Harbor Board.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6380, 16 February 1892, Page 3

Harbor Board.

The N'ipier Harbor Board met this afternoon. Present—The Hon. J. D. Ormond, i\l L G (chair), and Messrs J. H. Vautier, S Carnell. G. JEL Swan, M.H R., H, J. Twigg, J- W., Neul, 11.I 1 . W- Williams, T. Tawrjr, J. C. MoVay, and H. Williams. COBEUSPOMDENCE. From Mrs Harris, thanking the Board for determining the lease held by her late husband. -Ueceived. From Union Steamship Company re shed accommodation. The approach of the grain season again brought in view tho absolute ueci'csiiy for increased ehed accommodation at the 'Spit. There was at present insufficiency of storage room, which caused great ineonvomenoe. — Referred to Worku Commiito--. to report on for next meeting. Fiom H.O. County Council, re <Jrder-in-Couucii relative to election of members It had no suggejiion to make. —Keccived. I'roiii Town Clerk, on same subject— Koccivcii. . . From Sainsbury and Logan, requiring Board's C'jn.-,etil: to a mortgage. — Grunted. I'roi.'i A. nud 'P. .Society, forwarding lettor them by Mr 1. Fulton, suggesting tfco importation of a species of grass which ;.?ro-.v in oomo parts of licocland on swampy or v/et ground.—Referred to Works Comuiittiit!. From 8.8. County Counril, suggesting i.n altcratwn in thy Act uiuUiug provieion

for tho collecting of the harbor rate by the local bodies.—Reoeived.

From Patangata Ooanty Clerk, on same subject, desiring to know which of the ridings of the coun'y were included in the Harbor Board rating district, and the amount of rates levied therein this year.— Rto:ived. From G Glassford, desiring permission to use one of the spans at the western end of the Petaue bridge for the purpose of storing oysters.—Granted. From Union Rowing Club, wanting to know if the Board would oonsent to their shed being shifted to the back of tho Recreation Grouud, as when tho weir is erected across the Tutaekuri the present river would be too shallow to row in.— Granted.

From Town Clerk, re wharfage on cement for Bluff road wall.—A greed to. The cement for the breakwater road will be admitted free of wharfage fees.

From J. Magill, wharfinger's assistant, applying for increase in salary—An increase of £20 a year granted. The pilot reported on tbe ohip Senator, which arrived here recently, and detailed the steps taken by the Health Officer —The steamer Wairoa hud taken the buoy out to the bay, and received £10 for the service.

From secretary, stating that the wharfinger found con.-iderable difficulty in collecting the wharfage on a large amount of the travellers' samples which passed over the wharf, as they were seldom recorded on the ship's books until after leaving the port. Hβ suggested that travellers' samples be treated as ordinary cargo, and that tbe wharfinger's order be obtained before such cargo is shipped.—Alter Borne discussion the secretary's recommendation was adopted, and in future samples will be treated ac ordinary cargo. engineer's repobt. Contract No. 35, Third Section of Breakwater.—One monolith has been added to finished work during the month, making the total length of the latter 1490 feet This completes the curved portion of the first bend. The length of block-wall foundation is 1521 feet. The weather during the past week has been unfavorable for working on the breakwater. There are a considerable number of blocks on hand, and blockmaking is. steadily being proceeded with. Cement.—-The Rangitiki's cargoof ee.tient has been landed, and the Oamaru is now at the auchoruge with 2500 casks. Drainage of Battery Point Lagoon —The Resident Engineer of the Railway Department having beeu away on leave of absence, I have not yet been able to consult him on this matter. Since last .-neeting the Inspector of Nuisauees has called my attention to the state of this lagoon, and I am informed that there is a considerable amount of sickness in the neighborhood.

Tutaekuri Riv6r Diversion, Weir Contract.—Tenders will be laid before you today for the erection of a weir across the present channel of the Tutaekuri. J. T. Oα eh, Engineer to the Board. Adopted. FINANCB. The Finance Committee recommonded that accounts amounting to £3353 2s 9d be pa*ei:d for payruent, £309 4s 4d to be churned to the general account, and £2993 lSe 6d to the loan account. —Agreed to. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened for the construction of a weir across the Tutaekuri river:—D. Glendenning, £159 5s (accepted) ; H. J. Bull, £228 15s 4£d. COLLECTION OF KATES. Mr Tanner moved the motion standing iv his name in connection with the collection of the Harbor Board rate, to the effect that the Bill formerly introduced into Parliament be again taken up by Mr Swan, the member for Napier, and hauded through the House. Mr Tanner thought the Bill had been greatly misunderstood in the pact by some of the local bodies interested, and there would not now be so much opposition manifested towards it, now that its provisions were made clear. Clause 5 allowed tho local bodies 2$ per cent for collecting the rate for the Board, and to recoup them for any defaults that might be made. As the number of defaulters would be very few, and tho expense of collection would be small, he thought a reduction should be made, and the percentage reduced to lj per cent, which he thought was ample. Clause 0 provided that local bodies could increase the amount of rates if it was found necessary, and there need consequently be no apprehension felt in that respect. Clause 9 stipulated that the Board could resume powers in case any of the local bodies did not pay up. He moved that Mr LSwan take up the Bill next seesion, but that the percentage given for collection be reduced to l-J- per cent. Mr F. W. Williams seconded the resolution, but thought that there was nothing of importance attached to the percentage question. Messrs Neal, Carnell, Swan, and the Chairman spoke on the matter, and Mr Tanner agreed to reduce tho amount of percentage receivable for levying from 2J to I£. The motion was put and carried. A rUBTHEK LOAN.

Mr Swan moved tho motion standing in his name, to the effect that the question of a new loan be considered by the Board, and that a select committee consisting of Messrs Ormond, Tanner, H. Williams, F. W. Williams, and the mover, be appointed to go into the whole matter, receive and consider a report from the engineer, and get a Bill drafted for presentation to the House next session, the object being to procure a sufficient amount to complete the breakwater. Mr Tanner said he would be ur.able to act, as he would be leaving for gouth shortly.—Mr Vautier's name was suggested as a substitute, but that gentleman thought a country member should be appointed one of the committee, and he suggested Mr Kyiuor. That gentleman's uame was accordingly substituted for Mr Tanner's. The motion was then carried, and the Board adjourned.