' of her. As the young men were not at their home, the mother was taken to the office of the Benevolent Trustees, and left there. The old lady not being, called for, and the secretary growing suspicious, the matter "was placed in the hands of the police. Enquiries' showed that the daughters, were returning to Christchurch that day. The mother was then / handed over to the care of. her own people.

In connection with the Tabernacle Sunday. School anniversary, a social gathering took place last evenino' which was largely attended. The annual report that the roll had been carefully revised, and now showed officers- and teachers 74, scholars at beginning of year Ml, joined since 40, removed 60, net. total 361, average attendance 247, highest do. 300. Dur-' ing the year £22 6/3 was raised for mission work. Addresses were given by Eev. C. 11. Garland and Pastor Uark. A musical programme was also provided, Miss Millie Peak. Miss Rose Brown, Mr W. Aspinall. and the members of Marriage's orchestra contributing- items.

Mr and Mrs Arthur Boult notify that .they, are,not the Mr and Mrs Boult who left for Sydney by the Mararoa on Monday.

Oas consumers are reminded that I'riday, the 25th inst., at live p.m., is the last day on which discount can be allowed on their accounts.

——— m ' i ■ iiia^MMw^t ~- | At the monthly meeting of the Kow* hai branch of the Farmers' Union tha chairman brought up the question oj the Auckland auctioneers charging on grain and chaff for receiving and delivery besides commission. Ai x*< solution was carried a follows:-* "That the parent club be requested t« * consider the matter of discontinuing the auctioneers' charges on grain, chaff, and other farm produce, as the commission should cover the whole cost of selling and handling."

Mr C. Arthur will hold a sale bj furs, etc., at the Brunswick Mart tomorrow.

Tailoring news: Suit to measure from £3 3/; trousers to measure from 16/; grand stock of winter materials at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad.

Carpets! Carpets! Carpets! Hay- ( ing enlarged our carpet room, we have introduced new facilities fop, displaying. The largest and bestlighted carpet room in town.—Tonson Garlick Coy.—'Ad.

Football News Extra. —Jerseys, all club colours, men's from 4/11, boys* from 3/6; navy blue, men's from 4/6, boys' from 2/6 —At Geo. Fowlds'.—^ Ad.

Our dress department is now replete with' the " most fashionable weaves of fabrics iii panne, zibeline, freizes, Venetians, Amazon, etc., etci, 1/i, 1/6J, 1/11$, to 7/11 yard; a grand stock of plain and fancy blacks.--McCullagh and Gower.—Ad.

Curtains.! -.Jjurtains! - Just opened, very extensive range of every description. Show rooms specially1 set out for the display of same. Ladies are invited to call and inspect some of the most exquisite goods in this department we have yet opened— Tonson Garlick Coy.—Ad.

See this: The neatest line of ties in Auckland at 1/6; positively the cheapest, neatest and prettiest at Geo. Fowlds'. —Ad.

Furs of the latest, styles of the newest, value of the best; 4, fo 8 tails, l/6i, 1/lli, 2/6, 2/11, 3/6 to 59/6.—McCullagh and Gower.—Ad.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you -wish.' to purchase some of the finest ana most up-to-date carpets, then inspfert Tonson Garlick Coy.'s show room. —Ad. "* "i •::

Jackets: Smartest shapes andniost natty styles, with the new sailor, frilled, and fur collars, value excellent, 8/11, 12/9, 17/9, to 89/6. Waterproofs and rain cloaks in largfe vari* ety.—McCullagh and Gower.—Ad.

Now and always: Will be offered the neatest and newest shapes in men's hats of all kinds. At <^co, Fowlds' new hat department.—AcL. ■