HARBOR BOARD.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7241, 29 December 1888, Page 5

HARBOR BOARD.

Aα ordinary meeting of the Lytteltcn Harbor Board was held yesterday at JL*> p.m. Present—Messrs P. Cunningham (chairman), E. G. Wright, Toeewtll, a B. Webb, Parsons, Peryman, W. White, jtuw, Stinson, and Hon. J. T. Peacock.

The Chairman said:—Members are no doubt aware that this is the. last meeting of the Board prior to the dose of oat financial year. The date fixed by law for °ur annual meeting is Monday, 21st January. It has been our usual custom to adjourn that meeting till Wednesday, th 6 6th February, so that a complete state* merit of accounts, audited, should be submitted to the Board. The general election for the members of the Board will take place on Monday, 11th February, and the meeting for the election of a Chairman falls on Tuesday, 2Gtb February. The following amounts have !>oen received daring the last month:— Wharfage, £ll&! Gs &1; towage, storage, &c, £4SU 14s 3d; pilotage andport charges, £37615s lid—i>3ol9 lfts IOoL The books and accounts for 18S8 are in a forward state, and 1 have communicated with the Auditor-General and arranged to have the books audited the middle of next month. 1 have also asked tho Treasury Department to remit all moneys due to Oβ before the end of our financial year. The balance at our credit in current account Is £2bl\) 15a 3d, and on fixed deposit £3000. I wish the Board to take into consideration as to whether any portion of the funds are to be devoted to the renewal ot timber works for jetties and breastworks. 1 have had an interview with the Minister o£ Public Works aud tho Dofeuce Minister. The Government are desirous of settling their difference with the Board. Tho Defence Minister wishes the Harbor Board to take over tho reclamation works as they are at present, and I should recommend the Board to do this, provided the Government will undertake to vest the land in the Board, aud only to charge the actual expenditure, which I understand amounts to about £3500. I think the Government would be willing to take the Gladstone Pier sheds, paying us the amount they cost for re-construction and additions, the Board giving them a lease at a peppercorn rent. The more Important) question, and the one which the Minister appeared desirous of being relieved of, was the liability iv connection with No. 5 shed. I explained the whole poaitiou of this transaction to Mr Alitcholaon • and in answer to his enquiry as to what I thought this shed wad worth to a private individual, 1 expressed the opinion t.uatl we could easily get £1500 a year for it* if the lessee was allowed to use it as originally intended for a grain export shed. A number of accounts, which have been iuspected by a member of the Finance Committee, I will ask you to paaa for payment. The work of re-planking J\o. 3 jetty has been completed, and the erection of a small jetty on the west side of Purau is being proceeded with under our Inspector's supervision. The Chairman said one of the most important subjects for consideration was whether they considered it desirable to establish a timber depreciation fund. Ab present what they did was yearly to write off depreciation. Mr E. G. Wkiciht said up to the presenb they had kept* the repairs out of current revenue. As all the wharves had no* been built at the same time, they would not depreciate at the same time. He thought that this being so, the trade of the port would have co increased by the time these wharves required reinstating that they couid then well afford to have the repairs effected. To set aside the money, as proposed by tho Chairman, they would be taxing the present taxpayers. He thought; that before the vary large demands for repairs were made the ordinary revenue, of the port would bo Bullirieut to meet all the coeb ox repairs. While this was so he quite agreed with the setting aside say of rive per cent. At the end of a year, or two they might be able to review the question, and perhaps lower the rate of wharfage co as to approach as nearly, as possible to what the Board wished to see, viz, the making of Ly ttelton a free port. Mr Tosswill thought, as prudent men, having the care of wooden wharves, they wouldoe acting prudently in putting aside a certain sum,say £2000 per annum,to meet thau~ottt 3 ' r vfijiejaairs. tLeLhoned- therefore, proposal to the ell'ect spoken of by him. Hon. J. T. Peacock fully fcjfmpathJued with the remarks at Mr Wright, as he could not but think that their wharfage was too high. That this was co was amply proved by the fact that they had now some £7000 more than they knew what to do with. He thought that if they put £5000 to the depreciation fund at once they would be doing wisely. The Chaibman said that he did not intend to move in the matter beyond bringing the subject before the Board for them to deal with as they thought fit. . Aβ to Mr Wright's statement, thafi it would be a number of years before the wharves were required to be reinstated, he thought that it Mr Wright went under the wharves in a boat he would see a* once that a very large amount of wodc would require to be done shortly. . Hon. J.T. Peacock said, as the Chairman would not move in the matter, he would move—" That £5000 be set apart aa a fund to be deposited at 5 per cent, fat form a depreciation of timber fund." Mr TosswiLii seconded the motion. Mr Stinson quite agreed with the motion of the Hon. J. T. Peacock, as the wharves as a whole wanted'a good deal of repair. Mr S. l<. Webb could not see that the Board should provide permanent works tor the benefit of those who were to come after them, out of the ordinary revenue. Bβ thought if they looked after the ordinary decking, &c, they would do enough. He wae rather in favor of reducing the harbor dues than setting aaidb the sum referred to by Mr Peacock. ~.■■•■ Mr Peuyhah thought the subject wae far too important to oe passed over to a> uew Board without their a&viaa an opportunity of dealing with. it. He would, therefore, suggest that the subject eboold be left over uncil the meeting of the new Board. The Chairman said that the reason he desired to see the appropriation wae thafe there was a tendency on the part of the public to get a reduction of rates. Hence be desired to see a deposit made, so a* to meet the contingency which was sore to Hon. Mr Peacock said that he took Io that the Board, having made saving* daring the past, and knowing what we* required for ordinary expenditure, were certainly entitled to have a voice in the spending of the money. For this reason he hoped the Board would carry hie motion. ' • • w Mr E. G. Wright said that he coma not agree with the locking up of so largo an amount of public money as £5000. Hβ would move as an amendment —"Thafc the question of setting aside a sum of money for the renewal of the wharves be referred ro the Harbor-Improvement Committee, with instructions to cousider also the advisability of reducing the wharfage rates, and to report aa to the probable Cdsfc of renewals." , ._■ Mr W. White seconded the amend*/ ment, which was pat and carried unanimously. ■:'.-. Hon. .7. Peacock then gave notice of motion for next meeting, as follow* :-r " TJtat the sum of £5000 be set Apart as • fund for the renewal of the timber works of the wharves." *—~,»- «* Accounts.to the amount of £74415e 8d were pass d for payment. The next ordiaary meeting was nxed to take place on February 6th, at 3 pym. The Chaibman brought under the notice of the Board the tell-tale clock patented by Mr A. Gundersen. (This has already been described in the PbessJ. Mr Gundersen was in attendance and would describe the working to the Board. . Mr Gunbekskn explained the working of the instrument to the members of the Board. Mr Wright proposed—"That the Board purchase an instrument for use oil the Harbor Board wharves, &c" Mr Wkbb seconded the motion, whicb was carried. ■ '

The meeting then adjourned.