HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 440, 24 February 1909, Page 9

HARBOUR BOARD.

MR. WILFORD RE-ELECTED CHAIR. MAN.

,' The Wellington Harbour Board met yesterday afternoon. Present: The lion. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.Ij.C., Mossrs. F. H. Fraser, R. Fletcher, J. W. M'Ewan, C. E. Daniell, F. G. Bolton, and J. G. Harkness.

Messrs.. Wilford, Jones,' arid Cohen were granted leave of absence. .

• Tho statutory annual meeting" was first held, the secretary (Mr. H. E. Nicholls) presiding. : •,'?"

Mr. R. Fletcher proposed the reelection of Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.j as chairman for the ensuing year. Ho said the work done by Mr. Wilford'during the past twelve months fully justified the confidence reposed in him by tho board. During tho past year :Mr. Wilford had attended , 63. meetings of• the board and committees, which probably' constituted a record. He understood that Mr. Wilford was willing- to act-again.' Members very much' regretted his present; illness; .- / Mr. .Fraser seconded,'the-resolution. He considered that Mr. Wilford had done excellent work, and it .was .usual to give the chairman a second year'of, office; if the -board was . satisfied with'tho maiiner. in which he had.discharged:his; responsibilities.. . . _ Mr. Daniell said, that- as.:one';of those who had opposed the appointment ,bf Mr.: Wilford a year ago, he. was gratified to -be-iable'to testify to the splendid work ho had done. He was very glad to support the nomination. : Mr. Harkness said.-, he had understood that Mr.. Jones was going to propose the . re-elec-tiqn of Mr. Wilford, but on being called to the south he had asked him ,(Mr;' Harkness) to ,\Mr. Wilford had -madelent chairman. He had, kept the members in excellent 'order,-aijii maintained at' the meetings that- good spirit, which was essential to successful deliberations. His decisions had, with : a few exceptions, been impartial. He had' given a great deal of time: to tho work of the board,- aud had made liimself thoroughly conversant with its. affairs;. ■ -l'': . The Hon. ,T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., also associated himself with tho sentiments .' expressed. ..'v.'"-I.'

As there .were no other nominations, the secretary.-declared ;%.;-Wilford elected;: .The 'ordinary. monthly meeting l was- then ?r f„ th ? . Uott T - Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.0., being voted, to the'chair, in the absence,of Mr. Wilford. ■ . A Month's Finance. / The following credit'balances at the bant' were reportedCurrentaccount;. £16,671 2s_.- 7d.;; imprest' account,. £908 3s. sd..'oil* fixed deiwsit, £70,000. /:-.'/.'" .: The following payments, were -authorised:— : Interest, sinking fund,' accounts,' and wages, £22,204 lls. 'lOa.;: progress payment's on contracts, £4692 17s. r 8d; ;■salaries for February, £817 7s. lid. ; total, £27 714 17s. sd.' . . • ■ In reply to Mr. Daniell,/who-'pointed out that the.. payments authorised exceeded the balances' of ,the,' current; and imprest '' aqcounts, .the secretary' stated, that a "con'siderablo. amount of money from .the. loan would ■come in. at the end- of ,'thie month, v ' ; ■

. The Chairman: remarked -that' the board's finances wero thoroughly sound.

Ambulanco instruction for Employees.

. Tlio Chairman reported that as a result of a .course of. ambulance lectures, given- for, a class composed of Harbour Board, employees,'. nine more men; had passed, the' first, aid examination,, making upwards of forty who had received ambulance instruction. ''. Mr. ■ Daniel! expressed' satisfaction that so many, employees , had. qualified themselves to render first aid. ./•/' • ■: '".'/; • The Chairman observed that' , the board paid the fees, for instruction:- ' ' '; Miscellaneous. ... The Chairman also reported that the Petono wharf is practically out of the hands of: the /contractor;; and is available for use.7 '.Tho board, in committee, /adopted .the' following recommendatibns of 'the .WharVes .and Accounts -Committee:—!. To call 1 - for annual' tenders for supplies and .sei'vices,to closo at the. March meetings -for'-/yeraVendingMarch; .31, 1910. ,2. To affix the seai of the; board :to foreshore license No. 88, to Messrs. Cording and Petley, for boatskids,.TVorser/Bay. ,3; To approve conditions of licerise forioccu-. ■patib'n'■of/.lhboririg;.sit€s'.in•■bb'Bt: ; . Owing to the absenoe'.of the chairman:and other. members,; all. the: business. of ■ more importance was postponed.'