HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 210, 29 May 1908, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. .'. ' The Wellington Harbour • Board held its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. Thcro were present: Messrs. T. M. Wilford, M.P. (chairman), F. H; Fraser, 0. W. Jones, R. iFlotcher, J. G. Harkness, C. E.- Daniel!, M. Cohen, and F. G'. Bolton. , ' ' FINANCE. ' .Tho Bank passbooks showed the following balances: —Current account; credit balance, £17,102 ifis. Bd.; imprest account, credit balance, £793 155.; on "fixed deposit, £60,000. The following payments wore approved:— For Evans Bay reclamation scheme, accounts and wages, £10,957 os.-2d.; for progress payments on contracts, £9351 135.. Sd.: for salaries for Mav, £800 4s. Bd. Total, £21,10S 13s. Gd. 1 '.Tlio Chairman 'reported:—That tho Wharves and Accounts Committee had appointed. tho Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.G., a delegate to tho Harbours Association, vico Mr. Harold Beaucliainp, retired. That the tender cf Messrs. M'Keegan Bros, for tho supply of 500 running sheaves for hydraulic jiggers, King's Wharf stores, for the sum. of £609 Gs. 1 , beins the lowest and in order, had been accepted, with Messrs. H. W. Davies ■.•.ml \V. A. Palmer as sureties. That the wood-blocking agreement with tlio City Corporation' had been executed by the Corporation. : Tile report was adopted. _ Tlio Wharves and Accounts Committeo recommended tho Bonrd to call for tenders for the animal supplies,of uniforms, to close at the Juno meeting, and to affix the seal to an agreement with tho Eastbourne' Borough Council regarding tho, extension of culvert at Rona Bay. , Tho report was adopted. , P.ONA BA,Y WHARF- ' In connection with, a proposal to place spring piles at the ;P.ona Ray Wharf, the Engineer recommended, ,as a prpforablo _al•ternativo, the construction of an addition so .as to provide, a now.-.berth inclined to tho present berth at sue!:'au angle that , vessels could lie alongside end on to tho seas. The cost was estimated . r.t £450, which would provide.a new berth 40 feet lonn. This would bo of sufficient length to hold a vessel safely while embarking and .-.disembarking, passengers. ■•■■■'. The subject was discussed in committee, and tho Engineer's schomo was adopted. ' . INSURANCE. . Mr. Bolton moved:—"That steps bo taken to insure tho buildings, of tlio Board against damage by earthquake niid fire resulting from earthquake,! such insurance to bo effected locally if at satisfactory rates, and, .if notj in London, at Lloyds." The mdver said he thought the present in- ' mirance rates were too Jjijfh, ant! it .would be . for tho Board to consider whother. an effort .should be made to .let t'.:e:n reduced, •■or-whether tho Board should meet the, case by creating a rcsorve fund of its qwni ■Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. •. Tho Chairman said that the brick and concrete structures of the Board, exclusive, of retaining walls, were valued at £72,6-11. Insurance against earthquakes alone, at os. 3d. per ccnt., would como to £225 a.year, and insurance against earthquakes and fires' resulting therefrom, at 10s. Gd. 'per cent., would cost £3SI per annum. He did not think it wns necessary to incur such an ox-, penso at the present time. Mr. Bolton "said he had effected insurance against earthquake and fire caused ■thereby at 10.3. ;iecent. The Chairman said 10s. Gd. was the rate quoted to the Board. • ' ' Tho motion was. lost. ■ ' POSTPONED.. Tho following motion was postponed owing to' tho r.bsonco of .{ha Hon. T. K. Macdonald, who had given notice to move it:— "Tint the Acting-Engineer bo instructed to prepare a .schomo bv 'which the 'P' store can-be converted into offec- ' tivo offices for the use of the. Board's . clerical staff aiid officers, and tho members of tho Board."