HARBOUR BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 4 September 1885, Page 2

HARBOUR BO ARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present — Messrs. E. Pearoe (in the ohair), Booth, Fisher, Heaton, Wheeler, Captain Rose, and Captain Williams. The oredit balanoe at the bank was stated to be £1554 Accounts and wages amounting to .£497 19b 3d, and progress payments to contractors for onter wharf extensions, 5s Bd, and .£l3O 7s 6d for extension to inner tee, were passed for payments. The interim report of the Committee appointed to consider the dock qneation was laid on the table. The report was as follows :— " The Committee appointed to draw up a report npon the Bubject of the construction of a dook have tho honour to submit the following interim report— To enable the Committee to pursue its investigations, jt desires, as a preliminary step, to bo furnished with information 'upon the 'following points i—l. A report from the Harbour Board Engineer as to the most suitable site in the harbour of Port Nicholson upon whioh to construct a dook. 2. An approximate estimate of the cost of constructing a dock suited to the future requirements of the port." Mr. Heaton moved the adoption of the report. The Chairman pointed out that it was usual to give notice for the adoption of reports. Mr. Heaton gave notice he would move the adoption of the report at the next Board meeting. Captain Williams hoped the Engineer would take his time to collate the figures required, and would not aooept the opinion of other engineers on tho subject, but would obtain the information required himself. Some correspondence was read from Messrs . Buokley, Stafford & Barton, relative to the conditions insisted on by the Board in the lease of the Gear Company's whitf at Petone, The Company objected to the wharf being used by other persons than their own employes, as the wharf, though strong enough for thejr own business, was not strong enough for other purposes. The Chairman said that tho lease had been granted en tho dUtjnot understanding that it should be used by the public The Company were empowered to impose charges on their wharf, half of whioh went to the Board. In other respeots the wharf must be conducted precisely as the Queen's Wharf was managed, and the publio were to have free access to it. It was decided that the original conditions of the lease Bhould be insisted upon.' The 1 application of the Wellington Meat Export Company for an extension of their [ease for another term of 21 years at the Bxpiration of the present lease, which has 17 fears to run, was considered. '1 he matter bad bepn adjourned from the last meeting of the Board. Tha Chairman said the present lease had 1? years to run Prom the Ist 'November next. Captain Williams regretted that he should be obliged k> oppose tlje application. He objected to my extension of the lease, as he believed ;ha£ tye land would be required some day if wt for a railway yard at any rate for ship>ing purposes. The Board shpnld be ex;remely cantious in parting with the small imount of ground they had at their disposal n the immediate vicinity of the harbour. ii. Heaton also opposed the application qn imilar grounds to those advanced by Captain iVilliama. The original lease was, he eonidered, quite long enough. In a few yeara ime these factories would have to be re, loved, as the ground would be required for hipping tmrpoßes, and they were aware of be difficulties which had presented themelves now it was Bought to remove factories rom the low-lying lands on the Yarra banks a Melbourne. Captain BB e e fcadnnderstood ?hen the lease was granted that; the 1 .nd in ime would Lo required by the Board for toring wool, *o. In Auckland the Freezing lompany had erected works three time 3 as irge aa thotein Wellington. He thought bafc the Wellington Company was afraid to rect more machinery, as they were under be impression that on the expiration f the lease they would be compelled fc-j save their plant on the ground. Mr. tooth supported the application on the nderßtandisg that the rent would be inreased 50 per cent. The land might or

might not become valnnblo in time to come It belonged to the Harbour Board, and it wns oxoeedimjly unlikely that the uovornmeut would ever requiro it for railway purposop, aa they had any quantity for n. station yard. The Wellington Meat Export Company contemplated amalgamating with another oorapany whioh was engaged in meat preserving, and they would require a larger plant and more machinery, and they intended erecting a two-story building, with storage oapaoity above the maohinery, but they oould not carry out the projeot until they had obtained the extension of the lease. The meat export trade was an exceedingly important oni», and wonld be largely increased whon the oountry was more opened out, and tho district and the port would be likely to bo benefited by the extended operations of tho meat companies. It would, he considered, be a moat unwise step to refuse the application. Mr. Wheeler pointed out that whilfet the meat export industry was a very important one and should be encouraged, yet it would not be wise on the part of tha Harbonrßoardtoblooknptheirjsmall amount of land by giving an extension of tho company's lease Tho Chairman remarked that if the Board could see their way to asslit the company without inoonvenienoa to tho publio he Bhould be glad, at suoh industries as that of meat preserving should be onoouraged. It would be impossible io grunt a 42 years' leaso, as the Board's leaßO was only for 38 years. Mr. Heaton moved thtt the application be not entertained. Captain Williams seconded the motion. Mr. Fisher skid the terms ot the original leaso had boon made ea&y, and as the company had established a most valuable industry he was inclined still to let tho company have induct* ment to carry on the venture irrespeotivo altogether of whether it was suooeisf vi or not. Mr. Booth moved, as an amondment, that the application be granted ftibjoot to an inorease in the rent of SO per onnt. Captain Boso seoonded the amendment, which waa carried on a division, the ayes being Mr. Booth, Mr. Fisher, Captain Rose, and the Chairman ; noes, Mr. Heaton, Mr. Wheeler, and Captain Williams. The meeting then adjournad.